Patent
Attorney- When is the right time
to look for one?
Timing is sometimes everything
- so when is a patent attorney necessary? In today's
fast-paced business environment, it is not unusual for a business or organization
to wait until it is absolutely necessary before calling for outside help.
However, in the case of a patent attorney, the necessary moment may not be
obvious – and
you may be too late. You might suppose that you need to call a patent attorney
only when you have finalized the invention and need help to protect your
intellectual property. However, as in most other professional relationships,
there is a
significant advantage in having an established working relationship before
the need becomes
urgent or important rights are unknowingly foreclosed.
The process for selecting
a patent attorney should take into consideration the overall characteristics
and needs of the client and the client’s business
plans as well as the character and capabilities of the patent law firm.
A joint review of the client objectives, business plans, nature of the
attorney/client
interface, anticipated scope of work, and the billing practices of the
attorney should all be part of the discussion. Unlike other patent firms,
Vern Maine & Associates
seeks to match a client with one patent attorney, who will normally be
the responsible attorney on the client’s cases, and the principle
IP counsel to the client.
The lead patent attorney will
meet with the client’s
management and technical staff as well as its inventors to identify patentable
technology and assist in
the development and implementation of a strategic patent program that
is harmonized with the company’s business objectives. A carefully executed
patent program reduces a company’s risk of losing control over
its core technology, and allows the company to operate from a position
of strength
in licensing
and settlement
negotiations. The attorney, consulting when appropriate with other attorneys
in the firm, also provides early or late stage counseling on infringement,
validity, product clearance, and design around analysis, and can render
formal legal opinions
on patentability, patent validity and patent infringement when necessary.
The registered patent attorneys
at Vern Maine & Associates have substantial
experience in the preparation and prosecution of U.S. patent applications
and international
protection through a network of skilled agents. They counsel clients
in all aspects of patent law, ranging from invention harvesting to
patent acquisition, portfolio
maintenance, and patent licensing. Their mode of operation is to gain
an understanding of the invention, its commercial implications, and
the client’s business
objectives - and to then offer legal and business advice and appropriate
legal services in each case. The firm is further staffed and equipped
to support
its attorneys with the legal and procedural complexities of managing
a domestic or
international intellectual property portfolio.
Perhaps the very best
time to look for a patent attorney is now...
Any of the registered patent
attorneys at Vern Maine & Associates:
would be pleased to discuss your company’s requirements for legal representation.
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