Morrison & Foerster has one of the most experienced and highly regarded patent practices in the field. Our attorneys have played a significant role in the creation and protection of many of the landmark patent portfolios in the information technology and life science industries, working with clients such as La Jolla Corp., Novartis, Stanford University, Targeted Genetics, and the University of California.
We offer clients a patent counseling and prosecution practice that is unrivaled in its depth of experience, industry and technical expertise, and international scale.
Our patent attorneys are particularly skilled in the strategic planning of a patent portfolio, including writing successful patent applications in complex and novel situations, in anticipation of possible future litigation.
We work closely with clients from the earliest stages of their technical development, offering valuable advice about how to protect their inventions and new ideas in view of their business strategies. We are often called upon to advise clients on complex licensing, patent clearance, and adversarial matters, as well as to provide strategic business counsel regarding the development of products or technologies that may allegedly infringe patents held by competitors or that require the negotiation of royalty payments. When necessary, we assemble experienced teams of patent attorneys, patent litigators, and technical experts to address unique business or intellectual property issues that may arise.
Our patent practice includes two main technology sectors: biotechnologies, and electronics, software, and telecommunications.
Biotechnology
Within biotechnology, our attorneys have significant expertise in chemistry, DNA, pharmaceuticals, therapeutic biologics, production of biologics, drug delivery, medical devices, plants, nanotechnology.
Electronics
Within electronics, software, and telecommunications, we have particular expertise in software, computer hardware, Internet, telecommunications, semiconductors, electronic storage media, optical technologies, and digital signal processing technologies, as well as in "business method" patents.
Given the depth and breadth of our experience, we are able to work with clients seeking patent protection and counseling in virtually any field. For example, we have a growing nanotechnology practice, representing clients primarily in the materials and bionano areas.
Calling on our attorneys with outstanding expertise in the life sciences, materials, and chemistry areas, we are able to provide cutting-edge patent prosecution and counseling advice to our clients in this complex and demanding new area of patent practice.