Phillips Lytle has been protecting clients’ assets and helping them maximize the value of those assets for 175 years. For most of that time, assets were tangibles such as land, buildings, supplies, and equipment. Today, some of our clients’ most valuable assets include computer software, business methods, product designs, words, and logos. We protect these intangibles from illegal use and help our clients maximize their value.

PATENTS

Patent Prosecution and Analysis
The attorneys in our Intellectual Property Practice Area have extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications in virtually all technical disciplines, including the mechanical, electrical, medical device, biotech, chemical, and computer hardware and software arts, for clients ranging from multinational technology companies to independent inventors. Our patent attorneys make it their practice to meet directly with inventors in order to draft claims interactively and thereby enable the “generic invention,” as opposed to the “species solution,” to be protected. Also, with our in-house AutoCAD capability, our patent attorneys are able to manipulate original documents for patent applications, eliminating the time and cost associated with engaging independent drafting firms.

Our attorneys have broad experience dealing directly with the Examiners at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) and, when necessary, with the PTO Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences on appeals and in reexamination and reissue proceedings. In addition, our attorneys also regularly file and prosecute foreign patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and have developed strong working relationships with 109 international law firms in 47 countries, allowing them to assist clients in obtaining patent protection all over the world.