Tuesday, March 17, 2015

How You Can Benefit From A Patent Litigation Contingency Fee Agreement

By Lena Stephenson


A patent is an exclusive right to use a certain type of invention. Patent infringement results when a person or a business entity that is not the owner of the patented technology uses, sells or makes it. The lawsuit that arises from a disagreement involving intellectual property infringement is known as patent litigation.

In order to win a patent infringement claim, a person is required to prove that the offending party has infringed on his or her intellectual property by using it without consent. The offender will then attempt to prove that the patent is either invalid, unenforceable or that he or she has not used it without authorization. The attorney fees associated with filing such a case are usually very high. This is one of the reasons that have led to the popularity of patent litigation contingency fee agreements.

People who opt for contingent fee agreements are usually able to reduce their out of pocket costs. These agreements eliminate attorney fees, but plaintiffs still have to meet the costs of litigation. These costs include those associated with traveling, paying expert witnesses, depositions and transcripts as well as filing fees.

A contingent fee agreement can enable you to pursue an intellectual property case that you would otherwise have been unable to afford. This agreement also creates an opportunity to spread the risks of litigation and compensate a lawyer for the results obtained instead of the hours he or she has worked. In a contingent fee agreement, the lawyer will also have more incentive to settle the case if the settlement is in your best interests.

During the course of filing an intellectual property infringement lawsuit, the person who is at fault and his or her legal counsel can decide to settle the case by paying you a lower amount than the one you want. If your case has some weaknesses, your lawyer can advise you to consider settlement. If your case is strong, the professional can advise you to wait until it is tried so that you can get a higher damages award.

When intellectual property lawyers work on a contingent fee basis, they do their best to ensure that the litigation process is cost effective and not time consuming. On the contrary, law firms that charge their clients by the hour usually conduct many long depositions, prepare long proceedings and send several attorneys to hearings and conferences. This often increases the number of hours worked on a case. This usually does not take place if lawyers are charging a contingency fee.

Before they agree to take on a case involving intellectual property infringement, attorneys usually evaluate it to determine if the outcome is likely to be good. If a case lacks credibility or has many issues, they can choose not to take it. If an attorney agrees to take a case, this is a good indication that he or she is confident that its outcome will be good after adequate effort is put into it.

You can raise the chances of having a good outcome by assisting your lawyer when possible. For instance, you should provide the professional with any requested information quickly. It is important to have a good working relationship with an attorney in a case involving intellectual property infringement case because you are partners who will share the rewards of a successful outcome.




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