1. Patent strategy in the IT era Frank Callus, Principal Henry Hughes Patent Attorneys New Zealand www.henryhughes.com

2. Overview  Client education  Free online information & search tools for clients  Level of prior art searching  First filings  International filing strategy  Other search options  Cost reduction measures

3. Client education  Information for clients – patents/designs/trade marks  Clients should know what to look for – novelty destroying disclosure  Client self-screening can provide cost-saving  If search negative, client contacts patent attorney

4. Free online information for clients  NZ Intellectual Property Office: www.iponz.govt.nz/cms/what-is-a-patent  IP Australia: www.ipaustralia.gov.au/get-the-right-ip/patents  UK Intellectual Property Office: www.ipo.gov.uk/patent.htm  Firm websites, e.g. Henry Hughes: www.henryhughes.com/Site/A_Beginners_Guide/Patents.aspx

5. Free online search tools for clients  Google Patents: www.google.com/patents  Dog Pile (Google, Yahoo! And Bing): www.dogpile.com

6. Case example  Client has idea for motorcycle helmet with built-in brake light  Client says he has searched for prior art but a keyword search on Google Patents reveals…

8. Level of prior art searching  Balance between cost of search vs. cost of protection  Specialist search websites (free): WIPO: www.wipo.int USPTO: www.uspto.gov EPO: www.espacenet.com IP Australia: www.ipaustralia.gov.au

9. First filings  What: Provisional specification (with claims)  Where: If NZ inventor, can file in NZ or other countries  When: Advantage in filing US provisional first if US market is important (e.g. biotech)

10. Examples of NZ funding agencies  Foundation for Research, Science and Technology: www.frst.govt.nz  Grow Wellington: www.growwellington.co.nz  Movac: www.movac.co.nz

11. International filing strategy  PCT International Application  European Patent Application  Convention application, e.g. US application

12. Other search options  Monitoring progress of competitor’s applications: - Open websites: USPTO, EPO, Aus - Closed websites: IPONZ  Private search companies, e.g. RWS: www.rws.com Patent seekers: www.patentseekers.com  Freedom to operate, due diligence

13. Cost reduction measures  File PCT Applications using PCT- SAFE or PCT-EASY: www.wipo.int/pct-safe/en/download  Single agent for multiple countries  Exchange rate comparison: www.xe.com/ucc  Provide local agents with electronic specification in editable form

14. Case example Time -2 months 0 months 12 months 13 months Idea 1Idea 2Idea 3Idea 4 Provisional A Provisional B Provisional C PCT Early National Phase in NZ

15. Case example continued Time 16 months 18 months 25 months 30 months 31 months NZ Examination ISR & Opinion PCT Publication Grant A & BDivisional C China Australia Korea Early national phase in US US Freedom Search Early national phase in EU EU Divisional

16. Frank Callus, Principal Adrian Evans, Senior Associate frankcallus@henryhughes.co.nz