Patent Prosecution

Prosecution is the process running from when you file your application up to the point it is granted. This includes the UK IPO’s or EPO’s examination of your application against legal requirements. Primarily, this is an assessment of whether your invention is new and inventive.

Prosecution requires a detailed knowledge of patent law. Patent examiners are not infallible, and sometimes the objections raised are unjustified, or may result from a misunderstanding of the invention. We’ll assess what the objections are, decide whether they are justified and, if not, file a robust response.

In many cases, this is about amending the claims (which define the scope of protection) to meet the new and inventive requirements and give enough protection for your commercial needs. Pushing for claims that are too broad can result in multiple objections (or even refusal), wasting your time and money. Accepting ones that are too narrow can result in a patent with inadequate legal cover. 

Our expertise lies in finding a balanced solution which gives you the best competitive advantage, forcing others to create an invention that’s more expensive or less effective.