If you are an inventor, you have probably heard about patent law, which is an intellectual property law that gives you exclusive rights to sell your invention. Patents have been in existence for 228 years, which means that they were relevant at the beginning of civilization. However, the role of patent law is very important in the modern world with thousands of people reaping big from various inventions.
In a period where technology growth is at an all-time high, losing your invention could be a matter of seconds. Therefore, you need to obtain a patent immediately you invent something before prototypes appear on the other side of the globe. Unfortunately, patent application is a complex task that is only possible to complete under the guidance of a patent attorney. If you are looking for a lawyer to help with patents, here are some things you should consider.
1. Technical Experience
Patents are very specific because they deal with a certain area of specialization. Although most of the patent attorneys have sufficient knowledge when it comes to intellectual property practices, you need to check on the technical know-how of your lawyer. For example, if your invention is in the area of medicine, your patent lawyer should have some technical experience in medical terms and medical field in general.
2. Legal Experience
You will come across law firms’ websites advertising intellectual property practice. That does not mean they have experience in advising you on patents or prosecuting cases before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Look for a patent attorney who has field experience and who can be able to handle intellectual property issues before USPTO. By checking on previous patent involvement, you will be able to gauge their experience.
3. Prosecution Success
Prosecution is the process of getting a patent through the Patent Office. Therefore, before hiring a lawyer to handle your patents, you should make sure that you know their prosecution success rates. You don’t want to hire a lawyer and spend years waiting for patents to be issued. Make sure you have a patent lawyer who has 75% patent prosecution success. With a high success rate, there is a high chance that your patent application will go through immediately.
4. Current Workload
In an industry where demand seems to exceed supply, you should expect to see all patent lawyers busy handling various patents. According to the USPTO, there are 60,000 registered patent lawyers in the United States. Therefore, work will naturally find performing lawyers. Avoid a patent lawyer who doesn’t seem busy because this could be a sign of dissatisfaction from previous clients.
5. Individualized Attention
Individualized attention has everything to do with the time an attorney reserves to handle your patent application. Although patent experts are always engaged, you should look for a lawyer who wants to listen to you and handle your application seriously. You are presenting your invention for patenting, and as such, you want to leave no stone unturned. With patience and comprehensive research, you will find lawyers who will dedicate time and make sure that your patent sees the light of the day.
6. Industrial Reputation
Some patent lawyers handle their clients unprofessionally and end up wasting clients’ time and money. It is upon you to make sure that you examine the reputation of a lawyer before you can commit your resources. It is common for patent lawyers to make mistakes and get away with them because they are always in demand. However, this does not mean that you should accept to hire someone who does not value his clients. Check online reviews and ask previous clients before making the final decision.
If you are looking for Colorado patent attorney, these are some of the factors that you need to consider. Your patent attorney should be willing to give your application sufficient time so that you can achieve desired results. Your ideal patent lawyer should have high reputation in the industry and charge a reasonable fee depending on your patent application.
