Patents protect the most valuable intellectual property rights and provide unique and powerful competitive advantages for business owners in the marketplace. But the patent process is highly complex and patent grants can be quite challenging to obtain.

In this workshop a former US patent prosecution insider will reveal the key questions that business leaders must ask and answer in order to get the most benefit from the US patent system and ultimately win the patent game.

Things we’ll cover in this workshop:

Speed matters: Are you ready for the race?

Alignment matters: How does a patent fit into your business plan

Money matters: Is a patent a good investment for you?

Preparation matters: Is a patent possible?

Legal matters: Are you ready to learn patent law?

Expertise matters: Who can (should) represent you?

Process matters: What is a common pathway to a US patent?

Prosecution strategy matters: What will be your prosecution strategy?

Advanced patent strategies: What are the methodologies of the (patent) grand masters?

Non-patent Intellectual Property: What else should you consider?

Presenter: Gary O’Neill

Gary is a certified SCORE mentor and volunteer. He is a Registered Patent Agent and an experienced former US Patent Office Examiner having prosecuted and granted over 500 unique US patents in the fields of electrical, electro-optic and optical technologies. Gary is a seasoned former US Patent Examiner, Gary is able to leverage his insider perspective of the patent examining corps and uses this understanding of the patterns and particulars of USPTO practice to achieve advantageous outcomes for inventors and patent applicants. He is well versed in the complexity and nuance patent law, rules and patent examining procedure as they relate to patentability determinations. He has written the full spectrum of Office Actions through allowance or abandonment under AIA and Pre-AIA law. Gary was a former Patent Research Manager at Litman Patent Law firm in Arlington, Virginia. Prior to specializing in patent practice, Gary served as Lead Supervisor and a facilities engineer in Pharmaceutical Site Protection and Response at Merck & Co in West Point, PA. Gary has earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from NYU Polytechnic Tandon School of Engineering in Brooklyn, New York City.