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Maximizing Your Patent Prosecution Dollars: A Few Simple Considerations
According to the statistics released by the USPTO (available online at www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/reports.htm), approximately 326,508 utility patent applications were filed in 2001 in the United States and 166,045 utility patents were granted. The cost associated with the preparation and prosecution of patent applications last year was a multi-billion dollar business. In this era of cost controls, it is rare to find a patent prosecution department that is not subject to budgetary constraints. In-house patent counsel, as the gatekeepers for prosecution, need to select and work with outside patent counsel to maximize the return on their patent prosecution investment. Often, this is accomplished by in-house counsel searching for the lowest-cost provider to prepare and file a patent application. The logic behind using such providers is to maximize the number of patent filings for the money spent. However, this approach may provide neither the best return on investment nor the best results.
A company's objective in filing patent applications is to secure patents that provide the broadest available protection. The reasons to obtain patents are multifold and may include protection of the company's products and services by excluding others from a particular market space, setting up a licensing program, meeting cross-licensing obligations for number of patents obtained, or creating a defensive tool in the event the company is sued for patent infringement. Regardless of the reason, the focus should be on obtaining the most coverage possible through well-drafted patent applications for your limited budget.
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment
On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.
Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office
A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.
Bit Parts
Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights
How AI Has Affected PR
When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.