Monday, May 15, 2023

Q&A with GTC Law Group Principal John Monocello

John Monocello is a principal and patent strategy specialist with GTC Law Group. He leads the strategy and prosecution efforts for companies in various technology areas and has extensive experience in the life sciences, medical technology, and robotics domains. 

John recently shared how GTC Law Group leverages technology to support communication, productivity, and patent quality within the firm. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Patent Bots founder Jeff O’Neill is a practicing patent attorney with GTC Law Group.


Patent Bots: GTC Law Group embraced remote work long before the pandemic. Why is that?

John Monocello: The type of work we do does not require us to be in a downtown highrise or what you would typically think of as an office for a law firm. We don’t do litigation. We don't go into court. We’re very much a patent strategy firm and work on transactions.

Long before the pandemic, we had people based all over the country. 

When you’re not limited by geography and requiring people to come into an office, you can attract excellent talent. You can be a little bit more flexible in this model and meet people where they are as far as childcare responsibilities, work-life balance, etc. In doing so, you get access to talent that might otherwise be disengaged from the workforce. 


PB: How has your firm leveraged technology to facilitate remote work?

JM: In a remote work environment, you have to be available because you can't just pop by someone’s desk or bump into each other at the watercooler. So, our culture leans toward overcommunication. We are very, very communicative – calling each other, instant messaging on Microsoft Teams, that sort of thing. 

We use various tools to collaborate around workflows and projects because email is just not very satisfying to work with. For example, we manage our approval processes using tools on the Office 365 platform.

We always have email running in the background for more formal communications, but we have a culture of very frequent communication across multiple channels.  


PB: GTC ranked second among firms with 50+ patents issued in our 2023 Patent Quality Rankings. How has your firm developed a culture of quality? 

JM: Good patent work requires excellent checklists and processes that you develop and hone over years of practice. 

Inside of those checklists and processes are the tools you use to maintain quality and consistency. For example, we require our people to use Patent Bots. It is not an optional tool. We don’t say, “This is something cool that you can use.” No. It's required.

Quality is not just a philosophy. It’s a methodology. 

Everyone on our team uses the same technologies and everyone is trained and versed in the checklist and the expectations. By requiring technology use at critical points in the process, we've been able to increase our quality and accuracy over time. 


PB: Patent quality is about more than technology, right?

JM: Absolutely! You have to leave room for the artistry of the individual practitioner. You have to leverage technology and discipline to maintain consistency and quality in the work product, but you don't want to suppress that individual artistry.  

That “artistry” is even more important in GTC’s strategic approach to developing business-relevant patent portfolios. Our approach requires significant creativity beyond the typical best practices for drafting and prosecuting a patent application.  

At GTC, we really respect the individual. We support our people with our remote work culture and with our commitment to process and technology. As a result, we don’t have a lot of turnover. People want to be here and we want to support them as practitioners and as people. 

Patent Bots and NAPP Partner to Deliver Patent Tools to NAPP Members

NAPP’s purchase of Patent Bots subscription grants members access to tools leveraging AI and big data. 


Patent Bots and The National Association of Patent Practitioners (NAPP) have partnered to deliver innovative software tools leveraging AI and big data to NAPP’s 350+ members.

As a part of the benefits of membership, NAPP members will now receive a subscription to Patent Bots Prep & Pros Pro, which is one of four software-as-a-service applications available through the Patent Bots platform.

“I've only been using Prep & Pros Pro for a short time, but it has already proven itself useful,” said NAPP board member and past president Dan Krueger, a practicing patent attorney. “The Office Action Explorer utility alone would be worth my annual NAPP membership fee. In my mind, the value of NAPP membership has just doubled.”

Patent Bots Prep & Pros Pro helps patent agents and attorneys streamline their existing workflows and improve their deliverables in a number of ways, including:

  • Reducing errors with AI-enabled patent proofreading. 
  • Saving time by automating tedious patent drafting tasks.
  • Increasing profits by finishing fixed-fee work in less time. 

“The average patent contains eight easily-detectable errors,” Patent Bots founder and practicing patent attorney Jeff O’Neill said. “Patent Bots Prep & Pros Pro will help NAPP members obtain stronger patents with fewer errors and broader applicability.”

Monday, April 17, 2023

2023 Patent Quality Rankings: The Top 50 Patent Law Firms

Patent Bots is pleased to announce its fourth annual Patent Quality Rankings of top patent law firms. 

We used our advanced machine learning software to review every patent issued  over 320,000!  by the USPTO in the past year. We then ranked the 746 most active patent law firms based on the average number of numbering, antecedent basis, and word support errors detected in their patents.

Our rankings are based only on the above errors and do not address many other important aspects of patent quality. 

Patent Accuracy: By the Numbers.

Before we unveil the top 50 patent law firms, let's take a look at the state of patent accuracy.
  • 323,393 patents processed by the Patent Bots AI
  • 33,425 (10.3%) patents achieved a perfect Patent Quality Score
  • 7.9 average errors per patent
  • 5 median errors per patent
Nearly 290,000 (90%) of all patents issued in the last year contained at least one numbering, antecedent basis, or word support error. There is clearly room for improved accuracy in the industry. 

That is why Patent Bots created the world's fastest and most accurate patent drafting and proofreading solution. Try Patent Bots FREE for 14 days.

Now, on to the rankings!

2023 Patent Quality Rankings: Top 10 Large Firms.

We've segmented America's most active patent firms (those with at least 500 patents issued in the last year) into a Large Firms list to recognize their prolific patent practices. 

For the full Top 50 ranking of patent firms, keep scrolling! 

For the second consecutive year, Harrity & Harrity held the top spot in the rankings. Congratulations to Harrity & Harrity and the rest of these large firms for doing amazing work over the last year! 



RankLaw FirmPatents IssuedQuality Score
1Harrity & Harrity, LLP77096.5
2Holland & Hart LLP108195.3
3Global IP Counselors, LLP50989.4
4Chip Law Group91088.5
5Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC849< 84.3
6Patterson + Sheridan, LLP1606< 84.3
7McDermott Will & Emery LLP1238< 84.3
8Lowenstein Sandler LLP792< 84.3
9Dority & Manning, P.A.1527< 84.3
10Studebaker & Brackett PC1248< 84.3


2023 Patent Quality Rankings: Top 50 Firms Overall. 

Large firms don't have a monopoly on patent accuracy. Smaller firms with between 50 and 500 patents granted are doing excellent work as well. 

A quick note about the rankings: Some companies file their own patents rather than filing through outside counsel. In these instances, the company is both the patent filer AND the patent owner and is included in our rankings as both a firm and a company. The company rankings will be released later this year.

(If you don't see your firm on the list below, review our full list inside our PatentVerse. You'll need to log in to see your firm's ranking as we don't want to publicly identify firms with lower scores.)


RankLaw FirmPatents IssuedQuality Score
1Harrity & Harrity LLP/Qualcomm Incorporated7499.9
2GTC Law Group PC & Affiliates16799.7
3Commvault Systems, Inc.7898.9
4Holland & Hart LLP/Qualcomm Incorporated9298.9
5Hartman & Citrin LLC8298.8
6The Pattani Law Group5398.1
7Lawrence Youst PLLC5097.9
8FIG. 1 Patents23997.6
9Getz Balich LLC13297.5
10Dascenzo Gates Intellectual Property Law, P.C.5296.7
11Duft & Bornsen, PC13296.7
12Harrity & Harrity, LLP77096.5
13Lindauer Law, PLLC9496.2
14Mori & Ward, LLP12595.7
15Holland & Hart LLP108195.3
16Konrad Raynes Davda & Victor LLP10995.1
17Akona IP PC15095
18Caldwell Intellectual Property Law28494
19Robinson Intellectual Property Law Office14193.7
20Volentine, Whitt & Francos, PLLC20593.6
21Behmke Innovation Group LLC14392.5
22Alleman Hall Creasman & Tuttle LLP42792
23Kolitch Romano Dascenzo Gates LLC5492
24Guntin & Gust, PLC44991.8
25Lanway IPR Services11091.5
26Qualcomm Incorporated42591.3
27Han IP PLLC7990.8
28The Small Patent Law Group LLC23990.7
29Ferguson Braswell Fraser Kubasta PC13690.3
30Pramudji Law Group PLLC6489.8
31Cha & Reiter, LLC28489.8
32Garlick & Markison21389.8
33Kenja IP Law PC20689.4
34Global IP Counselors, LLP50989.4
35Solaris Intellectual Property Group, PLLC8389.3
36Rowand LLP9889.3
37McGarry Bair PC24489.2
38Keller Preece PLLC24089.2
39Darrow Mustafa PC29689.2
40Chip Law Group91088.5
41Dierker & Kavanaugh PC5187.6
42Neustel Law Offices8587.4
43Fernando & Partners, LLP12687.1
44Brient IP Law, LLC8586.2
45Innovation Counsel LLP29986.1
46Kile Park Reed & Houtteman PLLC31785.6
47Servilla Whitney LLC22585
48Renaissance IP Law Group LLP16184.9
49Novak Druce Carroll LLP5084.3
50Kubota & Basol LLP11084.3


Patent Quality Rankings Methodology. 

The Patent Quality Rankings are based only on average errors in issued patents and don't address other important aspects of patent quality. 

For purpose of computing quality scores, we used only numbering errors, antecedent basis errors, and word support errors (words that don't appear in the detailed description).

Although we may over- or under-count errors in an individual patent, the average number of errors across all of a firm's patents is a good indicator of the overall quality of the firm's work. 

Learn more about our methodology.



Thursday, February 23, 2023

Q&A with Patent Scientist Bree A. Vculek

Bree A. Vculek is a patent scientist with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and a fourth year evening law student at The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.

She recently shared her thoughts on the patent industry with Patent Bots. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.


Patent Bots: What inspired you to pursue patent law?

Bree Vculek: I grew up on a farm in rural North Dakota. At a very early age, I was involved in scouting fields and reviewing test plots. Farmers and those in agriculture are incredibly innovative and meticulous. With so much uncertainty (weather, markets, etc.), they work hard to identify varieties, chemistries, and technologies that perform best within their operation.

Later, in my biotechnology graduate program at Texas A&M University, I got my first "taste" of intellectual property through the research and development of a mobile plant pathology diagnostic technology. At the conclusion of my internship, I participated in a strategic meeting between the scientists (me!) and legal and business development professionals. 

I was starstruck. I credit that meeting as a pivotal moment in my career. As I walked back to my office, I committed myself to being in more rooms like that and to understanding science, business, and the law. 


PB: What female role models influenced your development as a professional?

BV: I was born into a family of strong, independent, smart, and savvy women. Although not professionally trained in science or law, my mom, grandmas, and aunts were tremendous early influences in my professional development.

Beyond family, I’ve had a variety of dynamic academic and professional opportunities that included smart, compassionate, driven, innovative, and self-aware female role models. These women have influenced the way I show up in my day to day and how I strategically formulate and execute on my goals.


PB: What legal tech do you use in your own practice?

BV: Legal technology is an amazing asset necessary to do our best work and provide our clients with excellence. As a patent scientist, I’ve used legal technology to assist with case management, billing/time tracking, document management and automation, examiner statistics, and proofreading. 

I’m excited to continue to implement new legal technologies throughout my practice. It seems like something new emerges every day!


PB: On LinkedIn, you shared that you were interested in the intersection of AI and IP law. What are you expecting in 2023?

BV: As machine learning engineer Santiago L. Valdarrama said: "AI will not replace you, a person using AI will." 

The use of AI in intellectual property will only continue to grow. That raises questions like … 

  • How can we use AI to serve our clients and communities better as IP professionals?
  • What duty do we have to learn and implement AI tools into our practices?
  • How will we overcome the challenges that come with patenting AI?
  • How will we cite the support of AI in both inventorship and authorship? 

I think the discussion around these questions will continue to evolve throughout 2023 and beyond! 


PB: What is one thing you would change about the IP industry?

BV: I am still relatively new to the IP industry. That said, I think we as IP professionals can do more to build awareness for careers in IP. This is a really incredible, dynamic, and fulfilling field that many do not know exists. 

People often share with me that they "kind of fell into IP." That’s great (and true for me, too!) but I wonder how many talented professionals we’re missing because they didn’t know about careers in IP. 

I’ve made sharing awareness of our field a mini-mission of mine and I know many others are doing the same. The more the better!

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Happy Fifth Birthday to Patent Bots!

Happy birthday to us! In February 2018, our founder and practicing patent attorney Jeff O'Neill officially created our company and launched the first version of the Patent Bots platform. 


We’ve come a long way since our founding five years ago. Today, the Patent Bots platform consists of four primary software-as-a-service applications. 


Here’s a quick look at the many ways our busy busy bots go to work for you in a typical month.  

  • We proofread 30,000 patents.
  • We help draft 3,500 applications.
  • We display 2,300 examiner stats pages.
  • We generate 2,300 patent family trees.
  • We predict art units for 1,500 applications.

Big thanks to all of YOU who’ve supported us through the years!




Friday, December 9, 2022

Product Updates: Office Action Explorer, Flowchart Generation, and More

In our December 2022 product update, we unveiled new features and shared best practices for getting the most from your investment in Patent Bots. 

Too busy to watch the whole video? Use the timestamps below to skip ahead to some of our favorite new features and product enhancements. 

 

🤖 USPTO Patent Number Search [3:00] 🤖

Our new USPTO Patent Number Search is a quick, simple alternative to searching by number in the USPTO’s Public Patent Search tool.

You'll want to bookmark this link! Search by number now -> https://www.patentbots.com/uspto-patent-number-search


🤖 Office Action Explorer [4:00] 🤖

Juggling documents while reviewing office actions is a total pain! Learn how to simplify office action response with our Office Action Explorer. It’s available at no additional charge (yes, FREE!) with your existing Patent Bots Prep & Pros Pro subscription!


🤖 PPT/Visio Flowchart Generation [20:00] 🤖

Our latest drafting automation tool enables you to generate Powerpoint and Visio flowcharts from method claims in just a few clicks.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

2022 Patent Bots Quality Rankings: The Top Companies

Patent Bots is pleased to announce its third annual Patent Quality Rankings of top companies. (We previously announced our Top 50 patent law firms and our Top 10 firms by Tech Center.)

We reviewed every patent issued by the USPTO in the past year  over 300,000!  using our advanced machine learning software. 

We then ranked nearly 750 companies with 50+ patents issued based on the average number of numbering, antecedent basis, and word support errors detected in their patents. Our rankings are based only on these errors and do not address many other important aspects of patent quality. 

(If your company is not on the Top 10 lists below, review our full list inside our PatentVerse. If your company is ranked outside the Top 50, you'll need to log in as we don't want to publicly identify companies with lower scores.)

2022 Patent Quality Rankings: Top 10 Large Companies.

Cisco Technology ranked first among companies with 250+ patents issued in the last year. Cisco, which patented 903 inventions in the last year, began using the Patent Bots automated proofreading solution in 2018.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions and Kyocera Document Solutions ranked second and third, respectively, among large companies. They were followed by Yazaki Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, AT&T Intellectual Property, Semiconductor Energy Lab, Toyota Motor Corporation, Western Digital Tech, and Qualcomm Inc.

Congratulations to Cisco and the rest of these large companies for doing amazing work over the last year! 


2022 Patent Quality Rankings: Top 10 Mid-Sized Companies. 

Large companies don't have a monopoly on patent accuracy. Among mid-sized companies with between 100 and 249 patents issued, the top three patent quality scores were held by Zoox Inc., IGT, and Haier US Appliance Solutions, respectively.

They were followed by Nanya Technology Corporation, JTEKT Corporation, InnoLux Corporation, Commvault Systems, Zeon Corporation, SanDisk Technologies, and Snowflake Inc.



Patent Accuracy: By the Numbers.

The Patent Quality Rankings are based only on average number of numbering errors, antecedent basis errors, and word support errors in issued patents and don't address other important aspects of patent quality. Here's a quick look at the state of patent accuracy.
  • 322,000 patents processed by the Patent Bots AI
  • 16,434 patents achieved a perfect Patent Bots Quality Score
  • 11.2 average errors per patent
  • 7 median errors per patent
More than 305,000 patents issued contained at least one numbering, antecedent basis, or word support error. There is clearly room for improved accuracy in the industry. 

That is why Patent Bots created the world's fastest and most accurate patent drafting and proofreading solution. Try Patent Bots FREE for 14 days.