Nowadays, patent docketing has become an important tool for patent law firms. This is because the process of the patent application is quite hectic and also generates a great deal of paperwork. As a result, it gets cumbersome for the firms to maintain their tracks and keep a check on the various deadlines. To ease out the process, various IP law firms hire patent docket specialists or outsource docketing services.
In this article, we will focus mainly on how patent docketing process is so important for patent law firms. But first, let us see the fundamentals of patent docketing.
What is Patent Docketing?
Patent docketing is a crucial tool that law firms use to manage the patent application process. A patent law firm deals with so many patent applications at a given time. As a result, it gets difficult to organize the applications and remember the deadlines. Docketing alerts attorneys about upcoming important dates.
Thus, it gets imperative to seek help from a docketing specialist for application management. The demand for docketing is high because the approval process is long. A single patent application takes years for getting through the USPTO system. Even as the patent application is underway patent prosecution, a lot of filings, patent office deadlines, documents, forms, statements, etc., needs to be done. This is why, docketing is used as it ensures timely filings, accurate document labeling, and paperwork organization. Not only this makes the process less hectic but also ensures that every document can be retrieved whenever needed.
Also Read: Importance of Patent Docketing Services
Advantages of Patent Docketing in the Patent Application Process
Maintaining a Patent Portfolio
As there are hundreds of patent applications underway at USPTO, patent docketing helps to keep a check on them. A patent docketing specialist creates a patent portfolio that works as an automated patent docketing system.
Enable Multiple Patent Docketing
Patent docketing tools enable IP law firms to docket thousands of cases at once. Along with the cases’ highlights, it also keeps track of important case-related documents in docketing database.
Also Read: How Do Patent Docket Specialists Maintain Accuracy?
Case-Related Information
Patent docketing analyzes and informs the patent attorney about upcoming important dates and case-related deadlines. A patent is a multi-faceted process involving numerous approvals. Therefore, it gets important to keep a data track of deadlines, dates for patent applications, drawings, statements, etc. It also becomes easy for expert paralegal to access specific information.
Timely Action
The patent applications have important patent office deadlines and due dates. If missed, they can even cause abandonment of the application. Even if they are recoverable (in some cases), they cost a lot of extra money and time. Patent docketing keep a track of dates and informs beforehand so that there are no missing deadlines. If there is a failure in timely filings, the company will have to pay an extra fee to reinstate the failed application. This fee is $1620 for a large company and around half that for smaller companies. Moreover, if the patent attorney misses a deadline and fails to apply on time, there are high chances that the client will not work with that firm or attorney. Thus, a docketing system is one of their most important tools for law firms for maintaining portfolio of patents.
Data Organization
In a patent law firm accurate document labeling becomes crucial for ease. These documents are labeled along with their name, place, and file number. Moreover, docketing ensures that a portfolio of patents is managed and information is inserted into the database. This is helpful in easy access for patent paralegals and attorneys. Patent attorneys can check the database to locate the documents and view related deadlines.
Protecting Intellectual Property
The patent process is aimed to safeguard intellectual property (patent in this case). Protecting intellectual property is crucial for boosting creativity, invention, and innovation. Along with innovation, it also boosts competition, economic growth, and job creation. Protection of intellectual property depends upon the successful management of patent portfolios and patent application documents.
What is docketing at a law firm?
Docketing is a system that keeps a track of all the cases, their related documents, and other information. Docketing at any law firm differs with the type of that firm and what kind of cases it deals with. For example, an IP law firm works with patents, trademarks, copyright, etc. It helps to meet deadlines during patent filing.
However, for any law firm a docket usually has calendar items like meeting schedules, grant dates, case deadlines, court filings, client obligations, marketing schedules, hearing dates, etc. Timely and regular tracking of all the cases for every member is very critical. On-time tracking and filings increase productivity and thus successful outcomes. Therefore, the prime key to managing a docket is to develop schedules, methods, checks, and balances. Moreover, not only firms, even patent law insurance carriers need patent law firms to manage a docket. This will help store the patent applications and also alert attorneys and paralegals of all the upcoming deadlines. This helps prevent malpractices in lawsuits and avoid USPTO rejection of the patent application.
Why Choose Perfect Patent Docketing?
According to their needs, law firms either choose in-house docketing specialists or outsource the docketing to a specialized company. PPD is a well-established, docketing specialized company for all your patent docketing needs. We have a team of specialized docketing specialists and advanced patent docketing software that ensures that you get the best services. Our cost of patent docketing is reasonable along with top-notch services.