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Patent Attorneys in San Diego, CA Buche & Associates is based in San Diego and also has offices in Los Angeles and Houston. We handle patent cases across the country. We specialize in many areas of the law including patent infringement and intellectual property protection. Our patent attorneys have considerable experience representing clients from various business and private sectors including oil and gas, medical, fashion, software, sports equipment, music, tactical systems, and more. Patent Law Patent law is a part of intellectual property law that is associated with new inventions and designs. Traditionally, patent cases have involved inventions like car engines, semiconductors, or other scientific inventions. Today, however, patents can be issued for a broad range of items that include coding algorithms, designs, fabrication methods, living organisms, or even some proprietary business practices. In fact, it’s an evolving matter of debate as to what is eligible for patent protections under the law and what items are, in fact, new and deserving of a patent. There are two primary kinds of patents: utility patents and design patents. Our patent attorneys are comfortable handling cases that involve any of these patent types. Whether the patent is associated with software, a technical application, packaging design, or a chemical application, we can provide you with world-class representation. Our Patent Attorneys Are Experts Buche & Associates has expert patent attorneys who specialize in patent law and patent litigation. Our attorneys have advanced science backgrounds with technologies that include mechanical, electrical, biology, environmental, and aerospace disciplines. We represent a wide array of clients, ranging from individual inventors, to larger businesses. We offer expert legal counsel and can help you protect your intellectual property by securing your patents. We also help clients secure their trademarks and copyrights. Our patent attorneys are experts when it comes to filing complex applications and litigating complicated infringement cases. Are you considering selling or licensing your patent? Our patent attorneys can help in that department too. Patent Infringements in San Diego, CA We take allegations of patent infringement seriously, and we know our clients do too. We understand how a patent infringement can drastically affect your business interests. Unchecked infringement can threaten markets, and the bottom line. On the other hand, bogus allegations of infringement can deter fair competition and innovation. If you believe that your patent rights have been infringed upon, you have been threatened with infringement allegations, have question about the rights of another patent holder, or are concerned that an individual or entity is infringing on your intellectual property rights, you can contact the experienced patent attorneys at Buche & Associates. Importantly, Buche & Associates specializes in patent law and patent litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants. We have represented both sides on various occasions, so we know how our opponent is likely evaluating a case. We bring this experience to the table for our clients. If you have questions about your rights as a patent owner or have concerns about patent infringement, you can contact us to assess your case. We know that patent litigation can be an expensive process, so our attorneys take care to fully assess any possible infringement strategies while carefully considering and informing our clients about the pros and cons of taking the infringer to court. If a client is being accused of patent infringement, we can provide counsel as to how best to deal with defense from a cost perspective, and find a solution that meets the needs of your business. Aggressive Representation You deserve aggressive legal representation. Buche & Associates will deliver this type of service. Not only do we have attorneys who are experts in the area of patent law, but we have attorneys who like to litigate and will be more than comfortable trying you case to a jury, judge, arbitration panel, mediator, or arguing in appellate forums. We have done all those things, and if your opponent is not reasonable in litigation or negotiation, we will find justice elsewhere by harnessing the other wheels of procedure. Being experts in these matters allows our attorneys to provide our clients with aggressive representation, and representation designed to secure their best interests. Venue and Patent Law In most cases, patent litigation proceeds in federal court. There may also be infringement cases that arise from administrative bodies like the International Trade Commission. Our attorneys find that venue is typically among the first arguments between parties where litigation is concerned. The choice of venue is important, particularly as it relates to the convenience of the parties involved in the case. Since many patented items are distributed globally, the most appropriate venue may be within federal jurisdictions. Also, these days, with some of the changes of the Patent Reform Act in place, there are numerous alternative venues for resolving patent disputes, but most notably the Patent Trial & Appeal Board or “PTAB” as it is commonly known. Most patent disputes will find their way into this forum or parallel litigations may sometimes proceed. The PTAB provides an administrative avenue to challenge the validity of patents. Much deference is now given to this board, so that that lawsuits filed in federal court are often “stayed” as the boards decide matters of patent validity on a claim-by-claim basis. There are a variety of procedures available for litigants at the PTAB including inter partes review (“IPR”), post grant review (“PGR”), and ex parte challenged mechanisms that are commonly used. At Buche & Associates, we have successfully deployed all of these procedural mechanisms to achieve good results for our clients. We are licensed at the Patent Office and are quite comfortable with these challenges and balancing them with the nuances of litigation in federal courts that span the country. In other cases, patent disputes will proceed by arbitration, where private judges decide matters of infringement, or they can involve proceedings at the International Trade Commission, which will consider proceedings to obtain exclusion orders What Are Some Remedies for Patent Infringement? Often, our clients seek legal counsel from us because they want another party to cease infringing upon their patent. They may want imports of patent-infringing products to stop. They may also desire—as is their right—monetary damages. In patent cases, the courts may award the patent owner damages as related to reasonable licensing royalties or lost profits of the plaintiff. It’s often necessary to solicit the advice of forensic economists to evaluate damages associated with patent infringements. Injunctions are also often sought to get the infringement shut down. In other cases, patent rights holders may seek exclusion orders, or seizures of infringing products with the cooperation of either the U.S. Marshall’s service or United States Customs & Border Protection which is part of the Office of Homeland Security. What Is the Procedure for Patent Infringement? Patent litigation in federal court is typically concerns three major focuses. We will elaborate upon them here: Claim Construction During the claim construction phase of litigation (which can occur at various times), the court will examine the language used in the claims to define the case’s scope. Each term in the claim is significant, and some more than others, which is why it’s essential to seek counsel from a law firm that has attorneys who specialize in patent law and real experience with federal litigation. At the beginning of this process, the court will assess the patent description and also evaluate the paperwork and file history that preceded the patent’s issuance. In some cases, the court may choose to employ an expert to decipher the claim as patents can be highly complex. The conclusion of this phase often ends with a Markman hearing, which may involve testimony from witnesses. Our attorneys have seen cases where the Markman construction nearly concludes the patent infringement case with a summary judgement. In these cases, a party might seek to elevate the case to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has a history of considerable reversal rates. Infringement Liability and Patent Validity The infringement liability and/or patent validity focus may or may not include damage evaluations. It’s during this phase that plaintiffs will attempt to prove that their patent has been violated by providing evidence, reports, and witnesses who attempt to prove that the defendant’s products or services have all the elements of the plaintiff’s patent claims. During this part of a trial, a defendant may argue that they did not infringe upon the patent or that the patent is invalid because of misuse of patent rights or by providing evidence that the patent should not have been issued (i.e., often because the invention wasn’t novel when the patent was issued or was too obvious ). Damages Arguing about damages is a particularly intensive part of the process as one might imagine. The plaintiff will want to achieve compensation for lost profits or sales, or to find a reasonable royalty. It’s common for both the plaintiff and defendant to call in forensic economists or accountants to review the case and present damage models. Sometimes the court will decide to separate phases of the case depending on the interests of justice. Enhanced Damages in Patent Cases If the plaintiff proves that the defendant willfully infringed on the patent owner’s rights, they can be liable for increased damages. If the defendant new that the patent was valid and continued to infringe upon the owner’s rights, they are liable. Declaratory Judgment Actions A party accused of patent infringement may be entitled to a Declaratory Judgment Action under federal law. This action is effectively a request for the court to decide if an activity is infringing upon the owner’s patent or if the patent is valid. Declaratory Judgment actions are often the first filings to win the venue battle, and to determine in which jurisdiction a patent case will be heard. Some jurisdictions, such as the legendary Eastern District of Texas have become known across the country for their role in resolving patent disputes, and spawning legislation. Choosing the Best Patent Attorneys Patent law involves many complexities. Both plaintiffs and defendants require experienced attorneys who specialize in this aspect of the law. Buche & Associates has expert patent attorneys who can represent you throughout the patent process, including patent infringement litigation. We maintain the latest software programs, technical applications, and docketing programs that help us manage the size and scope of your case. Our attorneys will meet with you to discuss your case, taking care to examine all of the issues to provide you with the best legal counsel. Because patent litigation is expensive, we will do our utmost to provide you with a value proposition, helping you decide if taking your case to court is in your best interests based on the merits of your case. Should you proceed with your case, you can expect unparalleled dedication from our attorneys as we work to achieve your goals.

Buche & Associates, P.C.

SAN DIEGO . LOS ANGELES . HOUSTON

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