Career prospects for patent professionals and Outsourcing impacts

[aesthetePA]

Came across these two articles recently. Would really appreciate the thoughts from the professionals here.

http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2009/09/end-of-patent-business-as-we-know-it.html

http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2009/09/outsourcing-in-ip-work-changing-game.html

[Jim_W]

Lot of good points I agree with. Anyone know if Kappos is going to try reversing any of these trends towards weaker patents?

edit: Yeah I realize he can only ease things up on the prosecution side, but every bit helps.

[Examinerguy]

Yes. You will probably see a lot more of allowances. As one primary told me...under the new production system, if you can't find a 102 or an "easy" 103...allow it.

[Jim_W]

As much as I detest everything Obama has been doing so far, I have to admit that appointing Kappos seems to have been a wise move.

All I need now is a job.

[ChrisWhewell]

Came across these two articles recently. Would really appreciate the thoughts from the professionals here.

http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2009/09/end-of-patent-business-as-we-know-it.html

http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2009/09/outsourcing-in-ip-work-changing-game.html

Formulate a plan and approach partners and explain why it will be cost-effective for them to hire you as the head of a whole new mini-division that you create in their firm that is dedicated solely to Rule 56 compliance.  Be sure to throw statements relating to Dayco, Molins, McKesson and Larson in your persuassive proposal, and use thinly-veiled fear as a motivator.  If the plan is good, you'll be a busy man for a long time as Director of the Rule 56 Compliance Division, and you might be able to eventually swoon the insurance companies to lower their rates, like a burglar alarm reduces homeowners and auto insurance, and set a new standard in the industry whereby all firms will copy in your footsteps.  Of course Murphy's Law dictates that right about the time when things are going well, the USPTO will announce that it has become fully harmonized with the European system by retiring Rule 56.

[gabbo]

My god, you guys have turned into a depressing bunch.

[ChrisWhewell]

I don't think the comments of one can be extended to the whole bunch.

Never forget, Murphy was an optimist.

[DogDayPM 9er9er9er]

Came across these two articles recently. Would really appreciate the thoughts from the professionals here.
http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2009/09/end-of-patent-business-as-we-know-it.html
http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2009/09/outsourcing-in-ip-work-changing-game.html

Interesting articles.  Regarding outsourcing of actual app drafting, I've been involved in some ghosting experiments from Indian and South African firms; in all cases, the applications were so poorly drafted that we spent as much or more time re-drafting as we would have going at them ourselves ab initio.

I've used a couple of Indian firms for searches as well, and have to say my experiences have been quite the opposite of Mr. Bell's, except I agree the formatting of search reports from both of these firms was really very nice compared to the simple list output I usually get.  But what good is great formatting when relevant references are missed? (Especially if you're searching for purposes of right to practice.)  But I haven't tried the specific firm he mentions (Dextrasys - sounds like an artificial sweetener  ) and may give it a go.

[DogDayPM 9er9er9er]

I really enjoyed this one.  Many of the questions on the "test" remind me of things I run into with cold-calling inventors.

http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2007/10/are-you-crackpot-inventor.html

[petethebody]

My god, you guys have turned into a depressing bunch.

What do you have to be so darn cheery about?

Sorry, but you know how misery loves company

[ChrisWhewell]

Lots of opportunities abound.   There is a notion now of "yesterday's practitioner", which is easy to understand.   In view of changes in commerce on a global scale, tomorrow's successful practitioner will need to be different than yesterday's.   As Edison commented regarding physicians: "The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease."  analogous statements regarding IP may be conjured.  Those who wish to conduct their affairs as was done in the past will find themselves obsoleted.  What characteristics do you believe practitioners of the future must possess that differ from those in the past ?  One facet I see, is that practitioners must be more marketing-focused but I'll refrain from expounding further at present, hoping others may share thoughts.

[Jim_W]

I really enjoyed this one.  Many of the questions on the "test" remind me of things I run into with cold-calling inventors.

http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2007/10/are-you-crackpot-inventor.html

Perpetual motion violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics, not the first and third.

Regarding the other articles he wrote, I think that his outlook is constrained by his having been in one industry for 20 years and not seeing that the promise of outsourcing is overstated. Everyone predicted the software industry would collapse from outsourcing yet the jobs are still here. There are some talented foreigners out there, but coordinating between them and the US management team is more difficult than the programming. In the end, we'll end up with some elites that soon learn they can charge nearly US level salaries and a whole bunch of low level guys who are worth what they get paid and generally not worth the trouble.

[ChrisWhewell]

To those phoning offering services, I inquire about their knowledge relative to the written description being a question of fact versus the enablement requirement being a question of law, inviting them to expound on their perception of the differences, if any exist, and their perceptions on the matter.  The conversation typically ends shortly, and for some odd reason a vision of goldfish persistent for a crumb of bread in a closed pool comes to mind.  Or was it a carp ?  I do remain optimistic that one will be able to engage conversationally on the matter in the future but at a glance, my nails don't yet have the slightest blue tinge.

[ChrisWhewell]

I really enjoyed this one.  Many of the questions on the "test" remind me of things I run into with cold-calling inventors.

http://robertplattbell.blogspot.com/2007/10/are-you-crackpot-inventor.html

Perpetual motion violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics, not the first and third.

Regarding the other articles he wrote, I think that his outlook is constrained by his having been in one industry for 20 years and not seeing that the promise of outsourcing is overstated. Everyone predicted the software industry would collapse from outsourcing yet the jobs are still here. There are some talented foreigners out there, but coordinating between them and the US management team is more difficult than the programming. In the end, we'll end up with some elites that soon learn they can charge nearly US level salaries and a whole bunch of low level guys who are worth what they get paid and generally not worth the trouble.

The Earth is in perpetual motion about the sun, and the moon about the Earth.    I invite proofs negating these facts.

[DogDayPM 9er9er9er]

Perpetual motion violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics, not the first and third.

Certainly for the heat-extraction types, but the classic PM machine violates conservation of energy as well.  Not sure about the 3rd law...

But I wasn't vetting his blog, just found it amusing.  Frankly, after seeing some of the 4 or 5 point responses such as "The Government is suppressing information about Aliens - "I've seen them" and "I've been probed" ", I wasn't exactly thinking of it as a scientific quiz...