Patent protection beyond the United States is a priority for many clients, and the Intellectual Property Practice Group at Crain Caton & James is fully equipped to navigate this terrain. We stand prepared to secure protection in foreign and regional patent offices that align with our clients’ business interests. This requires careful coordination and working alongside trusted foreign associates to ensure that each filing meets the necessary requirements and timelines.
Patent protection beyond U.S. borders can be pursued through several avenues, notably the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Paris Convention. The PCT offers a unified international framework from which clients can enter national phase applications in multiple jurisdictions. Alternatively, the Paris Convention allows for direct entry into the national phase in certain countries based on a pending U.S. application, subject to specific limitations. Both approaches require that the foreign filing be made within one year of the U.S. filing date.
Our Intellectual Property team collaborates closely with clients to identify the countries and regional offices—such as the European Patent Office—where protection is desired. We help assess the associated costs and assist in making informed decisions about where to file, ensuring a strategic approach that aligns with the client’s goals.
Once the filings are made, each jurisdiction operates under its own set of procedures, some of which can be quite specific and complex. Our relationships with skilled foreign associates are crucial in addressing these unique challenges. By keeping Crain Caton & James at the center of this multi-jurisdictional process, we are able to seamlessly manage parallel filings. Our proactive oversight ensures that any developments in one application are considered across the broader portfolio, minimizing potential conflicts and protecting our clients’ intellectual property interests on a global scale.
Areas of Focus
- Appeal of Judgments Regarding Intellectual Property
- Copyright Litigation
- Cybersquatting Litigation
- False Advertising Litigation
- Foreign Patent Prosecution
- Foreign Trademark Prosecution
- Intellectual Property Assets in Family Hands
- Intellectual Property in Corporate Agreements
- Intellectual Property in Mergers & Acquisitions
- Intellectual Property Ownership from Employees & Independent Contractors
- Litigation With Intellectual Property
- Patent Administrative Challenges
- Patent Litigation
- State Trademark Prosecution
- Trade Secret Litigation
- Trade Secret Protection
- Trademark Administrative Challenges
- Trademark Litigation
- U.S. Copyright Protection
- U.S. Patent Prosecution
- U.S. Trademark Prosecution
