Fish & Richardson's abundant experience with software patents and familiarity with internet businesses enables us to guide clients through the decision whether to pursue patent protection for business methods. We advise financial institutions and internet clients on how best to obtain the broadest possible protection for novel business methods under the PTO's Strategy for Examining Business Method Patents, issued in 2000. To keep clients apprised of the changing landscape in this area, we have also written articles on federal legislation that has been introduced to establish hurdles for business method patents. This enables us to help our clients make sound business decisions about how business method patents may fit into the client's patent portfolio and business plan.

For more information about business method patents, please see the articles posted in the articles section of the web site, keyword: business method patents.

Business Methods Attorneys

Michael F. Autuoro
University of Virginia B.S. Systems Engineering 2000 with high distinction, Tau Beta Pi
University of Virginia School of Law J.D. 2004
Articles Editor, Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal

Barbara A. Benoit
College of William and Mary B.A. 1982
George Mason University, School of Information Technology and Engineering M.S. Systems Engineering 1991
George Mason University, School of Information Technology and Engineering Ph.D. Information Technology 1993
George Washington University Law School J.D. 1999 with high honors Order of the Coif
Associate, George Washington Law Review

Brenda Leeds Binder
University of Calgary B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering 1992
University of Alberta LL.B. (J.D.) 1995

William R. Borchers
The University of Texas at Austin B.S. Aerospace Engineering 1990 cum laude, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Gamma Tau
The University of Virginia J.D. 1998
Managing Editor, Virginia Journal of Technology

Samuel Borodach  
Brown University B.S. Electrical Engineering 1987 
Columbia University School of Engineering M.S. Electrical Engineering 1989 
Columbia University School of Law J.D. 1993 
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar 1991-1993

Tim K. Brown
Brigham Young University B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1996
University of Washington M.S. Mechanical Engineering 2000
Baylor University School of Law J.D. 2004 cum laude
Executive Editor, Baylor Law Review

Daniel J. Burns
Old Dominion University B.S. Computer Science 1986 cum laude, Phi Kappa Phi
California State University M.S. Computer Science 1997
Loyola Law School J.D. 2001
Editorial Board, Loyola Law Review

Lauren A. Degnan
Cornell University B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1992
Vanderbilt University School of Law J.D. 1995 Order of the Coif
Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

John A. Dragseth
University of Minnesota B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1992 summa cum laude, Tau Beta Pi
University of Minnesota Law School J.D. 1996 magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Managing Editor, Minnesota Law Review

Tonya Drake
Purdue University B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering 2001 with Honors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology M.S. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 2003
Boston University School of Law J.D. 2007 cum laude

J. Peter Fasse
Massachusetts Institute of Technology B.S. Bioelectrical Engineering, May 1983, and B.S. Life Sciences, December 1983
George Washington University J.D. 1987

David L. Feigenbaum
Yale College B.S. Engineering and Applied Sciences 1969 magna cum laude, honors with exceptional distinction in major, Tau Beta Pi
Harvard Law School J.D. 1972

Andrew T. Foy
Furman University B.A. History 2000 summa cum laude
Georgia Institute of Technology B.S. Electrical Engineering 2002
University of Virginia School of Law J.D. 2005
Managing Board, The Journal of Law & Politics

Greg H. Gardella
University of Michigan J.D. 1995 cum laude
University of Minnesota M.S. Electrical Engineering (Thesis: Hybrid Analog/Digital Telephony System for Echo Cancellation)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor B.S. Mechanical Engineering magna cum laude

Michael T. Hawkins
University of Minnesota B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2000 with high distinction
University of Minnesota Law School J.D. 2004 magna cum laude
Managing Editor, Minnesota Law Review

John F. Hayden
University of Cincinnati B.S. Electrical Engineering 1989 summa cum laude
Harvard Law School J.D. 1992 cum laude

Gilbert H. Hennessey
Beloit College B.A. Physics and Mathematics 1966 Phi Eta Sigma
University of Illinois Law School and George Washington University J.D. 1969 with honors

Richard Allan Horning
University of California, Berkeley B.A. 1966
Duke University School of Law J.D. 1969

Lewis E. Hudnell, III
Cornell University B.S., Operations Research and Industrial Engineering 1995
University of Pennsylvania Law School J.D. 1998

Kelly C. Hunsaker
University of Texas at Austin B.B.A. 1990
University of California, Hastings College of Law J.D. 1993

Frank A. Italiano
University of Maryland B.S. Electrical Engineering
George Washington University Law School J.D. 2005

David E. A. Jordan
United States Naval Academy B.S. Computer Science 1996
University of San Diego School of Law J.D. 2002
Comment Editor, San Diego International Law Journal 2001-2002
Member, San Diego International Law Journal 2000 -2001

George L. Kanabe
Rutgers University B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering 2001 with highest honors, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu
Fordham University School of Law J.D. 2005 cum laude
Staff member, Fordham Urban Law Journal

Mark D. Kirkland  
University of Notre Dame B.S. Electrical Engineering 1984 
Santa Clara University School of Law J.D. 1994 

Lawrence K. Kolodney
Massachusetts Institute of Technology S.M. and S.B. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 1987
Harvard Law School J.D. 1990 cum laude

Denis G. Maloney
Manhattan College B.E. Electrical Engineering 1974 cum laude, Eta Kappa Nu
New York Law School J.D. 1979

Nicholas V. Martini
University of Wisconsin, Madison B.S. Industrial Engineering 2001
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law J.D. 2004
Berkeley Technology Law Journal

Neil J. McNabnay
University of Michigan B.S. Aerospace Engineering 1994 summa cum laude
University of Michigan J.D. 1997 cum laude
Executive Editor, Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review

William P. O'Sullivan
State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler B.E. Electrical Engineering 1994
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate level engineering coursework
Rutgers Law School J.D. 2004

Spencer C. Patterson
University of Texas at Austin B.S. Electrical Engineering 1993
The George Washington University Law School J.D. 1996 with honors
Articles Editor, The George Washington Law Review

John C. Phillips
University of Michigan B.S. Electrical Engineering 1984 cum laude
George Washington University J.D. 1992 valedictorian Order of the Coif

W. Karl Renner
University of Maryland B.S. Electrical Engineering 1992
The George Washington University National Law Center J.D. 1998

Timothy W. Riffe
Virginia Tech B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1993
The George Washington University Law School J.D. 2001 with honors
The American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal

Jonathan A. Solomon

Terry J. Stalford
University of Oklahoma B.S. Engineering 1986
University of Georgia School of Law J.D. 1993 magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Editor, Journal of Intellectual Property Law

Jorge M. Torres
Yale University B.S. Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry 1996
University of Pennsylvania Law School J.D. 2002

Michael T. Zoppo
Stevens Institute of Technology B.Eng Materials Engineering 2001 with Honors; B.A. Philosophy 2001 with Honors
Rutgers University School of Law - Newark J.D. 2004
Managing Editor, Rutgers Law Review

Business Methods Technology Specialists

Yina Mo
University of Science and Technology of China B.S. Physics 2002
Harvard University Ph.D. Physics 2007
Suffolk University J.D. expected 2012

Dan Vacar
Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Romania B.S. Physics 1990
University of Miami, Florida M.S. Physics 1993
University of California at Santa Barbara Ph.D. Physics 1997