Practice Areas & Industries: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

Practice/Industry Group Overview

The Intellectual Property Group of the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll provides its large and diverse client base with comprehensive legal services essential to obtaining, maintaining, protecting and transferring intellectual property rights for products, processes and services. Our group's experience and capability span the scope of intellectual property issues, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, trade secrets, licensing, technology transfer, and non-disclosure and non-compete agreements. Our mission is to help ensure that the value of client intellectual property rights is established, maintained and enforced at the highest level possible.

Buchanan Ingersoll's experience in the preparation and prosecution of patent, trademark and copyright applications is shown by the volume of our activity in these areas. In the patent field alone, more than 100 applications are filed annually with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and a substantial number of foreign patent applications are prepared and submitted each year as well. The products, materials, designs, processes and technologies covered by these applications are varied and have included improvements in:

:: Computer hardware and software
:: Chemical compositions and processes
:: Fabricating machinery
:: Medical and diagnostic equipment
:: Ultrasound devices
:: Packaging for the storage and transportation of hazardous wastes
:: Optic components
:: Electronics
:: Energy conservation systems
:: Ethical drugs and drug-delivery systems
:: Genetic research and engineering
:: Robotics
:: Special metals and alloys
:: Transportation

This sampling of activity reflects the firm's solid grounding in the disciplines of mathematics, physics, biochemistry, and electrical, mechanical, chemical, computer and genetic engineering. Our personnel also possess a background in energy technology, most notably involving coal and synthetic fuels.

Buchanan Ingersoll's involvement in patent issues, of course, extends well beyond application and prosecution. Infringement and ownership of patents are frequently contested by various parties. The conflict may pit inventor against corporation or company against employee. Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, in both domestic and international venues, our professionals are broadly experienced in the litigation of patent-related issues. And their intensely practical, thoroughly prepared approach to matters of patent infringement reflects a recognition that their clients' very ability to compete may be determined by the outcome of the litigation process.

The firm's capability in the realm of trade secrets parallels its experience in the patent field. Familiar with industry-by-industry distinctions and the respective requirements imposed by varying technology categories, our lawyers advise clients on the means available for protecting organization trade secrets and other proprietary information and know-how. These services include the framing of business-expanding licensing agreements as well as the drafting of sound non-compete and non-disclosure documents.

Securing and protecting trademarks, service marks and copyrights are companion strengths. Closely aligned with patent-related activities, these services include:

:: Researching and interpreting mark conflicts.
:: Obtaining ownership and registration rights.
:: Advising management on correct and appropriate use.
:: Expanding commercial value of rights ownership through preparation and execution of licensing and franchising agreements.
:: Litigation infringement issues.

Our professionals are supported by other firm lawyers who concentrate in dealing with international business problems such as distributorship, financing, business structuring, and import/export customs matters.

Emphasis on international capabilities in the business aspect extends behind the pure, focused, intellectual property law. We can be a full-service firm in the foreign market.

Through counseling of clients engaged in new product development and new business ventures, our attorneys have prevented many intellectual property problems. But when intellectual property disputes result in litigation, Buchanan Ingersoll has both the experience and resources to handle the case. They can and do call upon members of the firm's large Litigation Group as the client need or case magnitude requires.

Our professionals have represented clients before the International Trade Commission, a body charged with addressing the importation of products which infringe on the property rights of domestic industries. Responding to a rise in international incidents of trade piracy, our lawyers are increasingly active in counseling clients on available measures of property protection and in vigorously defending client interests when infringements occur.

Supported by their colleagues in the firm's other practice areas, Buchanan Ingersoll's intellectual property lawyers are backed by an organization of sufficient breadth and depth to meet requirements attendant to the resolution of intellectual property issues. They can provide any practical business and finance structure that may be required. Our clients view this approach to be of significant value in meeting their needs.

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