When is the right
time to look for a Patent Lawyer?
Timing is sometimes
everything - so when is a patent
lawyer 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 lawyer, the necessary moment may not be
obvious – and
may be too late. You might suppose that you need to call a patent lawyer
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 and before valuable rights may be unknowingly foreclosed.
The process
for selecting a patent lawyer should take into consideration
the overall characteristics and needs of the client and the client’s
objectives 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 lawyer, who will normally be the
responsible
lawyer on the client’s cases, and the principle IP counsel to the
client.
The lead patent lawyer
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 lawyer, consulting when appropriate with other lawyers
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
lawyers 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 lawyers 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 lawyer is now...
Any of the registered
patent lawyers at Vern Maine & Associates:
would be pleased to discuss your company’s requirements
for legal representation.
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