Monthly Archives

May 2019

CourtCare and Multnomah Bar Association

McCoy Russell is happy to announce our sponsorship of Multnomah Bar Association fundraiser event, the Battle of the Lawyer Bands, for CourtCare.

Multnomah CourtCare is a project of the Multnomah Bar Foundation (MBF) which improves access to justice by making free, drop-in childcare available for families who have business at the court.

Our own McCoy Russell band, including John Russell, Frank Morton-Park, Cassandra Mercer, and Paul Focke, will be joined by fellow lawyer Nathan Holtey to compete in the Battle of the Bands.

Join us July 25, 2019 at Kennedy School – 5736 NE 33rd Ave, from 7:00-9:00pm. Where you can cheer us on and help support CourtCare with a suggested $10 donation.

INTA 2019 in Boston

Firm partners, John Russell and Anna McCoy, had another successful trip to the yearly INTA Meeting (International Trademark Association). This years meeting was held in historic Boston, MA and welcomed over 11,000+ attendees.

As always, it was enjoyable to have so many members of the IP community gathered in one place to reconnect, share thoughts, and learn about recent IP updates. We would like to say a warm thank you everyone who took time to meet with us. We enjoyed creating new relationships and additionally, building upon those already established from years past.

We were able to attend some excellent events and Anna enjoyed staying involved with her membership in the Famous and Well-Known Marks, U.S. Subcommittee.

Thanks again to all those we met with and we look forward to seeing you next year in Singapore.

Press Release: Support for Women Inventors

PORTLAND, OR, May 22, 2019 //

Funding continues to lag for women entrepreneurs in Biotechnology.  As the largest women-owned intellectual property IP firm in the US*, McCoy Russell LLP has been closely watching the participation of women as inventors.  The ability to protect innovation through patents is a key driver to obtaining funding, and statistics show that a significant gender gap still exists in both funding and inventorship even though the biotechnology industry has increased the number of women scientists.

The average women inventorship rate in the US is approximately 13% with Oregon ranking in the bottom one-third of US states.[1]  In the last decade, only 20% of inventors on patents assigned to universities and hospitals and only 15% of inventors on patents granted to public research organizations were women.  In addition, even when these applications are filed, data shows that USPTO examiners treat women inventors more harshly.  A Yale study shows that women inventors had an 8.2% lower chance of obtaining a US patent where the names were clearly indicative of gender.[2]

While funding opportunities also remain scarce (45% less funding per Boston Consulting Group), investors supporting women entrepreneurs have found a higher average ROI (10% higher).[3]

It is in this light that McCoy Russell has developed approaches to support organizations in enhancing women participation at all levels, including in brainstorming, invention submission, etc.  Because diversity leads to increased innovation[4], organizations can received significant valuation benefits in their portfolios.

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McCoy Russell LLP is a nationally ranked boutique, woman-owned, intellectual property law firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon and focused on the prosecution and development of patent and trademark portfolios. www.mccrus.com [email protected] 

* Based on the number of issued US patents in 2018, with McCoy Russell having 771 issued US patents.  The next closest firm was at 266 for 2018.  It is noted that in the top three women owned IP firms, only McCoy Russell has more than 4 women patent practitioners.

 

[1] Progress and Potential: A Profile of Women Inventors on U.S. Patents. USPTO Office of the Chief Economist, Feb. 2019, www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Progress-and-Potential.pdf.

[2] Jensen, Kyle, et al. “Gender Differences in Obtaining and Maintaining Patent Rights.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 5 Apr. 2018, www.nature.com/articles/nbt.4120.

[3] Abouzahr, Katie, et al. “Why Women-Owned Startups Are a Better Bet.” Boston Consulting Group, 6 June 2018, www.bcg.com/publications/2018/why-women-owned-startups-are-better-bet.aspx.

[4] Lorenzo, Rocio, et al. “How Diverse Leadership Teams Boost Innovation.” Https://Www.bcg.com, 23 Jan. 2018, www.bcg.com/en-us/publications/2018/how-diverse-leadership-teams-boost-innovation.aspx.

Women in Law 2019

Firm founding partner, Anna McCoy, was selected for a Lawyer Monthly Women in Law 2019 Award in recognition of her outstanding legal expertise and contribution within the practice area of Boutique.

Anna was chosen based on some of her highlighted achievements over the last 18 months. This is her second consecutive year being recognized in the publication.

McCoy Russell Ranked Firm in Oregon

MCCoy Russell has been included as a Ranked Firm in Oregon in the 2019/2020 edition of IP Stars USA.

IP Stars covers over 130 jurisdictions, including the most active for IP protection, exploitation and enforcement. Our research is carried out over a six-month period by a team of global researchers based in our offices in London, New York and Hong Kong. Each edition of IP Stars is the result of over 5,300 surveys being conducted with IP professionals

McCoy Russell Expanding Biotechnology Practice

PORTLAND, OR, May. 6, 2019/ –McCoy Russell LLP, the largest women-owned IP firm in the country*, is expanding its significant biotechnology practice.  We have a strong group of legal and technology professionals with significant research and experience in the biotechnology field including Ph. D. backgrounds in Genetics, Biochemistry, Physiology and Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Bioengineering, and others. While the market for biotechnology innovation is tightening, we are finding that our top tier ranking in patent preparation and prosecution is making an impact in the community.

As active members in the biotechnology community, we recognize a growing need for forward-thinking patent counsel in the biotech field.  Our team of experienced attorneys, practiced agents, and expert staff dedicate themselves to responsiveness, building relationships, and providing unique expertise.   What sets us apart is our collaborative approach that results in unmatched quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.

* Based on the number of issued patents in 2018

Chinese Patent Prosecution Win

McCoy Russell’s Chinese Patent Prosecution team won another revocation of an improper rejection by the Chinese Patent Office. Our team led the appeal to the Reexamination Board that obtained a decision revoking all rejections and the previous Substantive Examination Department of CNIPA will restore the examination procedure consequently based on the Reexamination Decision . The case is Chinese Patent Application No. 201310049770.0, relating to automotive systems.

Anna McCoy Ranked in Chambers USA 2019

B. Anna McCoy has recently been announced as ranked Band 3 by Chambers USA 2019.

It is noted that, Anna McCoy wins recognition as a notable player in the field and is described by sources as an “extremely sharp practitioner who “does very innovative work.” She regularly advises on patent and trademark matters arising in the technology sector.