The Benefits Of A Patent Litigation Contingency Fee Agreement

By Lena Stephenson


A patent is a restricted and a publicly recognized right to use a certain kind of invention. Infringement occurs if someone else other than the person who owns the patented invention uses, makes or sells it. Patent litigation is the lawsuit, which arises from a patent infringement dispute.

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.

As an intellectual property infringement case is progressing, the offender and his or her attorney can offer to settle the case by paying a settlement amount that is lower than the amount a plaintiff is seeking. If a weakness has appeared in the lawsuit, a lawyer can advise the plaintiff to consider settlement. Nevertheless, if the lawyer is confident of a good outcome, he or she can advise the client to wait for the case to be tried because a larger settlement amount will also benefit him or her.

When an attorney charges a contingency fee, he or she also tries to speed up the litigation process. Most of the law firms that charge hourly fees usually send a number of lawyers to conferences and hearings, conduct numerous lengthy depositions and prepare long proceedings. This can significantly increase the number of billable hours. Fortunately, this never happens in contingency fee agreements.

When you hire an intellectual property lawyer, he or she will evaluate your case carefully to determine if the settlement amount is likely to be high. If your case is weak, has many issues or it lacks credibility, the lawyer may decline to take it. If a lawyer takes your case, it means that he or she is confident about getting a winning outcome after investing adequate effort.

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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