Application Phase

After receiving a technical briefing by the inventor and having completely understood the technical content of the invention, we search for prior art technology to determine a suitable scope of rights.

Next, a first draft including a description of the invention (Detailed Description of the Invention) and the scope of rights (Patent Claims) is prepared. The inventor then inspects the first draft to ensure that the technical description is suitable and accurate.

An edited and revised draft is then submitted with bibliographic details to the patent office. This is called the ¡°filing¡± of the patent application. When an application is properly filed at the patent office, an application number is received shortly after the filing.

Office Action Phase

After an invention is filed, it undergoes an examination process. While there are

cases where inventions are directly registered as patents without any reasons for refusal given during the examining process, when reasons for refusal are given, the examiner issues a ¡°Notification of Reasons for Refusal¡±. The process of responding to an issued Notification of Reasons for Refusal is generally referred to as the Office Action phase.

To overcome the reasons for refusal given by the examiner, an amendment revising the submitted patent specification (especially revision of the patent claims within the scope of the initially filed content), and a written opinion responding to the reasons for refusal must be submitted within a designated timeframe (usually 2 months from the date of notification).

Registration Phase

When all the reasons of refusal from the examination process are resolved, the examiner issues a ¡°Notification of Decision to Grant a Patent¡±. The applicant that receives the Notification of Decision to Grant a Patent then pays a registration fee at the patent office, whereupon the patent is included in the patent registry, and the applicant is issued a patent registration certificate. Then, as a patent rights holder, the applicant is free to exercise the patent rights for the invention.

Ein¡¯s Expertise

While any layperson with training in the patent field could process patents of low technical caliber, processing of highly technical patents is difficult for those who have not majored in the respective fields.

Technical fields for patents can be broadly categorized into electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering.

Ein Patent Law Firm¡¯s experts include: a chief patent attorney who received a doctorate in material sciences from KAIST and worked as a manager in Samsung Electronics¡¯ semiconductor development division and subsequently, as a patent examiner (in semiconductors) at the patent office; and staff members with degrees in electronic engineering, material sciences, and mechanical engineering from KAIST, Yonsei University, Hanyang University, etc.

Therefore, if you would like to receive highly competent technical advice in the fields of electronic engineering, semiconductors, computers, and mechanical engineering, please call our office. We will be pleased to be of service.