Ryan Ward published “When Patent Prosecution Becomes Something More” in the September 2025 issue of The Intellectual Property Strategist. The following is an excerpt:
Most days, preparing and prosecuting patent applications follows a familiar rhythm. Talk with the inventors. Draft the application. Wait for the Patent Office. Argue a few times. Secure the patent. Repeat.
But every so often, a case reminds us that our work can mean much more — especially when something has gone wrong, and someone needs an advocate to make it right.
In December 2022, a client transferred several U.S. patent matters to us — some pending, some abandoned. During our very first call, the client expressed deep frustration. A piece of prior art, filed after their original Chinese application in December 2015, was threatening their U.S. patent rights. Something didn’t add up.
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