Spin-off company foundation     Technology transfer and contract research     Patents

The term patent usually refers to the right granted to anyone who invents any new, useful, and non-obvious process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter.

Patents were systematically granted in Venice as of 1450, where they issued a decree by which new and inventive devices had to be communicated to the Republic in order to obtain legal protection against potential infringers. The period of protection was 10 years. These were mostly in the field of glass making. As Venetians emigrated, they sought similar patent protection in their new homes. This led to the diffusion of patent systems to other countries.

A patent is a limited property right the government gives inventors in exchange for their agreement to share details of their inventions with the public. Like any other property right, it may be sold, licensed, mortgaged, assigned or transferred, given away, or simply abandoned.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent for more info.

The technologies that I am developing are clearly patentable as diagnostic methods, arrangements, devices etc. The medical device field is very competitive and therefore protecting intellectual property is very essential.

Over the last 20 years I have developed a long list of skills with regard to all aspects of patenting procedures. Particularly I have a well-established know-how in

  • searching the state-off-the-art
  • assessing patentability
  • assessing "freedom to operate"
  • drafting patent specification and claims
  • defending against patent infringements
  • negotiating directly with examiners and patents offices
  • negotiating patent and licensing agreements

The aforementioned list is applicable to several patent jurisdictions since I have patents granted in USA, EU, Japan, China, India, Russia, etc. And as one may understand, patent drafting and protection, especially in underfunded start ups, is often a "one man show" for the inventor.