Patent attorney/agent with knowledge of linguistics Best answer on the web
The knowledge of linguistics may have been obtained by previous work done on few (2-3) patents to issuance in the USPTO field of 434/156 and 434/157 ((USPTO classification 434=education and demonstration; Subclassifications 156=Language instructions, 157=Foreign languages) 'OR' formal training in linguistics 'OR' deep interest in linguistics. (Linguistics can also be learnt as a part of Child Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, or Education ETC, ETC) You should do a brief check on their knowledge of linguistics. (In order to check that, you yourself need not be a linguist. You only have to ask questions and listen. See at the end 3 suggested questions.)
The attorney/ agent must be EXPERIENCED as shown by sufficient number of patents to issuance they worked on (that you should cross-check from USPTO website).
If you can suggest even one patent attorney/ agent that fits the 2 criteria, I will accept it as an answer. Regards
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CHECKING THE KNOWLEDGE OF LIGUISTICS
I suggest the following questions:
i) Do you have good knowledge of Language Theories (especially L1 Theory)? ii) Are you aware of famous language teaching methodologies? Which ones do you know? Do you know those associated with Stephen Krashen, and James Asher? iii) Have you read the works of famous linguists esp in the field of Child Language? Which ones? Have you read Chomsky's in the field of linguistics? If they answer only some of the above questions adequately, you may consider them eligible.
He works for a massive and diverse law firm encompassing a broad spectrum of legal concerns -- from Health Care to Venture Capital -- and everything in between. Its intellectual property sector has issued 1,495 patents. It has about 20 lawyers and agents working in that sector worldwide, in addition to a myriad of other associates.
>Between you and me, if he thinks, he is a rarity, do you think he
>would jack up his fee?
Well, it's actually between you, me, and the world, since Google Answers is a public site. :) Let me just say that, although I do not know him, he sounds very upstanding and very kind.
>Does he know that you are doing this search on somebody else's behalf?
Yes.
>What does he know about me? If he does not know, keep it that way.
Absolutely nothing other than you have commissioned a service to find you a lawyer or agent with your criteria.
>From his education and language proficiency that you described, he is >perhaps A first generation Bosnian or Russian Serb who had part of his >university education in Ljubljiana Slovenia. (I may be wrong.)
That's exactly right.
>Can I ask if he is an American citizen?
Yes.
>Are referrals possible?
I don't think that should be a problem, but I will check with him.
Would you like me to post his and his firm's contact information as an answer and you can get in contact with him directly?
jbf
There is a patent agent on unipat.org with adequate academic credentials but not enough experience as he has no patents issued under his name as per search on the website. So exclude him.
I contacted every company on the patent numbers he gave me and was able to reach these two:
ASKO, Inc.
==========
Zelt, III; Albert R. (Bethel Park, PA)
http://www.askoinc.com/
Patents: 6,314,388; 6,082,238
Phone: 800.321.1310
"I like him and would recommend him... He was very quick to pick up the technology and help write it... Ultimate fee was right within the range of what was quoted up-front."
Respironics
============
Hete; Bernie F. (Trafford, PA)
http://www.respironics.com
Patent: 5,701,883
Phone: 724.387.5200
"Yes, Ian did work on that patent with me. I think he did a fantastic job. We had quite a bit of communication as I recall... He was able to figure out what we were doing... very enjoyable to work with. I would give him a high recommendation."
Few clarifications:
The firm is indeed large. The client list you quoted indicates that it possibly is not merely a patent firm. If it is, fine but if it is not, may I know how much focus they have on patent (eg, by the number of patents issued in the firm's name and number of patent agents/ attorneys)?
Between you and me, if he thinks, he is a rarity, do you think he would jack up his fee? Does he know that you are doing this search on somebody else's behalf? What does he know about me? If he does not know, keep it that way.
I am asking so that when I approach him finally, I introduce myself accordingly.
Are the referrals possible? One way is to talk to the two inventors whose names appear on the patent documents issued.
Thanks so much for the kind words, rating, and very generous tip! Did everything end up working out with Ian?
Please do not hesitate to ask for any additional assistance!
jbf
Questions posted in the morning are not answered/ not answered adequately yet. Awaiting. Best regards
A GENERAL point: A corporation's size does not always speak about the quality of the EACH personnel. I myself worked for a top US investment bank. Behind several advisors' suave facade, polished demeanor and impressive degrees often lay an incredible amount of incompetence, undiscovered for years.
But I also feel that Mr Samways does seem to have right credentials.
Please do let me know after you hear from Medrad, Inc. and Centria corporations.
Best regards
PS:
Thanks for the estimate range (search cost $800-1500; patent $7-12K).
Ethnic origin - not important; I was just playing Sherlock Holmes.
He is been working in the field of patents as an ATTORNEY since 1996. How come he has only 2 patents issued in his name? Can I have some idea about the size of the firm he works for? How long has been with that firm? Is he an American citizen?
Directly asked him.
>2. Btw, DOES HE KNOW that among patent attorneys/agents he is a
>rarity?
I believe so.
>PS: Do you ever sleep?
Yeah, I need my 8 hours. :) Btw, due to the nature of this setup, after I confirm his willingness to submit referrals, would you mind him giving them to you directly?
jbf
Can we pick up 2-3 client-inventors from such patents and speak to them regarding this patent attorney/ agent ANONYMOUSLY? The anonymous referral checks are the routine in business, I believe. We will have a better probability for finding an inventor to speak to if we look at the latest patents.
Here is my request: Can YOU do it? I will make up to you, I assure you, for this.
What to ask? Simple questions:
Would they recommend him?
Did they find his fee reasonable?
Or, what you may think fit.
Just in case, the feedback is bad and I decide not to hire him, your answer fee, ratings and tip are assured anyway. Alternatively, I can also increase the price of the question right now.
I would just suggest saying "via Google Answers," and explain to him how our service works.
The reality is, the referral focus is really not "him," it's "it." Ian is a represenative of one of the foremost law firms in the country, which has done law work for a bevy of massive corporations. You simply don't do business at that level unless you are at the top of your game. The referral is implicit. His work speaks for himself, because his company is obviously quite successful, and they wouldn't have him on board for the length of time he has been there if he didn't know his right hand from his left.
Nonetheless, I did call Medrad, Inc. and Centria corporations. I should hopefully be hearing back within the next day or so, and I'll post what they have to say.
Here is his latest email:
What I can tell you generally is that full utility (not provisional)
applications here can often run in the range of $7000 or less to $12000 or more, totally depending on the complexity of the technology involved, the number of distinct inventions disclosed, the presentation by the inventor of new or updated information during the patent drafting process that might unexpectedly extend the process, the number of drawings needed, whether it requires expedited attention, and so many other factors. Initial patentability searches, including our preliminary analysis of the results, could run in the range of $800 or more to $1500 or more, totally dependent on how extensive the client wants the search to be as well as other factors.
We do not typically have readily available referrals along the lines that you describe. My best suggestion for the client, would be for him to take some time to review our website (www.reedsmith.com), and particularly the intellectual property section of it. We have a large, dedicated team of patent attorneys and agents attending to patent litigation and prosecution alike, and our website provides some general information about the group and its accomplishments.
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Also, my apologies as to his ethnic origin. I completely misread your question for some strange reason. I do not know his ethnic origin. At this point, he would like to speak with you directly. In your talking with him, you could easily ask him.
His name is Ian Samways; his resume is here:
http://www.reedsmith.com/ourattorneys/viewAttorney.cfm?itemid=1557
Here is Reed Smith's home page:
http://www.reedsmith.com/
Also, I can just post this as an answer, and you can tip however you'd like. Thanks!
Search Strategy:
calls, emails, and
google search: "patent attorney OR agent" linguistics
As I put additional feelers out with the revised criteria, you may want to repost this question when it expires in the next week and a half [if you're still looking for an answer at that time].
Here are some patents:
6,400,569
6,390,312
6,339,718
6,314,388
6,253,511
6,118,063
6,098,823
6,083,439
6,082,238
5,701,883
The samples help illustrate that my 13 years' experience in drafting patents has
covered a broad range of technologies. However, as I mentioned over the
telephone, I also have some academic and self-taught experience in different
branches of linguistics (including applied linguistics) and am proficient in
several foreign languages. Furthermore, I have extensive experience with each
of the following:
- teaching or tutoring English as a Second Language (on and off since 1985);
- teaching or tutoring Russian to Americans; and
- translation work, including complex technical translations from German to
English.
Overall, I think my extensive background in languages and linguistics, both on
the theoretical and a
"We now have nearly 1000 lawyers in 16 offices in the U.S. and 2 in the U.K., and we are counsel to 29 of the top 30 United States banks; 26 of the Fortune e-50 companies; 9 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies; and 50 of the world's leading drug and device manufacturers."
Looks like we have found your man. I just got off the phone with him. His name only appears twice in USPTO office because the majority of patents drafted by him were actually done under his firm name. He has drafted dozens of patents and he has both an academic background and general interest in linguistics. I am awaiting a final email from him with some examples.
Thanks for being patient in this hunt!
jbf777-ga
GA Researcher
Can I ask if he is an American citizen?
Double click REC on the World bar. Name the macro such as Beautify.
Replace double paragraph marks with some characters such as 3 stars ***.
Replace single paragraph marks with space.
Now, replace *** marks with double para marks.
Replace double space with single space. Do it repeatedly.
What is para mark? Click More - Special on Word's Replace function.
The solution may not be full proof but you may perfect it.
Thanks.
>A GENERAL point: A corporation's size does not always speak about the >quality of the EACH personnel. I myself worked for a top US investment >bank. Behind several advisors' suave facade, polished demeanor and
>impressive degrees often lay an incredible amount of incompetence,
>undiscovered for years.
True, but in the case of patent attorneys, their competence in terms of applied skills is on display for all to see at the uspto web site.
>But I also feel that Mr Samways does seem to have right credentials. >Please do let me know after you hear from Medrad, Inc. and Centria
>corporations.
Most certainly.
>Thanks for the estimate range (search cost $800-1500; patent $7-12K).
No problem.
jbf
If he asks:
"How did you come to know of me?"
What do I say,
"From jb777."
"jb777 who?"
Btw, you are in touch with them on phone or thru email?
Have a very good night.
Another lead. This guy has 2 patents in his name, and he seems to belong to a sizeable firm. Definitely looks like he has the background you're looking for, but didn't know if 2 issued patents were enough. Anyway, let me know if you want me to pursue this.
Here's some info:
He focuses his practice on the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and international patent applications. He has had considerable experience in adapting foreign priority applications to the standards of U.S. practice.
His specialties are principally in the mechanical field, but he has also done chemical, electrical, and computer-related patent work. Some representative technologies that he has worked with include: architectural panel systems, computer software and hardware, medical devices, metal forming processes and equipment, mining apparatus, piano keyboards, polymer materials and steelmaking equipment.
He's been there since 1996 - Handled patent prosecution on behalf of several major European corporations
1987 Graduate work at Yale, Quantitative linguistics (including acoustic phonetics) and Russian/East European area studies (including transportation economics) Univerza Edvarda Kardelja (University of Ljubljana), Ljubljana, Slovenia (former Yugoslavia), Certificate in Slovenian Language, Literature and Culture
He is fluent in Russian, highly proficient in German and Swedish, proficient in French, has a good working knowledge of Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian, and has a good reading knowledge of Norwegian and Danish. He is also highly experienced in technical translation, especially from German to English.
He and his wife, Merrie Beth reside in central Pittsbugh. Outside of work, he assumes leadership and committee roles at The Religious Society of Friends, Pittsburgh, and, through Reed Smith's connection with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council (GPLC), volunteers as a tutor of English as a Second Language in a local Bosnian community.
Saw your other message. I am indeed still here!
jbf
g'night,
jbf
1. Just curious. Regarding his origin, you checked or inferred like I did? 2. Btw, DOES HE KNOW that among patent attorneys/agents he is a rarity? Best Regards
PS: Do you ever sleep?
Those going to work for ya?
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