Evaluating outside counsel is a crucial task for in-house patent teams seeking a valuable legal partner. While it may be easy to simply pick the biggest name firm, or choose based on word-of-mouth, that might not always be the best fit for your business. 

2023 was a relatively quiet year in the patent world. Nevertheless, there were a few major developments, including a Supreme Court decision that directly affects patent applicants and several pieces of proposed legislation that would make significant changes to patent law. 

Competition is a vital component of doing business, especially for patent teams. Competition forces you to innovate, finding creative solutions to protect and grow every patent portfolio on your books.

The COVID-19 pandemic launched a healthcare innovation race without parallel in recent history. Recognizing the need for swift action, companies large and small across the healthcare industry jumped into action to do their part to develop diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for COVID-19. Now that roughly two years have passed since the peak of the pandemic, we have a fuller body of COVID-19-related patenting data from the USPTO and patent offices around the world. While several studies have analyzed COVID-19-related patents — notably, the WIPO 2022 study of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics — none have focused specifically on COVID-19 diagnostics patents. 

Will an interview lead to an allowance? Should you appeal? Is it time to abandon? How long is too long between filing and the first office action? As an experienced patent professional, you know that predicting examiner behavior is key to finding the shortest path to an allowance, but without the right data, you’re just guessing.

With the right data, IP practitioners can make nuanced and strategic decisions to aid their patent prosecution process.

Patent analytics drive better prosecution outcomes – including less time to allowance, improved client relationships, and, crucially, increased profitability.

Burnout can lead to an increased risk of error, lower productivity, and increased employee turnover.

Earlier this year, the United States Patent and Trademark Office announced in a Federal Register notice that it is extending its Collaborative Search Pilot program through October 31, 2024.

Administrative tasks are burying you and your firm. The right legal technology can help dig you out.