Registered Patent Attorney and Certified Intellectual Property Specialist
If you have developed a process, machine, design or other patentable item, securing a patent for your invention may be essential to achieving commercial success from your work. Attorney J. Nevin Shaffer, Jr. can help you through the complex and intricate process of obtaining a patent and can further assist you in maintaining that patent, filing for international patent protection, and making the most of your patent through lucrative licensing arrangements and other commercial transactions.
A registered patent attorney, Nevin Shaffer is authorized to practice patent law in all fifty states. He is additionally licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and courts throughout Florida, Texas and Alabama. Learn more below about the patent legal services offered by J. Nevin Shaffer, Jr., P.A., and contact our offices in Gulf Breeze (Pensacola) or Mobile for practical advice and expert representation regarding all your patent legal needs.
Patentability searches and opinions
If you are considering pursuing a patent, Nevin will review and analyze your invention and advise you about the limitations and requirements of patent searches. If a search is done, you will be provided with a research-based opinion and analysis regarding legal clearance in a potentially patentable area, so you can move forward with some confidence in your freedom to operate prior to investing significant resources and time in your business plan.
Patent prosecution
We’ll pursue your patent application before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Count on Nevin Shaffer to expertly prepare your application, describe your subject in the best light, and argue on your behalf that your design or invention is eligible for and deserving of patent protection. We work closely with you to help you understand the process involved and develop a strategy for obtaining the right kind of protection for your valuable intellectual property.
International patent filing
Extend the reach of your protection and profitability with an international patent filing. Our office can help you prepare applications through either the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) or Paris Convention processes. We’ll file your application, perform necessary international searches and publication, and pursue patent grants with the appropriate national or regional patent offices in the countries of your choosing.
United States and international patent maintenance
Renewal fees must be paid at the proper intervals in order to maintain a utility patent, and maintenance is also required for certain pending foreign patent applications. Different rules apply to different types of patents, and foreign patent maintenance fees differ from country to country. Whether holding a U.S. or international patent, it is important to know the applicable rules to maintain your patent.
Our expert patent maintenance assistance will help you calculate the applicable window period correctly, keep track of when payments are due, and make sure the appropriate amounts are paid in a timely fashion. We’ll help you to understand when patent maintenance fees are mandatory and when they are not, and we’ll advise you on the pros and cons of paying maintenance fees in your particular situation.
Infringement opinions
While Nevin no longer litigates, if you believe your patent is being infringed or has been infringed upon, we’ll help you determine the appropriate course of action, from litigation to negotiating a licensing agreement or other alternatives. It can also be helpful to obtain an infringement opinion to possibly avoid higher monetary damages if you are later accused of willfully infringing on another’s patent and we will advise you concerning what is required and point you to a litigator to assist with the opinion.
Representation in patent related transactions including assignments and licensing
Unless you are the manufacturer of your product as well as the patent holder, licensing your patent may make the most business sense from a profit standpoint. J. Nevin Shaffer, Jr., P.A. can represent you in any licensing agreement or assignment, paying attention to important legal issues such as exclusivity, duration, territory, initial payments, royalties, and infringement.
Patent-related mediation and litigation support
Even after a patent has been granted, it could still later be cancelled in its entirety or in regards to a particular claim citing prior art. If a request for reexamination of your patent has been filed, you are entitled to be involved in that reexamination process and also to appeal any final rejection before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, or to seek review in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. We provide valuable advice and support in these critical proceedings.
Make the Most of your Patent with the Help of an Experienced Registered Patent Attorney and Intellectual Property Specialist
Patent law is one of the most complex and highly technical areas of the law. Trust your patent-related legal issues to a registered patent attorney with over 38 years of IP legal experience who is also a board-certified specialist in intellectual property law. In Florida, Alabama, and Texas, call on J. Nevin Shaffer, Jr., P.A. at our offices in Gulf Breeze, Florida and Mobile, Alabama.
