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How To Enforce Your U.S. Patent Presented at: Patentgruppen Århus, Denmark Date: October 25, 2011 Presented by: Richard J. Basile Member St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens LLC Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. rbasile@ssjr.com
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Patent Enforcement Outline Avoid Litigation Patent Right Assessment Do I Want to Play This Game Corporate Commitment to Litigate Prepare for Litigation Once Litigation Starts Applying Lessons Learned Patent Litigation Trends
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Why Avoid U.S. Patent Litigation Legal Costs $6M (AIPLA avg, single patent) Large firms $6.8M DC/NY $7.6M Business Disruption/Internal Costs Discovery, Documents Discovery Responses-Interrogatories, RTA Depositions-Personal, 30(b)(6),Preparation Motions-SJ, Discovery Disputes, Declarations Court Ordered Conferences Reviewing Experts and Motions Trial Witnesses 3-5 Years Uncertainty District Court, Claim Construction, Appeal, Remand
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Claim What Sells Claim product Not Technology Claim crash detection system, not sensor Claim Who You Would Sue Competitors products Not users Claim What You Can Prove Infringes Not method but product of method, lens Claim Maximum Damages Build Offensive Patent Portfolio
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Claim Multiple Points of Novelty Use All Your Free Independent Claims Restrictions 1)AB, 8)ACD, 15)ABCD Divisionals if necessary Elections 1)AB, 8)ABC, 15)ABD Keeps all claims in case Fig. 1 Show All Features To Be Claimed Will have disclosure, removes rejection based on drawing All figures refer back to Fig. 1 Build Offensive Patent Portfolio
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Patent Right Assessment Technology Aspect is Way to Implement Engineering Aspect is Most Efficient Value of Exclusivity Used to Shape Markets, not Grow Technology At least 10 Years to Max Value
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Do I Want to Play The Game Right to Exclude, Not Make Purpose is to Hurt Competitors, Not Help You Business Strategy, Not Technology Market Weapons, Shape Market Value is Offensive Capability, Not Coverage Global Coordination Increasingly Important
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Do I Want to Play The Game (cont.) 30% Chance of Unimaginable Judges Political, No Tech or Patent Experience Trial Judges Getting Added Burden More de novo Review on Appeal Gridlock as Parties Bash Each Other Patent Scope Legal, Not Technical Question Courts Pick Most Reasonable Construction
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Corporate Commitment to Litigate Must Be Supported By Top Management Every Department Must Be Committed Need Someone(s) With Responsibility and Authority to Manage Litigation May Need to Work Across Barriers Corporate International
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Prepare For Litigation Decide What Relief You Are Seeking Bench or Jury Trial Understand Burdens of Proof Infringement Invalidity Drafting of Complaint Multiple Uses
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Prepare for Litigation (cont.) Pre-suit Investigation of Infringement Identify Defendants Identify Products Identify Additional Parties Claim Charts Preserve Documents, e-discovery Document Retention Policy, Personal Retention Hold Letter
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Prepare For Litigation (cont.) Identify Witnesses Decide and Confirm Ownership Confirm Enforceability of Patent Identify Best Entity to Be Plaintiff Confirm Plaintiff Owns Necessary Rights Decide Who Will Be On Protective Order
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Prepare For Litigation (cont.) Pick the Best Location ITC v District Court Rocket Docket Local Patent Rules Major City Judges Pilot Program Do A Budget With Law Firm-Reality Check on Time, Cost and Strategy Get Good Experts
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Once Litigation Starts Expect The Unexpected Don’t Lose Cite Of Goals Pick Your Battles Decision Points Can Be Settlement Opportunities Do Not Over Reach
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Applying Lessons Learned Whitserve v. CPI Following One’s Own Advice Strategy Was In Place in Advance We Knew The Tricks and Executed
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Patent Litigation Trends Seagate- Objective Recklessness, Piracy KSR-Non-obviousness eBay- Right to Enjoin Not Automatic Inducement- Willful Blindness E-discovery Rules
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Patent Litigation Trends New Patent Statute (“AIA” or “FEAFUSPA”) “Nobody is comfortable with this” USPTO 16-18 Months for Rule Making and 600M applications, 6M examiners 1,200;1,200;600;200 adding examiners annually PostGrant Review starts after March 15, 2013 100 PTAB Judges, hiring 100/2012;100/2013 “More likely than not at least one challenged claim is unpatentable” from substantial new question of patentability” Patent Litigation Trends
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CONCLUSION Involve Lawyers Early in Process Expect the Unexpected
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