The Chatter We Make

Patent agents are a highly regarded commodity for a law firm but their narrow authorization to represent others raises unique privilege issues.

Patent agents are a highly regarded commodity for a law firm but their narrow authorization to represent others raises unique privilege issues.

2021 demands that your lawyer also be a practicing technologist and embrace novel methods to bill for their services. Read about Neugeboren O'Dowd's unique approach to client engagement and management.

Sometimes a patent does not make business sense. It’s a conversation I have frequently with potential and existing clients, and after a brief discussion, drawing attention to important issues they should consider, they often arrive at the conclusion that it’s not worth it.

The Theranos scandal made headlines last year. It gained a spot in nearly every respected publication, from podcasts to its own documentary. If you’ve somehow missed all the hoopla, here are the basics.

When your idea is really, really good, it’s almost inevitable that someone is going to copy it. Retroactive legal action is difficult and expensive, so follow these patent tips to get ahead of product copycats, knockoffs, and fast followers.

Artificial intelligence as it is starting to be employed is certainly new technology. You have to be aware that it is essentially the proverbial “robot” doing stuff, not a person. There are going to be glitches. But, in one sense, we have always had automated systems doing “stuff” for us so it is not unexpected that these systems are making their way into the legal industry.

Clients see a competing product with similar functionality to their own and immediately believe it’s a copy, even if the competitor developed the functionality independently. At that point, they don’t care how the attorneys deal with the situation — the attorneys are expected to find a way to shut down the knockoff.