The importance of technical background and experience

Reexamination is a more technical proceeding than a trial, and as such, is best handled by an intellectual property law firm with many technical experts such as SLW. In addition to extensive technical knowledge, our patent reexamination team members have:

• handled numerous reexaminations (both ex parte and inter partes)

• litigated patent cases and argued appeals

• worked in industry as chief in-house patent counsels at Fortune 500 companies

Their wealth of experience helps give you the edge whether you find yourself considering offensive or defensive reexamination. We are the only IP law firm that captures 100 percent of the prosecution history information for all the claims of your patents in an interactive database. Our attorneys and clients can use our databases to obtain a graphic overview of the history of claims, interactively review file histories, or study the citation history of prior art.

What are the benefits?

One of the benefits of working with SLW is that our claim mapping capability and our thorough patent work makes it less likely that your patents will be reduced or demolished by a reexamination. Claims can only be considered invalid in light of prior art, publications and patents that precede the filing of the challenged patent application.

During the reexamination process, the patent owner and its attorneys communicate with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) to alter claims, avoiding newly revealed art that poses a challenge to the patent grant. The claims emerging from the reexamination process are valid over the prior art. Art that is neutralized via reexamination can’t effectively be used as a trump card in litigation.

Great patent work at the start, with a clear view of the patent landscape, help reduce the risk of reexamination.

Our Team

Our team includes >Michael Lynch, >Stephen Durant and http://www.slwip.com/people/attorneys/timothy-bianchi-6.html">Tim Bianchi. The team members have handled numerous reexaminations (both ex parte and inter partes) and also have litigated patent cases, argued appeals, and worked in industry as chief in-house patent counsels at Fortune 500 companies. Their wealth of experience helps give you the edge whether you find