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[thought001]

Folks, I have seen some information on Noro IP, a new virtual patent services firm. They are soliciting patent agents and attorneys from a variety of fields to submit their resumes. They also offer to send your resume to prospective employers who have posted ads on their website. When I look at their website, it all sounds good (particularly the idea that I can work from home), but I end up with many questions. First, I notice that no mention is given regarding the credentials of the founders or partners of this firm. Moreover, I come away wondering if it is a firm composed of many people, or is it really one or two individuals who came up with this "great" business idea and are painting a facade of an established firm.

If it were me who started a firm, one of the most emphasized parts of my website would be to advertise CREDENTIALS. Isn't that what a prospective client wants to see, aside from attractive prices?

There is also a part of me that wonders if this firm's business is primarily recruiting. The fact that they have these two dual business missions appears a bit odd to me. Perhaps if I apply to them with my resume for the purpose of applying for a job at Noro IP, they would instead be more interested in sending my resume off to a group of prospective employers. Just a thought.

Also, they show a very large list of clients, including some Fortune 100s. Perhaps this could be the case, but it's hard for me to understand how a small, virtual firm, without any demonstrated credentials would be so sought after and established?

Perhaps I am reading too much into what I see, but I have become experienced enough to know that when multiple questions arise, and things don't mesh, there is probably something wrong. As we all know, sometimes businesses bank on people's wishes to believe in something greatly appealing to them (e.g., working from home and making a great income) to lead them into something. We must always keep in mind to temper our desires and stick as much as possible with hard cold reality, otherwise we can find ourselves suckered.

Let me know if any of you have any experience or knowledge of this firm that can sway my suspicions one way or the other.

Thanks.

[DogDayPM 9er9er9er]

Hmm... after checking their website, I get the same kind of radar-triggering willies as you.  I really struggle with the idea of Microsoft et al. sending patent work out to a nameless portal.

The intertubes is truly a wonderful device.  With it, I was able to determine that the business address NoroIP lists is a small 3 bedroom house on a pretty tree-lined neighborhood in suburban Cleveland (which makes the "Suite 200" part of their address kind of amusing), and that neither the Mr. or Mrs. of the house (according to names associated with July 2010 last home sale data) appear to be listed as a registered U.S. patent attorney.

On the other hand, their single client testimonial is from an anthropology professor who had a patentability search and analysis on her monkey-grabbing widget done, and they gave her a nice, easy to read patentability report that told her it wasn't worth trying to patent.  That's gotta count for something.

[thought001]

Thank you, Dog Day, very much for your informative research and analysis. Your comments were well put and quite amusing as well. Regarding the anthropologist's testimonial, it had the appearance of being scripted; and moreover, I don't think that learning you don't have a patent is something to give such an overflowing testimonial about (even if the patentability analysis was spectacular). Again, another noted oddness of this place.

If anyone else has any other comments or experiences to share, go ahead.

[BobRoberts]

If you go to their pricing page, you can

"Click now to request a FREE one-hour
Patent Application Consultation with Miguel Taveras, Patent Division Director."

However. when I searched his name at the USPTO Patent Attorney/Agent locator, his name came up as "no records found..."

At least they have 'quality' and experienced people in important positions like Patent Division Director!
 

[AnotherCog]

Yup, my spidey-sense went off, too.  I'd be worried about aiding in the unauthorized practice of law, malpractice insurance, etc.

[klaviernista]

However. when I searched his name at the USPTO Patent Attorney/Agent locator, his name came up as "no records found..."

At least they have 'quality' and experienced people in important positions like Patent Division Director!

He could be a sales guy.  Noro IP strikes me as being similar to NERAC, a research firm in New England.  My company used them (Nerac, that is) for a while to help with some patent landscape work.  Typically, we would contact one of their business guys to discuss a project, and he would then hook us up with one of their in-house patent specialists.  Depending on the project, the speciality might be a former examiner (patentability search), a patent attorney (traditional IP legal work), or an IP gus with a business/MBa background (licensing/contracting assistance with an IP element). 

[MarkDighton]

I was taken aback by their assertion in a blog post discussing patent agents v attorneys that "Also, the Patent Bar Exam is open to citizens in any country." That's just not true. Not really sure that they know what they're doing.

[techie892]

being a former examiner does not allow someone to give legal advice as to patentability. also, this firm "hires" searchers from around the world who presumably work from their homes and do searches.  i would definitely be concerned with having my confidential information being transmitted out in this manner.  it is not a traditional brick & mortar company, and there do not appear to be patent attorneys or even patent agents on staff. i would stick to one of the more established search firms.

[thought001]

thanks, techie892 for that additional tidbit. I would agree with those concerns.