Myers Bigel Launches Informative Blog with Posts on Inter Partes Review: Educational Outreach Vehicle Taps Firm’s Knowledge, Experience in Litigation Issues
RALEIGH, N.C.– Myers Bigel is sharing important legal developments at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) surrounding Post Grant Trial Proceedings and Inter Partes Review via a new blog available online at www.myersbigel.com/news/blog/.
Attorneys in the Myers Bigel Litigation Group — Lynne Borchers, Randy Ayers, Peter Siddoway, and Anthony DeRosa — are contributing articles on how Post Grant Proceedings will effect litigation with non-practicing entities (so-called “patent trolls”); best practices in pursuing or defending an Inter Partes Review; integrating Post Grant Trial Proceedings into a comprehensive patent or litigation strategy; and topics of importance to in-house counsel.
“Inter Partes Review has quickly become an important part of the patent system,” attorney Pete Siddoway said, explaining that IPRs have been available for one year with nearly 500 petitions being filed. This shows the value of IPRs as an option for addressing a patent’s validity, he said, and members of the Myers Bigel Litigation Group are expecting to see an even greater volume of filings during the second year.
“The IPR process is unique and rule-intensive. While these proceedings can represent a significant cost-savings compared to litigation, there are many factors to be aware of that can affect the success of an IPR, the strength of the claims emerging from the review, and the ability of a patent owner to pursue further action such as litigation or an ITC action,” Siddoway said.
One of only a handful of law firms in the country equipped to effectively provide Inter Partes Review services, Myers Bigel is actively pursuing IPRs on behalf of clients.
“Our Litigation Practice Group frequently shares information on the new USPTO Post Grant Proceedings by hosting continuing legal education events and through our active involvement with the legal community,” said Lynne
Borchers, head of the Group, pointing to her firm’s participation in organizations like the American Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Association, Wake County Bar Association, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the Carolina Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Law Association, and the American Intellectual Property Law Association,.
“Hopefully our new blog will allow us to share the benefit of our experience with a wider audience,” she added.
According to Borchers, the technical backgrounds of the attorneys in the Myers Bigel Litigation Group lend themselves to a unique blend of scientific and legal insight in blog posts that are appealing to inventors and technology-oriented readers as well as a wide legal audience. Chemistry and Electrical Engineering are some of the undergraduate and graduate degrees earned by Myers Bigel litigation attorneys, in addition to their J.D.s and certifications to practice before the USPTO.
“We definitely have a propensity for handling high-tech litigation, and we’re happy to share important aspects of that type of work with our readers,” she said.
Myers Bigel provides expertise in all intellectual property areas, including trademark and copyrights, as well as patents. Operating out of the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, Myers Bigel represents corporate and
university clients located in the Carolinas, throughout the Southeast, across the United States, and in Europe and Asia.