Patentability Investigations

Patentability Investigations: Before the Patent Application

The overarching message offered by the intellectual property legal practice at Robert Plotkin, P.C. is that we assist our clients to engage in thoughtful strategic planning before taking action.

Patentability investigations are an excellent example of thoughtful strategic planning that takes place at the very beginning of the intellectual property protection process. Our patentability investigations are conducted by our principal attorney, Robert Plotkin, who uses his MIT computer science education and years of experience as a patent lawyer in the pursuit of a patent for your invention.

Attorney Plotkin leads our law firm in offering our clients counsel and guidance that can provide them with a realistic view of the possibilities for obtaining a patent. A patentability investigation is often the first step.

The Steps in a Patentability Investigation

A patentability investigation involves thorough research into existing technology and culminates in a written opinion regarding the patentability of your invention:

1. We search the Internet and the records of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and foreign patent offices for patents and other documents that describe inventions similar to yours.
2. We provide you with copies of all documents resulting from that search, so that you can review them yourself.
3. We analyze the results of the search to determine whether any of them describes your invention or any part of your invention.
4. We provide you with a written opinion on whether your invention is patentable in light of the results of the search.

If our patentability investigation uncovers some barriers to patenting your invention, Attorney Plotkin is available — with his special knowledge of computer technology and patents — to advise you about potential work-arounds so that you may still pursue legal protection for your intellectual property.

After the Patentability Investigation: The Next Steps

After the patentability investigation is complete, we will continue to guide you through the patent protection process. We will consult with you to determine whether we should conduct additional investigations before applying for the patent.

For example, we may need to determine whether you are free to operate (sell your product or service without infringing existing patents) — especially if our patentability investigation turned up potentially similar patents.

Contact the Law Office of Patent Lawyer Robert Plotkin

Every new inventor and high-tech company deserves thorough legal guidance from an intellectual property attorney who understands your particular legal and strategic planning needs. We are happy to answer questions about patentability from new inventors, startup companies, and existing companies branching out into developing computer technology.

Our office uses state-of-the-art technology to be available to all our clients at all times, nationally and internationally. We provide flexible in-person and telephone appointment times to accommodate our clients' busy schedules.

Each new client receives a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

Toll-Free: 877.651.8039
Office Phone: 978.318.9914
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