Besides drafting and prosecuting patent applications before the European Patent Office, I collaborate with our local agents in prosecuting patent applications in countries such as the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, in order to build comprehensive patent portfolio’s for our clients. I also advise clients on patentability of their inventions, on the validity of third-party patents and, if needed, on how to work around such third-party patents.
In the 10+ years I have been active in the field of intellectual property, meeting up with clients to discuss how their goals in obtaining intellectual property rights and how this can be achieved has remained interesting and refreshing. For each new invention I have to learn something new about the field of the invention in order to be able clearly put in writing which aspects of the invention are novel and inventive over the prior art. The combination of the wide range of technologies involved and discussing with clients what they aim to achieve with their IP (e.g. generating license income, attracting investors and/or keep competitors at a distance) makes for varying and enjoyable work.
Mechanical engineering, such as offshore industry, electrical vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, medical devices, lithographic systems, and inventions in the field of agriculture and horticulture computer implemented inventions, such as control and optimization of processes by means of a computer