For the 12th consecutive year, Banner & Witcoff obtained more U.S. design patents than any other law firm. According to the 2014 U.S. Design Patent Toteboard (view here) and confirmed by U.S. Patent & Trademark Office records, the firm procured 790 U.S. design patents.
In the past year, Banner & Witcoff worked to protect many popular and prominent designs for its clients, including Nike’s Flyknit® shoes, and Microsoft’s Xbox OneTM gaming system and SurfaceTM Pro 3 tablet computer, as well as other important product designs for Nokia, Toshiba, PepsiCo and Electrolux. Demonstrating its depth of client base, 2014 was also significant for Banner & Witcoff as the firm has now procured design patent portfolios of 20 or more design patents for 28 different clients.
“We are working with the world’s most innovative corporations and designers, who understand the importance of high quality and strategically-procured design patents,” said Robert S. Katz, a principal shareholder at Banner & Witcoff. “These clients continue to seek and secure global protection of their designs, and we look forward to assisting them with that work.”
Banner & Witcoff also continues to lead in procuring international design patent portfolios. The firm has filed hundreds of design registrations in the World Intellectual Property Office for clients who reside in member countries of the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs. The firm will seek the same international protections for U.S. clients once the USPTO puts procedures in place for accepting Hague System applications. This is expected to happen this May.
“The Hague Agreement will become an important tool for U.S. applicants,” Katz said. “It will not be a complete solution because the design laws and best practices vary from country-to-country. However, when it is used as part of a comprehensive design strategy, it will help design innovators maximize its worldwide design protection for its investment.”
Please direct all media inquiries to Amanda Robert at (312) 463-5465 orarobert@bannerwitcoff.com.
Posted: February 12, 2015
