This includes verifying that all maintenance fees have been paid and that there are no outstanding issues. Using the USPTO Public PAIR System: Leverage the USPTO's Public Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system to track patent status and access related documents. This system provides valuable information about patent prosecution history new zealand b2b leads which can reveal potential vulnerabilities or strengths in patents. Level 2: Verify Ownership and Ownership Rights At this more detailed level, due diligence goes beyond basic verification to a thorough examination of ownership rights, particularly in the context of mergers and acquisitions. This level involves: Reviewing Agreements and Assignment Documents: Analyzing all relevant agreements, such as licensing agreements, joint development agreements, and assignment documents, to ensure that the company has clear and enforceable rights to the patents.
Investigating Litigation History: Examine any past or ongoing litigation related to the patents. This includes identifying any legal challenges to the validity of the patents or allegations of infringement. Understanding the litigation history can highlight potential risks and provide insights into the robustness of the patents. Identify Potential Issues: Detect any issues that could affect the company's ownership or rights to the patents. There may be disputes over invention, prior use claims, or other third-party rights that could undermine the company's control over its patents. 7. Scope of Patent Protection Understanding the scope of patent protection is a critical part of patent due diligence.