Tiffany L. Williams IP Law, LLC

04/17/2025

I am deeply concerned about the future of our nation and the potential loss of our hard-earned democratic freedoms. The escalating events prompt me to take a stand and make my voice heard, despite the risks it may pose to my small business. I invite you to stand with me and others in safeguarding our democratic values.

On April 19, various events are set to unfold nationwide, marking the 250th anniversary of the 1775 Battle of Lexington and Concord, a pivotal moment in history known as the "shot heard round the world."

For event locations, visit https://www.fiftyfifty.one/events and https://thepeopledissent.substack.com. The 50501 group, symbolizing "50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement," focuses on more than just protests; it emphasizes community engagement and unity. Through initiatives like donation drives and clothing exchanges, individuals are collaborating to plan future actions and effect positive change in their localities.

Whether you engage in protests, coordinate community activities, or simply raise awareness, each contribution plays a vital role. Let's unite as Americans and amplify our voices together!

10/03/2024

For our beloved friends in WNC and those of us who want to help, Blue Ridge NPR has compiled a list of verified organizations where you can help or donate.

Hurricane Helene unleashed devastating flooding in the mountains of North Carolina. Here are ways to help local flood victims in Western North Carolina by donating relief funds or volunteering.

11/17/2023

Female innovators need our support!

The USPTO conducted a review of inventorship over a 30-year period (1990-2019), which revealed that women make-up only 12-13% of named inventors. https://lnkd.in/gSQktP2M.

While gender inequality can feel like an issue that is too large to address at an individual level, I am reminded of a quote by Edward Everett Hale: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

So what is the "something" that each of us can do to support and encourage women in technical fields? Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Education and awareness: Encourage our young girls to participate in science and technology programs and create awareness of the significance of patents in protecting intellectual property. As an example, I speak at my niece's school each year to share my experiences an engineer and attorney.

2. Mentoring: Volunteer with mentorship programs that connect aspiring female inventors with established professionals. My patent law professor sends students (of all genders) to me to help answer questions about the profession.

3. Networking opportunities: Invite younger women to attend networking events to meet other people in their field, learn from each other, and build a supportive community.

4. Workplace inclusion: Do your part to help ensure that work environments are inclusive and support contributions of all employees, irrespective of gender. As a specific example, rotate note-taking duties in meetings based on a gender neutral system!

5. Training and skill development: Offer specialized training to equip women with the skills needed for successful patent filing. Giving women the knowledge up front will inevitably boost their confidence in navigating the patent process. When I meet a new potential client, I always try to give at least a 30 min intro to how the process works so that she has a better idea of what to expect in terms of timing and financial costs. Let women know that it is ok to reach out to a patent attorney to just get basic information, and that the first call with a patent attorney should be free!

6. Recognition and awards: Establish awards and recognition programs specifically aimed at celebrating the achievements of women in innovation. Publicly acknowledging their contributions boosts their confidence and sets positive examples for others. Recognition can be a powerful motivator for participation in patent filing.

7. Financial support: The financial barriers can be a significant deterrent to women from pursuing patents. Encourage venture capitalists and funding organizations to invest in diverse projects led by women.

These are just a few examples of how we can each take a small step toward closing this gender gap among inventors. If you have other ideas, please respond!

09/27/2023

Key Elements of a Successful Intellectual Property Strategy

Intellectual property assets serve a dual purpose: safeguarding valuable technology and enabling businesses to secure a competitive edge and generate additional revenue. A comprehensive IP strategy goes beyond legal protection, empowering businesses to harness their IP assets for growth and innovation.

An IP strategy assists organizations in effectively handling their intangible assets (like patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights) in line with their broader business objectives. Crafting the appropriate intellectual property strategy hinges on the industry and maturity of the organization, yet it should always remain adaptable and responsive to changing circumstances.

The following topics provide a summary of strategies for a business owner, head of R&D, or in-house counsel (as examples) to leverage and protect a company’s valuable portfolio, both offensively and defensively, to mitigate risk and win with IP.

* Create an IP Centric Culture within your Company. This step involves training the organization, integrating with R&D, ensuring trade-secret procedure compliance, monitoring contracts for IP assignment provisions, and deploying anti-counterfeit measures within the supply chain.

* Protect the brand through strategic trademark acquisition. This step involves leveraging the types of trademark filings and/or focusing on commonly imitated parts and labels.

* Protect your innovations through strategic patent acquisition. This step involves leveraging a strategy of patent claims that can form a thicket or picket fence around the invention, developing design-around strategies for additional patent claims and/or new applications, and ensuring patent claims read on at least one of (1) your own products, (2) your competitors’ products, and (3) potential re-designs.

* Monitor your IP for potential infringers.

* Conduct risk management for new product/brand launches. This step involves freedom to operate searches prior to launching new products and/or brands, finding solutions to evade a potentially-blocking patent, considering patent licensing from other companies that may reduce your risk exposure, and defensive publications.

* Ensure your in-house legal team understands the different outcomes and remedies that can be pursued, with particular focus on business risks and legal costs. Typically, what is best for the business is the best course of action.

If you would like to learn more about these tactics, please reach out to me. I would be happy to have a complimentary call to see whether I can be of help.

06/01/2023

Not Every Matter Needs a Top-Tier Firm

When it comes to legal matters, businesses often find themselves faced with different levels of risk. In high-stakes situations that involve complex and potentially significant consequences, turning to top-tier law firms known for their expertise is a common choice. However, for matters with a lower risk proposition, there is a cost-effective alternative in the form of more affordable law firms.

In fact, when faced with ever-increasing hourly rates from their standard top-tier firms (in 2022, hourly rates climbed an average of 4.5% for top-tier law firm partners) while simultaneously watching their own budgets remain flat or shrink, big corporate law departments are consistently shifting more of their lower risk matters to smaller law firms, according to a recent study by Thompson Reuter Institute's 2023 State of the Corporate Law Department (as referenced in Strapped Legal Departments Finding Savings by Shifting Litigation to Smaller Law Firms | Law.com)

According to this study, the litigation work flowing to law firms with fewer than 250 lawyers from Fortune 50 companies has soared from 56% in 2018 to 79% in 2022.

“Clients are starting to understand that there are a lot of good attorneys out there that can provide lower-matter-value services at better prices. Many of those attorneys used to work at big firms but decided to move to smaller ones because they didn't want to put up with Big Law politics or culture.” said Ken Callander, principal at Value Strategies, a consulting firm for legal departments. Strapped Legal Departments Finding Savings by Shifting Litigation to Smaller Law Firms | Law.com.

By using a matter-intake process that aligns the value/risk of the matter to the value price point of the outside firm, corporate legal departments are strategically bringing in "the big guns" when a matter requires it, while meeting their budgetary constraints by selecting more affordable law firms for lower-risk propositions without sacrificing personalized attention and talent.

10/19/2022

One of my passions is finding ways to drive patent spend decisions with quantitative data so that clients can achieve the best value for their patent dollars. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

09/28/2022

I'm delighted to share that after 15 wonderful years with Kilpatrick Townsend, I am finally taking the next step to start my own practice as principal of Tiffany L. Williams IP Law, LLC, www.tlwiplaw.com!