Is your invention patentable?
Hi, my name is Steve Witters. I am an experienced licensed Patent Attorney and licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). I will have a prior art search conducted at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and will provide you with an opinion on the patentability of your invention. If you then decide to pursue patenting, I will prepare and file your patent application and represent you before the USPTO with the objective of obtaining a strong patent.
You will not need to have a working model or prototype before filing for a patent. Reduction to practice can be actual or constructive. Constructive reduction to practice occurs upon filing of your patent application. Your patent application must disclose your invention in sufficient detail to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use your invention without undue experimentation. Often times the person having ordinary skill in the art is an engineer. Therefore, doesn’t it make sense to have a licensed P.E. represent you?
My primary goal is to obtain strong patents in a cost-effective manner. Therefore, I place my concentration on client consultation, prior art searching, patentability analyses and opinions, patent application drafting, and patent prosecution. I will provide you with a patentability opinion, based on your disclosure and the search results. Your opinion may be positive, negative, or somewhere in-between. I will personally discuss your patentability opinion with you and help you decide whether or not to file a patent application. I will be frank in my discussions with you. As a result, you may decide it is not in your best interest to file a patent application, even if the opinion is positive. Therefore, if you are looking for a pat on the back and a place to mail a check, do not contact me. If however, you are looking for an honest opinion and quality representation, contact me for a free consultation. If you do decide to file for a patent, I will draft and prosecute your patent application with the USPTO. I typically interview the USPTO Examiner during prosecution of each patent application.
It is my policy to provide direct attorney support, from conception of the invention to licensing and litigation support. I also provide clearance and infringement opinions. However, I feel that your interests are best served in litigation matters by retaining an attorney who specializes in patent litigation. Therefore, I will refer you to a patent litigator if and when it is decided that your interests are best served by filing a complaint.
Patentability searches are provided by an independent, experienced searcher.
Formal figures are drafted by an experienced draftsman.
Tips for the inventor:
Are you a P.E.? Did you know many states reward inventors of patents with continuing education hours? For example, Ohio awards 10 CPD hours to inventors of a patent issued in the U.S. Additionally, I can come to your place of business and present "Issues in Patenting Engineering Technology and Designs". I will issue a certificate of completion which may satisfy P.E. continuing education requirements, depending on your state of licensure.
I hold a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the Ohio State University and a J.D. from the Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University. I am licensed to practice before the USPTO and am a member of the KY Bar Association. I hold a P.E. license in the State of Ohio and am a member of the American Intellectual Property Association (AIPLA). My background includes a first career as an engineer and about 5 yrs practicing patent law with a law firm, prior to becoming a solo practitioner in February of 2008. My clients range from Fortune 500 companies to individuals, including other lawyers and law firms, government agencies, and universities, throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Steve Witters, PLLC
930 Woodland Ridge Circle,
La Grange, KY 40031
switters@patentlydistinct.com
(502) 265-0876