What Is a Registered Patent Attorney?

A registered patent attorney represents clients who wish to register a patent at the patent office in their region. Registered patent attorneys, also called patent attorneys, are typically well versed in all areas of patent law. Whether the person seeking the patent registration has begun the process or not, a registered patent attorney usually sees the patent through until the end.

Many registered patent attorneys have completed law school and are certified or licensed to practice law within their regions. Whether or not a patent attorney is required to complete law school depends on the region where he or she practices. In some cases, a registered patent attorney specialize in patent law and exclusively represents patent-seeking clients. In other cases, the client base may be comprised of some patent seekers as well as clients in need of other types of legal representation.

A registered patent attorney may work in an office or out of his or her home. Much of the work is completed online and through phone calls, making a storefront unnecessary in many cases. Typically, when the attorney agrees to take on a client, a fee is set and a contract signed. The contract spells out what is expected of the attorney and what if any deadlines are applicable.

Registering a patent is a finely tuned process, with many deadlines in place. The registered patent attorney should be well versed in all such deadlines and proper filing methods to ensure the client does not lose his or her rights to the patent registration. A good patent attorney should keep clients informed about the progress of their patents.

The timing of a patent registration is important. To miss deadlines could mean someone else steps in and sweeps the patent away, thereby owning all rights to the invention or product. Due to the risk involved, a patent attorney typically carries liability insurance in case a deadline is missed.

When disagreements arise regarding any part of the patent registration process, the registration patent attorney represents the client. This can include disagreements about patent fees, time tables, or other issues that can arise. Once the patent is accurately registered, the relationship between the client and the registered patent attorney typically ends.