INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The creation, protection and defense of a company’s intellectual property is vital for success in today’s litigious marketplace. Aspen Microsystems combines deep technical knowledge in the semiconductor, MEMS, micro-optical and microfluidic industries with broad experience with IP topics to assist companies in developing and protecting their valuable intellectual property assets. We have been successful in helping customers secure patents in conjunction with the product or package development services that Aspen Microsystems offers. Companies that work with Aspen Microsystems always retain rights to IP developed during the engagement and Aspen Microsystems is committed to supporting the writing, filing and prosecution of those patent applications. Aspen Microsystems also offers patent valuation and IP assessment services to help you understand the IP landscape and to support strategic business decisions. Our experience in a broad range of markets allows accurate assessment of the value and utility of patents as well as help in identifying if patent coverage extends to a particular device or process. Aspen Microsystems also offers superior Expert Witness services with direct experience, including product teardowns and construction analysis, writing Expert Witness Reports through depositions and courtroom testimony.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

The development of innovative and sophisticated products usually leads to the development of valuable intellectual property. This IP can often be one of the most critical aspects of a company’s valuation especially during their early stages of development. Aspen Microsystems has an extensive track record of developing products and packaging solutions and associated technologies that not only satisfy market needs, but that also help create a valuable IP position for their customers. Aspen Microsystems works aggressively with customers to identify patentable aspects of their products and the technology that underlies them. We support the protection of that IP by helping to prepare and submit invention disclosures and reviewing and editing patent applications, including patent specifications, drawings and claims. Aspen Microsystems also supports the response to USPTO Office Actions by offering technical advice and assessment in defense of an application. We also help you with your international patent filing efforts. We have direct experience with some of the nations top legal firms that specialize in MEMS, microsystem and semiconductor patent law and we can bring that experience to your team to maximize the value of your company.

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EXPERT WITNESS

In today’s complex technological environment and hyper-competitive marketplace, intellectual property in the form of patents can take on significant value. Owners of patent rights often find themselves competing with companies that abuse IP ownership. Conversely, innovative companies often find themselves the subject of inappropriate infringement lawsuits in an attempt to limit their business. These matters often must be settled through litigation that requires the support of an Expert Witness. Leland “Chip” Spangler, Ph.D. has successfully helped defend the intellectual property of clients in the most challenging legal environments, including sworn testimony before the US International Trade Commission. To help provide evidence to protect your IP position, Aspen Microsystems offers services include product analysis, test services, teardowns and construction analysis, on-site examinations and evidence gathering, audits, support in Markman Hearings, Expert Witness Report writing, Supplemental Report preparation, as well as legal testimony in deposition. Chip Spangler has a record of facing top lawyers in the courtroom and prevailing over their direct interrogations. Aspen Microsystems can provide support for both infringement and invalidity arguments and our extensive experience can provide the rock-solid technical foundation for legal action involving MEMS, microsystems, optical, or microfluidic devices.

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PRODUCT & CONSTRUCTION ANALYSIS

It is often difficult to uncover, decipher or document the details in sophisticated designs, materials and assembly processes that are used in today’s MEMS, micro optic, microfluidic or microelectronic products. When business motivations or legal actions motivates a deeper understanding of how a product works, how it is made, or the materials that are used, a construction analysis or product teardown effort is usually required. Aspen Microsystems can work directly with your staff to define a technical strategy to obtain this information and prepare an analysis and/or test procedure that can direct the evaluation. Aspen Microsystems can then work directly with qualified laboratories to perform the analysis and tests and deliver a report that provides the desired information. This information is often critical in making strategic business and legal decisions that can directly impact the direction of your company. Aspen Microsystems’ internal procedures ensure that your efforts remain confidential so they can be used in the most appropriate manner by your company. Aspen Microsystems also has decades of experience in reliability assessments and failure analysis. Equipment directly available to Aspen Microsystems includes SEM, EDX, X-Ray Inspection, Scanning Acoustic Microscopy, IR Microscopy, electrical testing, EDS, as well as package and die-level IC and MEMS deprocessing.

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