How to find a GOOD patent attorney
How to find a GOOD patent attorney
(OP)
I have developed a manufacturing process that I need to patent. I am in Atlanta, so if you can recommend a good local patent attorney it would be greatly appreciated. If referrals are discouraged in this forum then I apologize for breaching the code of conduct.
Referral or not, I would appreciate the insights of others on efficient ways to find, evaluate and select a patent attorney.
Referral or not, I would appreciate the insights of others on efficient ways to find, evaluate and select a patent attorney.





RE: How to find a GOOD patent attorney
I got a local guy in Denver when I lived there and he had no experience in Oil & Gas. I had no experience with the patent process (now that I have 3 patents and have served as an expert witness in a patent case I can see how bad that combination is, the application was actually incompetent). Next time around I got an Oil & Gas guy from Houston based on a recommendation and the result was so much better (and the patent was granted). Next time I got an Oil & Gas guy with a Petroleum Engineering undergraduate degree and some actual industry experience from Tulsa based on a couple of recommendations and both patents were granted.
I would find someone in your field that has successfully patented something and ask what they thought of their attorney. If they loved him/her, then talk to the attorney and make sure they are someone you can communicate with (I did this over the phone and it worked out well, face-to-face might have been better). If they have a relevant engineering degree then you can have some confidence that you will be able to communicate with them. If they have ever worked as an engineer they probably won't let you toss away money on a patent application that is either: (A) unlikely to be granted; or (B) unlikely to ever become a commercial product (I heard the other day that over 90% of patents never result in making any money at all). My first patent will never make a dime (the company that owns the patent filed it so that they could use the technology without worrying about someone else's patent blocking their use, so it was a success). My second patent is 2 years old and has returned 3X on the development cost and patent cost(I've paid over $30k to that patent attorney). I'm way ahead of the curve here.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist
RE: How to find a GOOD patent attorney
The reason I bring up Mr. Olson's name is because he must be a heckofa patent attorney as he managed to get a patent, in the name of his son, for a way to swing sideways on a swing.
If you don't believe me, it is patent #6,368,227 issued on April 9, 2002. And if you'd like to see the actual patent doucment, here's the link to the US Patent Office's website and the patent:
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=0...
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: How to find a GOOD patent attorney
I like http://www.freepatentsonline.com/login.html for searches.
RE: How to find a GOOD patent attorney
You did see that the patent was re-examined 1 month after issue with the result that "Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 are cancelled." (i.e. the patent now has no valid claims).
RE: How to find a GOOD patent attorney
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist
RE: How to find a GOOD patent attorney
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.