Kindly suggest one or more patent attorneys (or patent agents) in any
state in the US who have good knowledge of LINGUISTICS and who are
EXPERIENCED.
The knowledge of linguistics may have been obtained by previous work
done on few (2-3) patents to issuance in the USPTO field of 434/156
and 434/157 ((USPTO classification 434=education and demonstration;
Subclassifications 156=Language instructions, 157=Foreign languages)
'OR' formal training in linguistics 'OR' deep interest in linguistics.
(Linguistics can also be learnt as a part of Child Psychology,
Cognitive Psychology, or Education ETC, ETC) You should do a brief
check on their knowledge of linguistics. (In order to check that, you
yourself need not be a linguist. You only have to ask questions and
listen. See at the end 3 suggested questions.)
The attorney/ agent must be EXPERIENCED as shown by sufficient number
of patents to issuance they worked on (that you should cross-check
from USPTO website).
If you can suggest even one patent attorney/ agent that fits the 2
criteria, I will accept it as an answer.
Regards
------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECKING THE KNOWLEDGE OF LIGUISTICS
I suggest the following questions:
i) Do you have good knowledge of Language Theories (especially L1
Theory)?
ii) Are you aware of famous language teaching methodologies? Which
ones do you know? Do you know those associated with Stephen Krashen,
and James Asher?
iii) Have you read the works of famous linguists esp in the field of
Child Language? Which ones? Have you read Chomsky's in the field of
linguistics?
If they answer only some of the above questions adequately, you may
consider them eligible. |
Clarification of Question by
aaz-ga
on
18 Jun 2003 00:04 PDT
Many thanks. For a good answer, a very generous tip is assured.
There is a patent agent on unipat.org with adequate academic
credentials but not enough experience as he has no patents issued
under his name as per search on the website. So exclude him.
|
Clarification of Question by
aaz-ga
on
19 Jun 2003 04:39 PDT
Are all patent attorneys/ agents only engineers and scientists? Find
me one, will you, guys? I cannot wait more than a week.
|
Clarification of Question by
aaz-ga
on
26 Jun 2003 08:42 PDT
The 302 applications issued in the 434/ 156 and 434/157 were drafted
by non-linguists. Most of the eight I read were well written. What I
mean is, knowledge of linguistics-related field may not make up for
the lack of experience (recall unipat.org?). A qulaity draft is
relatively more important than good search. His silence/ avoidance on
experience mitigates my optimism.
Questions posted in the morning are not answered/ not answered
adequately yet. Awaiting. Best regards
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jbf777-ga
on
04 Jul 2003 22:56 PDT
aaz -
Another lead. This guy has 2 patents in his name, and he seems to
belong to a sizeable firm. Definitely looks like he has the
background you're looking for, but didn't know if 2 issued patents
were enough. Anyway, let me know if you want me to pursue this.
Here's some info:
He focuses his practice on the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and
international patent applications. He has had considerable experience
in adapting foreign priority applications to the standards of U.S.
practice.
His specialties are principally in the mechanical field, but he has
also done chemical, electrical, and computer-related patent work.
Some representative technologies that he has worked with include:
architectural panel systems, computer software and hardware, medical
devices, metal forming processes and equipment, mining apparatus,
piano keyboards, polymer materials and steelmaking equipment.
He's been there since 1996 - Handled patent prosecution on behalf of
several major European corporations
1987 Graduate work at Yale, Quantitative linguistics (including
acoustic phonetics) and Russian/East European area studies (including
transportation economics)
Univerza Edvarda Kardelja (University of Ljubljana), Ljubljana,
Slovenia (former Yugoslavia), Certificate in Slovenian Language,
Literature and Culture
He is fluent in Russian, highly proficient in German and Swedish,
proficient in French, has a good working knowledge of Serbo-Croatian
and Slovenian, and has a good reading knowledge of Norwegian and
Danish. He is also highly experienced in technical translation,
especially from German to English.
He and his wife, Merrie Beth reside in central Pittsbugh. Outside of
work, he assumes leadership and committee roles at The Religious
Society of Friends, Pittsburgh, and, through Reed Smith's connection
with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council (GPLC), volunteers as a
tutor of English as a Second Language in a local Bosnian community.
|
Clarification of Question by
aaz-ga
on
04 Jul 2003 23:43 PDT
Many thanks. Yes, he seems to have the background.
He is been working in the field of patents as an ATTORNEY since 1996.
How come he has only 2 patents issued in his name?
Can I have some idea about the size of the firm he works for? How long
has been with that firm?
Is he an American citizen?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jbf777-ga
on
05 Jul 2003 09:54 PDT
I should hopefully have a response shortly. In the meantime, can you
suggest any studies that may be related to linguistics? I.e., perhaps
if someone has an interest in a related study, they may be more
inclined to have an interest in linguistics. Thanks.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jbf777-ga
on
07 Jul 2003 10:15 PDT
aaz-ga
Looks like we have found your man. I just got off the phone with him.
His name only appears twice in USPTO office because the majority of
patents drafted by him were actually done under his firm name. He has
drafted dozens of patents and he has both an academic background and
general interest in linguistics. I am awaiting a final email from him
with some examples.
Thanks for being patient in this hunt!
jbf777-ga
GA Researcher
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jbf777-ga
on
07 Jul 2003 10:16 PDT
Also, the firm he works for is enormous:
"We now have nearly 1000 lawyers in 16 offices in the U.S. and 2 in
the U.K., and we are counsel to 29 of the top 30 United States banks;
26 of the Fortune e-50 companies; 9 of the top 10 pharmaceutical
companies; and 50 of the world's leading drug and device
manufacturers."
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jbf777-ga
on
07 Jul 2003 14:03 PDT
[sorry about formatting, I'm on my way out the door]
Here are some patents:
6,400,569
6,390,312
6,339,718
6,314,388
6,253,511
6,118,063
6,098,823
6,083,439
6,082,238
5,701,883
The samples help illustrate that my 13 years' experience in drafting patents has
covered a broad range of technologies. However, as I mentioned over the
telephone, I also have some academic and self-taught experience in different
branches of linguistics (including applied linguistics) and am proficient in
several foreign languages. Furthermore, I have extensive experience with each
of the following:
- teaching or tutoring English as a Second Language (on and off since 1985);
- teaching or tutoring Russian to Americans; and
- translation work, including complex technical translations from German to
English.
Overall, I think my extensive background in languages and linguistics, both on
the theoretical and a
|
Clarification of Question by
aaz-ga
on
07 Jul 2003 17:32 PDT
You have done a great job. I am grateful.
Few clarifications:
The firm is indeed large. The client list you quoted indicates that it
possibly is not merely a patent firm. If it is, fine but if it is not,
may I know how much focus they have on patent (eg, by the number of
patents issued in the firm's name and number of patent agents/
attorneys)?
Between you and me, if he thinks, he is a rarity, do you think he
would jack up his fee?
Does he know that you are doing this search on somebody else's behalf?
What does he know about me? If he does not know, keep it that way.
I am asking so that when I approach him finally, I introduce myself
accordingly.
Are the referrals possible? One way is to talk to the two inventors
whose names appear on the patent documents issued.
|
Clarification of Question by
aaz-ga
on
07 Jul 2003 18:51 PDT
From his education and language proficiency that you described, he is
perhaps A first generation Bosnian or Russian Serb who had part of his
university education in Ljubljiana Slovenia. (I may be wrong.)
Can I ask if he is an American citizen?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jbf777-ga
on
07 Jul 2003 20:45 PDT
aaz-
He works for a massive and diverse law firm encompassing a broad
spectrum of legal concerns -- from Health Care to Venture Capital --
and everything in between. Its intellectual property sector has
issued 1,495 patents. It has about 20 lawyers and agents working in
that sector worldwide, in addition to a myriad of other associates.
>Between you and me, if he thinks, he is a rarity, do you think he
>would jack up his fee?
Well, it's actually between you, me, and the world, since Google
Answers is a public site. :) Let me just say that, although I do not
know him, he sounds very upstanding and very kind.
>Does he know that you are doing this search on somebody else's
behalf?
Yes.
>What does he know about me? If he does not know, keep it that way.
Absolutely nothing other than you have commissioned a service to find
you a lawyer or agent with your criteria.
>From his education and language proficiency that you described, he is
>perhaps A first generation Bosnian or Russian Serb who had part of
his
>university education in Ljubljiana Slovenia. (I may be wrong.)
That's exactly right.
>Can I ask if he is an American citizen?
Yes.
>Are referrals possible?
I don't think that should be a problem, but I will check with him.
Would you like me to post his and his firm's contact information as an
answer and you can get in contact with him directly?
jbf
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jbf777-ga
on
07 Jul 2003 20:46 PDT
Also, from your original posting of your question, you had mentioned
this was for a "foreign language learning method." So he knows it's
for that.
|
Clarification of Question by
aaz-ga
on
07 Jul 2003 22:03 PDT
Get me referrals please. You may post it as an answer before or after
getting me referrals. The tip (and therefore rating, which would be
mere 5-star as 6, 7, 8-stars are not possible) would wait till I hire
him which would be after I get an idea how much he is going to charge
me.
1. Just curious. Regarding his origin, you checked or inferred like I
did?
2. Btw, DOES HE KNOW that among patent attorneys/agents he is a
rarity?
Best Regards
PS: Do you ever sleep?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jbf777-ga
on
08 Jul 2003 08:24 PDT
>1. Just curious. Regarding his origin, you checked or inferred like I
>did?
Directly asked him.
>2. Btw, DOES HE KNOW that among patent attorneys/agents he is a
>rarity?
I believe so.
>PS: Do you ever sleep?
Yeah, I need my 8 hours. :) Btw, due to the nature of this setup,
after I confirm his willingness to submit referrals, would you mind
him giving them to you directly?
jbf
|
Clarification of Question by
aaz-ga
on
08 Jul 2003 10:34 PDT
We have the info about the two patents that his name appeared on. We
also have the patents that he says he worked on though they were
issued under his firm's name.
Can we pick up 2-3 client-inventors from such patents and speak to
them regarding this patent attorney/ agent ANONYMOUSLY? The anonymous
referral checks are the routine in business, I believe. We will have a
better probability for finding an inventor to speak to if we look at
the latest patents.
Here is my request: Can YOU do it? I will make up to you, I assure
you, for this.
What to ask? Simple questions:
Would they recommend him?
Did they find his fee reasonable?
Or, what you may think fit.
Just in case, the feedback is bad and I decide not to hire him, your
answer fee, ratings and tip are assured anyway. Alternatively, I can
also increase the price of the question right now.
|
aaz -
The reality is, the referral focus is really not "him," it's "it."
Ian is a represenative of one of the foremost law firms in the
country, which has done law work for a bevy of massive corporations.
You simply don't do business at that level unless you are at the top
of your game. The referral is implicit. His work speaks for himself,
because his company is obviously quite successful, and they wouldn't
have him on board for the length of time he has been there if he
didn't know his right hand from his left.
Nonetheless, I did call Medrad, Inc. and Centria corporations. I
should hopefully be hearing back within the next day or so, and I'll
post what they have to say.
Here is his latest email:
What I can tell you generally is that full utility (not provisional)
applications here can often run in the range of $7000 or less to
$12000 or more,
totally depending on the complexity of the technology involved, the
number of
distinct inventions disclosed, the presentation by the inventor of new
or
updated information during the patent drafting process that might
unexpectedly
extend the process, the number of drawings needed, whether it requires
expedited
attention, and so many other factors. Initial patentability searches,
including
our preliminary analysis of the results, could run in the range of
$800 or more
to $1500 or more, totally dependent on how extensive the client wants
the search
to be as well as other factors.
We do not typically have readily available referrals along the lines
that you
describe. My best suggestion for the client, would be for him to take
some time to review our website (www.reedsmith.com), and particularly
the intellectual property section of it. We have a large, dedicated
team of patent attorneys and agents attending to patent litigation and
prosecution alike, and our website provides some general information
about the group and its accomplishments.
=====
Also, my apologies as to his ethnic origin. I completely misread your
question for some strange reason. I do not know his ethnic origin.
At this point, he would like to speak with you directly. In your
talking with him, you could easily ask him.
His name is Ian Samways; his resume is here:
http://www.reedsmith.com/ourattorneys/viewAttorney.cfm?itemid=1557
Here is Reed Smith's home page:
http://www.reedsmith.com/
Also, I can just post this as an answer, and you can tip however you'd
like. Thanks!
Search Strategy:
calls, emails, and
google search: "patent attorney OR agent" linguistics |
Request for Answer Clarification by
aaz-ga
on
08 Jul 2003 20:07 PDT
Great job.
A GENERAL point: A corporation's size does not always speak about the
quality of the EACH personnel. I myself worked for a top US investment
bank. Behind several advisors' suave facade, polished demeanor and
impressive degrees often lay an incredible amount of incompetence,
undiscovered for years.
But I also feel that Mr Samways does seem to have right credentials.
Please do let me know after you hear from Medrad, Inc. and Centria
corporations.
Best regards
PS:
Thanks for the estimate range (search cost $800-1500; patent $7-12K).
Ethnic origin - not important; I was just playing Sherlock Holmes.
|
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
08 Jul 2003 20:33 PDT
>Great job.
Thanks.
>A GENERAL point: A corporation's size does not always speak about the
>quality of the EACH personnel. I myself worked for a top US
investment
>bank. Behind several advisors' suave facade, polished demeanor and
>impressive degrees often lay an incredible amount of incompetence,
>undiscovered for years.
True, but in the case of patent attorneys, their competence in terms
of applied skills is on display for all to see at the uspto web site.
>But I also feel that Mr Samways does seem to have right credentials.
>Please do let me know after you hear from Medrad, Inc. and Centria
>corporations.
Most certainly.
>Thanks for the estimate range (search cost $800-1500; patent $7-12K).
No problem.
jbf
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
aaz-ga
on
08 Jul 2003 21:39 PDT
Ok, I will wait for the responses from Medrad and Centria.
Btw, you are in touch with them on phone or thru email?
Have a very good night.
|
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
08 Jul 2003 22:25 PDT
Phone... if I don't hear tomorrow, I will try others.
g'night,
jbf
|
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
10 Jul 2003 09:12 PDT
aaz -
I contacted every company on the patent numbers he gave me and was
able to reach these two:
ASKO, Inc.
==========
Zelt, III; Albert R. (Bethel Park, PA)
http://www.askoinc.com/
Patents: 6,314,388; 6,082,238
Phone: 800.321.1310
"I like him and would recommend him... He was very quick to pick up
the technology and help write it... Ultimate fee was right within the
range of what was quoted up-front."
Respironics
============
Hete; Bernie F. (Trafford, PA)
http://www.respironics.com
Patent: 5,701,883
Phone: 724.387.5200
"Yes, Ian did work on that patent with me. I think he did a fantastic
job. We had quite a bit of communication as I recall... He was able
to figure out what we were doing... very enjoyable to work with. I
would give him a high recommendation."
|
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
11 Jul 2003 08:44 PDT
aaz -
Those going to work for ya?
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
aaz-ga
on
11 Jul 2003 19:29 PDT
Yes, yes. Both Asko and Respironics said good things. I will soon be
in touch with Ian Samways.
If he asks:
"How did you come to know of me?"
What do I say,
"From jb777."
"jb777 who?"
|
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
11 Jul 2003 21:07 PDT
Great... let me know how it goes.
I would just suggest saying "via Google Answers," and explain to him
how our service works.
|
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
05 Aug 2003 10:27 PDT
Hello aaz!
Saw your other message. I am indeed still here!
jbf
|
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
06 Aug 2003 08:20 PDT
aaz -
Thanks so much for the kind words, rating, and very generous tip! Did
everything end up working out with Ian?
Please do not hesitate to ask for any additional assistance!
jbf
|
