We have drafted, prosecuted, and asserted hundreds of patents - domestically and internationally.
Patents
From the first prior art search to international portfolio management, every patent matter is handled by a registered US patent attorney with 10,000+ hours of experience — human judgment at every decision point, accelerated by AI where the law permits.
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Patent Searching
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Patent Drafting
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Filing & Prosecution - US Utility Patents
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Filing & Prosecution - US Design Patents
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International Patent Filing
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Monitoring, Enforcement & Monetization
01 - PATENT SEARCHING
Prior Art Searching & Patentability Assessments
Assess your risks before you file. We offer tiered prior art searches that culminate with a patentability assessment and draft claims, allowing you to make informed decisions.
Basic Patentability Search
US patents and publications; identifies competing disclosures and freedom-to-operate risks.
Limited Patentability Search
Extends to foreign patents and international publications for a more complete picture.
Exhaustive Patentability Search
All patents and publications, any language - the most thorough prior art study available.
Informal Patentability Opinion
Rapid assessment with one draft independent claim. Included with every search.
Formal Patentability Opinion
Written legal opinion with twenty draft claims - the foundation for a high-quality application.
02 - PATENT DRAFTING
Patent Drafting - Utility & Design
Do it right the first time. At MLAIP, every specification and every claim is written by a registered patent attorney to avoid unresolved legal questions around AI-assistance and inventorship.
Non-Provisional Utility Application
Full specification and claim set, scaled to complexity from extremely simple to software-related inventions.
Standard Provisional Application
A robust provisional that establishes your priority date - drafted to the same quality as a non-provisional.
Notebook Provisional
You provide the description and drawings; we add claims. Recommended when managing an imminent public disclosure risk.
Design Patent - Single Embodiment
Ornamental design protection for a single article of manufacture, including drawing coordination.
Design Patent - Multi-Embodiment
Coverage across multiple design variations, including complex UI/UX and digital product designs.
03 - PROSECUTION
Filing & Prosecution - US Utility Patents
Utility patents protect your ideas. We manage every step of the prosecution lifecycle - from initial filing through maintenance and enforcement - to keep your strategy sharp.
US Provisional Application Filing
Secures your priority date before competitors while non-provisional drafting is finalized.
US Non-Provisional Application Filing
Assumes 20 claims including 3 independent claims to manage excess claim fees.
Divisional & Continuation Filings
Capture additional claim scope from pending applications - critical for portfolio building.
Office Action Responses
Simple through complex rejections, including examiner interviews, AFCP requests, and traversal of restriction requirements.
Request for Continued Examination (RCE)
We work to avoid these - but execute them decisively when allowance requires it.
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Accelerated examination via favorable foreign office actions to speed US allowance.
Reissue Applications
Correct defects in issued patents or broaden claims where prosecution history permits.
Maintenance Fee Management
Docketing, retainer requests, payment, and reporting at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5-year intervals
04 - DESIGN PATENTS
Filing & Prosecution - US Design Patents
Design patents protect ornamental appearances. They are a fast, powerful, and often underutilized IP right. Here again, we manage every step of the prosecution lifecycle.
US Design Patent Application
Initial filing for up to three embodiments; additional government fees apply beyond that.
Divisional & Continuation Filings
Extend ornamental coverage across product variants and design evolutions.
International Design Patent Applications
Multi-jurisdiction design protection via the Hague System and country-specific national filings.
Office Action Responses
Restriction requirement elections, simple and complex office actions - rare in design cases, handled decisively when they arise.
Continued Prosecution Application (CPA)
Continue prosecution after a final rejection without abandoning the application.
Assignments & Declarations
Preparation, DocuSign execution, and recordation of all ownership documents.
05 - INTERNATIONAL
International Patent Filing
Global demand requires global protections. We excel at executing international patent strategies by working as your lead agent with a robust network of foreign associates.
PCT International Applications
Full PCT filing with the USPTO as Receiving Office, including search fee strategy across multiple ISA options.
PCT Article 19 & 34 Amendments
Claim amendments and complete application amendments at the international phase to optimize prosecution abroad.
National & Regional Phase Entries
US national stage entry plus coordination of entries in Canada, Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Brazil, and beyond.
Paris Treaty Filings
Direct national filings claiming US priority - often the most efficient route for targeted jurisdictions.
Foreign Associate Coordination
We develop the strategy, obtain quotes, instruct associates, and report back - one relationship, global reach.
06 - PORTFOLIO & MONETIZATION
Monitoring, Enforcement & Monetization
A patent only generates returns if it is actively managed, enforced, and monetized. We boost your ROI by monitoring competitor activity, identifying infringers, and negotiating licenses.
Competitor Patent Monitoring
Ongoing tracking of competitor filing trends, portfolio changes, and potentially infringing products in your technology space.
Infringement Assessment & Enforcement
Detailed infringer profiling, enforcement strategy, cease-and-desist drafting, and litigation cost reduction.
IP Monetization & Licensing
Identification and profiling of licensees whose products read on your claims, market data preparation, and negotiation support.
IP Valuation
Defensible patent valuations using comparable transactions and licensing benchmarks - for buyers, lenders, and strategic partners.
Portfolio Deadline Management
Docketing and proactive reporting on maintenance deadlines, renewal obligations, and prosecution milestones before they become problems.
Patent Acquisition & Financing
Buyer identification, lender qualification, and negotiation and drafting of purchase, pledge, and financing agreements.
On patents, people ask:
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We price our drafting services based on complexity and budget. Please contact us to request a detailed pricing guide and/or schedule an initial consultation to discuss your matter.
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It depends on your needs and budget. Most patents take between 20-36 months to issue. We can accelerate that if needed. In complement, we use AI-powered tools for examiner profiling and prosecution strategy to further accelerate the process as much as possible.
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A provisional application establishes your priority date for 12 months without formal examination. It is a cost-effective way to secure your position while you refine your invention or test market interest. We always recommend a robust provisional, but acknowledge that a weak provision, preferably one drafted by a human, is better than nothing.
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Yes. We offer basic, limited, and exhaustive prior art searches with a patentability assessment and draft claims included. Understanding the landscape before you invest in a full application is always wise.
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Yes. We handle PCT international applications, Paris Treaty national phase entries, and direct national filings through our foreign associate network.
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Yes. Portfolio audits are available for portfolios of any size and we price our services based on portfolio size. Audits typically assess claim strength, maintenance obligations, white space opportunities, and pruning candidates.
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Yes. We draft, file, and prosecute US and international design patents.
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Yes, with calibrated care. Software and AI inventions are patentable, but the legal landscape is complex and evolving rapidly. We will help you understand what is protectable, document your human contributions carefully, and draft claims designed to hold up under scrutiny. If needed, we may advise you to rely on your trademark and/or trade secret rights instead.
Let’s Get Started
From early-stage discoveries to commercial success, we help innovators protect, develop, and maximize the value of their intellectual property.