Patent

The blog for Inventors, In-House Counsel and Entrepreneurs. obvIPat intends to become an accessible and reliable voice to the online IP community for relevant IP issues.

Burns & Levinson is pleased to announce that four attorneys have been included in America's Top Patent Prosecutors List. Click here to learn more.

Burns & Levinson’s patent practice is an integral part of the Intellectual Property Group. Our attorneys have the technical and legal skills necessary to advise clients on the creation, maintenance and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), our patent prosecution attorneys procure patent protection for our clients’ innovative ideas and have successfully represented clients in numerous proceedings before the USPTO. Through detailed analysis and investigation, we are able to provide advice on patentability, infringement and design options.

Our attention and concern to the unique needs of our clients’ businesses allows us to advise and assist with not only on the procurement of patents, but on meeting overall business objectives. Whether counseling clients on strategic planning and patent portfolio management, negotiating technology transfers or licenses, or defending and protecting patented assets through litigation, Burns & Levinson’s attorneys have the required technical background and expertise to help our clients effectively compete in today’s global marketplace.

Burns & Levinson also has a skilled group of patent litigators, with substantial experience in representing patent owners as well as companies accused of infringement. Our patent litigators have handled disputes involving a wide range of patents, including software, medical devices, manufacturing processes, and various consumer products.

Patent Litigation

Burns & Levinson LLP’s patent litigation practice is an integral part of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. In both established technological industries, and increasing numbers of new businesses, patents are becoming the most valuable asset a company has to protect its hard-earned and valuable technology against unwarranted competition. We know that effective and efficient representation in enforcement and defense of patent suits is crucial to maximize the value of your patent portfolio, and maintain your competitive advantage. Our intellectual property trial attorneys have the legal and technical skills and experience necessary to provide our clients with prudent and effective representation in pre-suit investigations and negotiations, trials and appeals, and through alternative dispute resolutions. While we vigorously enforce and protect our clients’ intellectual property rights in litigation, we always work closely with our clients to achieve their business objectives.

Patent Prosecution

Burns & Levinson’s patent prosecution team comprises of a seasoned group of patent attorneys and agents offering patent prosecution services in the United States and management of patent prosecution throughout the world. Our professionals have extensive experience in the procurement of patents in a broad range of technologies. Our patent staff has significant patent application and prosecution experience in all areas of technology, including but not limited to, electronics, business methods, biotechnology, biological materials and other proprietary materials, plants, computers, computer architecture, telecommunications, medical treatments and devices, transportation, turbomachinery, electromachinery, metallurgy, chemicals, scientific instruments, plastics and aerospace, electronic, pharmaceutical, food processing, printing, optics, digital signal processing, systems electronic imaging, wireless applications, electromagnetics, computer systems software, networking, computer language compilers, distributed database management systems, and artificial intelligence. All patent applications will be prepared by the attorney/agent having expertise in the specific technological area of the invention.

As both emerging and established companies plan for the future, we assist them in developing patent protection strategies, drafting and filing appropriate patent applications, and efficiently prosecuting patents to issuance. For some clients we perform analysis relating to “inventing around” competitors’ patent portfolios. We also represent a number of venture capital firms and perform due diligence and portfolio analysis relating to investment target companies.

We work with clients in a wide range of technologies to conduct “freedom to operate” investigations or “due diligence” investigations to assure investors and other business partners. Where an enterprise partners with another operating enterprise in either a vertical or horizontal relationship (or sometimes both), our Intellectual Property Group applies its knowledge of technology, intellectual property, the research and development process and competition law to allocate the risks and fruits of partnering.

In accordance with our clients’ needs, we further our clients’ overall business objectives by identifying and implementing business and real-world considerations in patent portfolio analysis, strategy development and prosecution. We strive to conduct our prosecution services in an efficient manner, and recognize that open communication between our attorneys and our clients is critical to effect the protection of complex rights through thoughtful and convincing legal and technical arguments to the patent office examiners.

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The Patent practice is part of the Intellectual Property Group. For members of the Patent practice, please see the Intellectual Property Group page.