Services

A patent is an intellectual-property contract between the rights holder and a government agency, allowing the rights holder to exclude others from commercially using the protected technology, without their authorization, for 20 years from the filing date of a patent application. In exchange, the rights holder enriches public knowledge by providing a detailed description of the new technology.

Utility model protection is available in some countries, such as China and Germany. A utility model is somewhat similar to a patent with the following main distinctions:
Utility model protection can be sought for products only (as opposed to methods and processes).
The requirements for obtaining a utility model are less stringent than for patents, and in most cases utility models are registered without being substantively examined.
The term of protection for utility models is 10 years, which is shorter than for patents (20 years).
The registration process is often significantly simpler, cheaper, and shorter than that of patents.
On a case-by-case basis, we may recommend utility models as a supplemental or alternative IP protection.

While a patent protects the functional aspects of a product, an industrial design (sometimes referred to as a design patent) protects the appearance of the product.
Similar to patent protection, the rights holder of a registered industrial design has the right to exclude others from commercially making, selling, or importing articles having a design which is a copy, or substantially a copy, of the protected design.
Industrial designs are used to protect various industrial products such as packages, containers, fashion items, and jewelry, but they are also increasingly being used to protect the outer appearance of medical, mechanical and electronic devices, or their parts.
While the functionality or use of a product can be protected by a patent, the appearance of the same product can be protected by a design patent. Depending on your intended products, our team will often recommend incorporating design patents into your IP portfolio.

Trademarks are all about protecting your brand, which identifies your products or services and distinguishes them from those of others.
We provide full professional services for trademarks worldwide, including assisting in constructing trademark strategy and selection of names/logos, conducting a trademark availability search, filing and prosecution of marks, and registration of the trademark.

Prior to investing in a company, potential investors approach us to review the company’s patent portfolio. Their concerns typically relate to the patentability of the company’s intended technology and to the scope and strength of the company’s IP. Another concern is the risk of infringing third-party patents. We provide investors with a go/no-go pre-investment preliminary consultation, as well as a more comprehensive IP analysis. We also provide recommendations on how to strengthen the patent portfolio post-investment.

Prior to drafting a patent application, it is recommended—as a first step—to conduct a patentability search. Such a search focuses on revealing the closest published prior-art references. After reviewing the results of the search, we assess the novelty and non-obviousness of the invention as presented to us and recommend a patent protection strategy. In addition to assessing patentability, such a search also assists us in better defining the invention over the prior-art, and thus may save time and money during future prosecution of the patent application around the world.

Before launching a new product or entering a new market, it's crucial to verify that your product or process doesn't infringe third-party patents. We conduct thorough freedom-to-operate searches and analyses to identify potential patent conflicts in your target markets. Our team provides detailed risk assessments and recommendations for design-around solutions where necessary, helping you minimize litigation risks and make informed business decisions.

Trade secrets protect valuable confidential business information that provides a competitive advantage. We assist in identifying trade secret assets and developing comprehensive protection strategies, including drafting non-disclosure agreements, implementing security measures, and establishing proper documentation procedures. Our team helps you maintain the secrecy of your valuable information while maximizing its commercial value.

Copyright protection safeguards original works of authorship, including software, literary works, and artistic creations. We provide comprehensive copyright registration services and strategic advice on protecting your creative assets. Our team assists with copyright licensing, enforcement strategies, and fair-use analysis to ensure your creative works are properly protected and commercialized.

Our team provides expert technical and strategic support in intellectual property disputes. We assist with pre-litigation analysis, evidence gathering, claim construction, and technical expert testimony. We work closely with litigation counsel to develop effective arguments and provide the technical expertise needed to strengthen your position in patent, trademark, and other IP-related litigation.

Plant breeders' rights protect new varieties of plants, giving breeders exclusive control over their propagating material. We assist in securing these rights through variety registration, conducting distinctness examinations, and developing protection strategies. Our team helps you navigate the specific requirements of plant variety protection while maximizing the commercial value of your new varieties.

We help develop comprehensive IP strategies aligned with your business objectives. Our team analyzes your technology portfolio, market position, and competitive landscape to create a tailored IP protection plan. We provide guidance on portfolio development, licensing opportunities, and risk management to maximize the value of your intellectual property assets.

Our invention mining services help identify and capture potentially patentable innovations within your organization. We conduct systematic reviews of your R&D activities, technical documentation, and product development processes to uncover valuable IP assets. Our team works with your technical staff to recognize and document innovations that merit protection.

We provide customized intellectual property training programs for your technical and management teams. Our sessions cover essential IP concepts, best practices for invention documentation, and strategies for protecting innovations. These training programs help build IP awareness within your organization and improve the quality of invention disclosures.