The Constitution of the United States provides Congress with the power to promote the progress of science and the useful arts. The system envisioned by the framers was one which would secure a right to inventors for the disclosure of their inventions. It has proved to be a cornerstone of the technological success enjoyed in this country.

The commercial significance of U.S. patents has continued to grow in recent years. This is due in large part to the formation of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. By having exclusive jurisdiction over appeals arising under the patent laws, a consistent body of law has emerged. As a result, awards in patent suits are frequently seen in the millions and even hundreds of millions of dollars.

Realizing the value of your patentable subject matter requires that your invention is understood by your attorney and clearly described and claimed in the patent application. At Roberts Mlotkowski Safran & Cole, we take particular pride in our patent prosecution practice. All members of our patent group have substantial experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications. One member, Peter Roberts, has also practiced as a European Patent Attorney, adding an international dimension and perspective rarely found in U.S. patent firms.

Our expertise includes all areas of patent practice, including: patentability searches and opinions, infringement and validity opinions, drafting and prosecuting patent applications and the handling of interferences, reexaminations and reissues. We also have substantial expertise in intellectual property counseling and negotiations involving licensing, mergers, joint ventures and acquisitions.

When international patent protection is required, our network of premier associates developed through our extensive international experience. We also file and prosecute patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

At Roberts Mlotkowski Safran & Cole, we recognize the importance of effective communication with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). We also realize that it is frequently essential to discuss office actions with patent examiners to efficiently resolve outstanding issues in patent applications. Nowhere is this more important than in dealing with leading edge technologies. At Roberts Mlotkowski Safran & Cole, we understand that complex issues are most effectively resolved through personal examiner interviews and our proximity to the PTO enables us to conduct those interviews at lower client cost than many of our competitors.