A lawyer with a technical background who helps inventors secure and enforce patents.
What patent attorneys do
Patent attorneys draft and prosecute patent applications, advise on patentability and infringement risk, license technology, and litigate patent disputes. They translate complex technical work into legal claims that define the boundaries of an invention.
Training path
US patent attorneys need a technical undergraduate degree in engineering, science, or related fields to sit for the USPTO patent bar examination. They also complete law school and pass a state bar. Patent agents lack a JD but can prosecute patents.
Practice areas
Patent attorneys cluster by technology, including electrical and software, mechanical, biotechnology, chemistry, and pharmaceutical work. Some focus on prosecution before the patent office while others specialize in litigation and licensing.
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Patent Attorney starts with P and ends with Y. Browse other professions along the same letter.
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