Creating Value
Patent preparation and prosecution is a cornerstone of our practice, and we take great pride in the patents we craft and the claims we negotiate to allowance. However, we don’t stop there. We help our clients create value once their patents have issued by enforcing those patents through litigation or by generating royalties through licensing.
Enforcement Litigation
Patent litigation cases can be some of the most complex, difficult and costly disputes in our court system. Plumsea specializes in taking the complexity and cost out of patent litigation. After conducting a thorough investigation, we don’t waste time on issues, theories or facts that won’t be presented at trial or needed for appeal. Early in the case, we begin by developing an overarching theory of the case. Plumsea lawyers can then efficiently distill technically complex inventions and the complicated rules of patent law into a compelling story that judges and juries find easy to understand.
We are dedicated to excellent information design and we use our design abilities to create cutting edge and engaging trial exhibits, graphics and animations. We prepare these materials specifically for lay judges and juries, who often do not have technical backgrounds, to facilitate their understanding of the complicated technical and legal issues often presented in a patent case.
We have creative fee arrangements that minimize our client’s cost and risk, while maximizing the value of their intellectual property assets. For example, we represent patent owners on contingency, where our clients only pay our fees if we are successful at trial or negotiating a favorable settlement. We also offer a capped fee patent defense program. This program is designed to give our clients a solution to Patent Assertion Entities (PAE, sometimes referred to as “patent trolls”). Our clients are only responsible for a low capped fee for all of our defense work even if the case goes to trial and appeal. Some patent trolls employ a strategy of slowly draining accused infringers by dragging cases out and constantly filing nuisance motions that require a response. Our capped fee program solves this problem for our clients because we respond to all motions, and our clients are only responsible for a low a capped fee through trial.
We have particular expertise in post-grant proceedings before the Patent Office and coordinating these activities with District Court litigation. In many cases, post-grant actions at the Patent Office like reexamination, reissue and Inter Parties Review can be strategically beneficial. We understand the peculiarities of all post-grant actions at the Patent Office and the role they can play in effectively serving our client’s interests throughout the dispute.
We represent both patent owners and defendants in courts throughout the United States.
Intellectual Property Licensing
Plumsea represents both licensors and licensees in granting or receiving technology rights. Plumsea has counseled a variety of clients in all stages of growth, from Fortune 100 companies, small to medium companies, start ups, venture capital firms, research institutions and companies based overseas. For some clients, Plumsea has developed licensing programs and provided counsel in establishing inbound and outbound licensing policies.
Plumsea has expertise in renegotiating and reforming existing licenses. During the course of a technology agreement, facts and circumstances can change, and unexpected events can occur. Plumsea has assisted companies in managing these changes by renegotiating technology agreements to reflect these new realities. In one particularly significant case, Plumsea was retained by a Fortune 500 U.S. corporation to renegotiate the original patent license for one of their foundational technologies. Through the course of the negotiation, Plumsea was able to narrow the class of products covered by the license and reduce the term of the license by several years. The renegotiated license saved the client tens of millions of dollars in royalties.