Patent Prosecution (EP, PCT, National)
Navigating the complexities of patent filing and prosecution is at the core of our expertise. We guide clients through the entire lifecycle of their patents, from initial drafting to grant and beyond. Our strategic approach ensures your applications are robust, defensible, and aligned with your commercial goals.
We manage prosecution for:
- European Patents (EP): Direct handling of applications before the European Patent Office (EPO), including examination, opposition, and appeal proceedings.
- PCT Applications: Strategic filing and management of international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) to secure filing dates and streamline entry into national phases.
- National Patents: Coordination and management of national patent filings across the globe through our extensive network of trusted associates, ensuring seamless protection in key markets.
We also provide robust litigation support, working alongside legal teams to defend your patents or challenge competitors' rights.
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IP Due Diligence and Portfolio Analysis
In any high-stakes transaction—be it an investment, acquisition, merger, or licensing deal—understanding the value and risk of an IP portfolio is critical. Our due diligence services provide a clear and comprehensive assessment of the intellectual property assets involved.
Our analysis includes:
- Ownership & Chain of Title: Verifying the legal owner of the IP assets.
- Validity & Enforceability: Assessing the strength and potential vulnerabilities of key patents and trademarks.
- Infringement Risk: Identifying potential infringement of third-party rights (FTO).
- Portfolio Gaps & Opportunities: Analyzing the portfolio's strategic alignment with the business and identifying areas for strengthening or pruning.
We deliver actionable reports that empower you to make informed decisions and negotiate with confidence.
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Patent Strategy & Innovation Consulting
A patent is a business tool. Our strategic consulting services ensure your IP strategy is fully integrated with your overall business objectives. We move beyond simply filing patents and help you build a portfolio that creates tangible value, secures market position, and drives innovation.
We partner with you to:
- Align IP with Business Goals: Ensure your patent filings protect key products, markets, and future R&D directions.
- Conduct Competitor Landscaping: Map the IP activity of your competitors to identify threats, opportunities, and white space for innovation.
- Facilitate Innovation Capture: Work with your R&D teams to identify patentable inventions and establish effective internal processes.
- Monetize IP Assets: Explore licensing, sale, or enforcement opportunities to generate revenue from your portfolio.
- Advise on High-Tech IP: Provide specialized guidance for complex fields like IT, telecom, and Artificial Intelligence.
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EPO Oppositions and Appeals
Post-grant proceedings at the European Patent Office (EPO) are a critical and cost-effective way to challenge competitors' patents or defend your own. We have decades of experience representing clients in complex opposition and appeal cases.
Our services cover:
- Defending Patents: Crafting robust defense strategies for patent proprietors, responding to opponent arguments, and representing clients in oral proceedings.
- Opposing Patents: Building strong, evidence-based cases for opponents, identifying prior art, and arguing for the revocation or limitation of a competitor's patent.
- Appeal Proceedings: Handling all aspects of the appeal process before the EPO Boards of Appeal, both as appellant and respondent.
Our deep understanding of EPO procedures and case law allows us to navigate these high-stakes proceedings effectively.
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Freedom-to-Operate Opinions (FTO)
Launching a new product or service without understanding the patent landscape is a significant business risk. A Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) opinion provides a clear assessment of third-party patent rights that may be infringed by your commercial activities.
Our FTO analysis helps you:
- Mitigate Infringement Risk: Identify potentially blocking patents before you invest heavily in development and launch.
- Inform Product Design: Provide actionable insights to R&D teams, allowing them to "design around" existing patents.
- Support Investment Decisions: Give investors and partners confidence that the risk of IP litigation has been properly assessed.
- Guide Licensing Strategy: Identify patents that may need to be licensed in to ensure commercial freedom.
We provide clear, commercially focused advice, not just a list of patents. We help you understand the *real* risk and find pragmatic solutions.
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Patentability Reports
Before investing significant time and resources into drafting and filing a patent application, it is crucial to understand the likelihood of success. A Patentability Report, or Novelty Search, assesses whether your invention meets the criteria for patentability (novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability).
Our reports provide:
- Prior Art Search: A thorough search of patent databases and technical literature to identify the closest existing inventions.
- Patentability Opinion: A clear, concise opinion on whether your invention is likely to be considered novel and inventive by a patent office.
- Strategic Drafting Guidance: Recommendations on how to draft the patent claims to best distinguish your invention from the prior art and maximize its scope.
This preliminary step saves costs, strengthens your application, and avoids pursuing patents that are unlikely to be granted.
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IP Valuation
Understanding the monetary value of your intellectual property is essential for strategic decision-making. Whether for licensing, sale, mergers & acquisitions, litigation, or internal accounting, a credible IP valuation provides the financial data you need to leverage your assets effectively.
We employ established valuation methodologies tailored to the specific context:
- Market Approach: Analyzing the value of similar IP assets that have been bought, sold, or licensed.
- Cost Approach: Determining the value based on the cost to create or replace the IP asset.
- Income Approach: Forecasting the future income (e.g., royalties, cash flows) that the IP asset is expected to generate.
Our valuation reports provide a well-reasoned and defensible assessment of your IP's financial worth, turning intangible assets into concrete figures.
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Artificial Intelligence IP Strategy
Protecting innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) presents unique challenges, from subject-matter eligibility to defining the scope of an invention. Our team possesses deep technical and legal expertise to navigate the complex landscape of AI-related IP.
Our specialized services for AI-driven inventions include:
- Patentability Assessments: Evaluating the eligibility of AI/ML models, algorithms, and applications, with a focus on overcoming "abstract idea" rejections.
- Strategic Patent Drafting: Crafting robust applications for AI-implemented inventions across all sectors, including bioengineering, finance, autonomous driving, and computer vision.
- Trade Secret vs. Patent Strategy: Advising on the optimal protection strategy for core algorithms, models, and valuable training datasets.
- Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis: Analyzing the competitive landscape to mitigate infringement risks for your AI-driven products and services.
We help you build a defensible IP portfolio that protects the "black box" and its practical applications, securing your competitive advantage in this rapidly evolving field.
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Trademark and Design Protection
While our core focus is patents, we understand that a complete IP strategy often involves protecting your brand and product aesthetics. We provide comprehensive services for trademarks and designs through our trusted network of specialist partners.
Our managed services include:
- Trademark Clearance & Filing: Ensuring your brand name, logo, or slogan is available and securing its registration.
- Design Protection: Registering the unique appearance, shape, or configuration of your products (Industrial Designs).
- Portfolio Management: Managing your global trademark and design portfolio, including renewals and watching services.
- Enforcement Support: Assisting in disputes, opposition proceedings, and anti-counterfeiting actions.
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Strategic IP Training for R&D Teams
Your R&D and engineering teams are your primary source of innovation. Empowering them with a foundational understanding of intellectual property is one of the best investments you can make in your IP strategy.
We provide bespoke, in-house training sessions tailored to your technology and business. Our workshops are engaging, practical, and focused on actionable insights, not just legal theory.
Key training modules include:
- IP 101: What is a patent, trademark, and trade secret?
- Invention Spotting: How to identify patentable ideas in your day-to-day work.
- Documenting Inventions: Best practices for lab notebooks and invention disclosures.
- Avoiding Infringement: Understanding public disclosures, prior art, and the basics of FTO.
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Patent Renewals & Maintenance Services
Maintaining a patent portfolio is a significant administrative and financial commitment. Missing a renewal deadline can lead to the irreversible loss of valuable IP rights. Our maintenance services provide a reliable, cost-effective, and streamlined solution for managing your patent annuities.
We handle the entire process:
- Global Coverage: Managing renewal payments for patents in any jurisdiction worldwide.
- Timely Reminders: A robust docketing system ensures you are notified well in advance of all deadlines.
- Strategic Portfolio Review: We can assist in periodic reviews to help you decide which patents to maintain, optimizing your portfolio and reducing costs.
- Transparent Pricing: Clear, competitive, and straightforward fee structures.
Focus on your innovation, and let us handle the administrative burden of keeping your patents in force.
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