My experience

I am a registered patent attorney and have filed or directed the filings of at least 2000 patent and trademark applications in the U.S. and countries around the world. In addition to protection and registration of U.S.-based intellectual property rights, working with a network of firms around the world, I am able to assist clients with registration and protection of trademarks, patents and copyrights on a global or regional basis.

I have handled a variety of intellectual property disputes in patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, domain names and rights of privacy and publicity, ranging from initial investigation of infringement through litigation and resolution.

In business transactions, I have advised on confidentiality agreements, asset due diligence, purchase agreement negotiation, privacy issues, material transfer agreements, licensing agreements, university licensing agreements, software development agreements, joint venture agreements, and transition services agreements, including such issues in the context of a bankruptcy or restructuring.

In my career, I have been associated with firms of different sizes, ranging from small intellectual property boutique firms to large multi-national general practice firms. I also served as outside intellectual property counsel for a multi-national manufacturer of oil and gas refining equipment. With this background, I can offer the benefit of my extensive experience in an environment where I can provide personal attention to my clients' concerns.

• Loss of trademark rights

• Missed business opportunities

• Pre-emption in the market

• Infringement litigation

• Misappropriation of trade secrets

• Unfair competition

• No attribution for your work

• Unnecessary expenses

These are examples of the risks, but a proper evaluation of your specific needs can determine whether any of these apply to your situation.

Patents

Patents protect inventions, such as new products, processes, designs or compositions. While any idea may be an invention, in order for an invention to be patentable, the invention must be new and not obvious in light of existing technology.

A patent may be simply described as a government sponsored monopoly, granting the right to exclude others from making, using or selling an invention. One common misconception about patents is that owning a patent does not give the patent owner the right to do anything with its invention. As an exclusionary right, a patent is more of an offensive tool than a defensive one.

Patents are national in protection, and a patent in the U.S. will not by itself provide any enforceable rights outside of the U.S.  For protection outside of the U.S., additional patent applications may be necessary.

Trademarks

Trademarks are the names and logos used to identify the products and/or services of a business. A trademark serves the business by distinguishing the products and/or services of the business from its competitors. In the U.S., trademark rights are acquired through use of the trademark, however, registration is recommended, through Federal or state registers. Outside of the U.S., trademark rights are generally based upon registration.

Trademark rights are generally national in scope, however there are regional trademark registrations, such as the European Community Trademark and international trademark treaties that simplify registration in many countries, and provide more cost effective solutions than separate national trademark filings.

Copyrights

Creative works, including writings, artwork and music are automatically protected by copyright. Copyright provides the owner of the creative work with the exclusive right to control copying and creating new works based on the creative work, otherwise known as derivative works. Registration is not required for copyright to exist, but for U.S. copyright owners, a copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is a prerequisite for filing a law suit for infringement of copyright.