The Painless Patenting® Difference
1. We Are Part of Your Team
Unlike traditional patent development techniques, we establish a real partnership with your product development teams. As you develop or improve your products, we make ourselves a presence in your lab to understand your technology and uncover what's patentable. We also are readily available via phone, email, and regular meetings, to answer any questions or concerns from your team, C-suite, or board.
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With this dedicated approach, we often discover several points of novelty you may think of as "the invention."
2. We Educate You
Above all product development teams and the shareholders need to be educated. You aren't supposed to be experts. We teach you on what you need to know about the process, help you identify what is valuable in real time, but also, what isn't valuable. Above all we teach you about what not to do, like selling or publishing before you file patent applications, that’s bad.
Often overlooked or misunderstood, is the patent investment. We educate you on the costs upfront as well so you will know what you are spending in time and money to patent your inventions.
3. A 'Business-First' Approach
Whether you’re a young company or an established global presence, we understand the complexities, benefits, and costs of patenting nationally and internationally, as well as when and why to do so.
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At the end of the day, a patent is only as valuable as the business it protects. We will always make sure your patent aligns with company goals and will be a powerful investment in the future of your company.
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Who We Serve
About Painless Patenting®
History
Painless Patenting® was originally founded in 1997 by Ed Kelley, an engineer, inventor, and patent agent. As an agent working in a multinational corporate environment, Ed witnessed countless inventors approve patent applications that: patented the wrong things, did not adequately describe important aspects of the invention, or failed to describe novel features. Between two and seven years, and tens of thousands of dollars later these patent applications were rejected, ultimately providing poor protection, or being abandoned outright.
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Ed saw an opportunity to help. He launched his first company, Invention Management Associates (IMA), with a mission to educate inventors and lead product development teams to success. As IMA grew, he hired and trained patent agents and lawyers on this different, more personal and successful way to patent. IMA’s process proved that by educating and working with inventors closely, they could get 99% of their patents awarded by the USPTO, which is unheard of in the industry.
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Painless Patenting® is the dedicated evolution of IMA. For over twenty years, our greatest impact on our clients has been the alleviation of the stress, pain, and burden- both mental and financial- that can accompany patenting. We are proudly committed to providing superior patents and customizable patent strategies and services, while making the process as painless as possible.
Meet The Team
ED KELLEY
Founder & CEO
Ed’s unique blend of experience as a mechanical engineer, electro-optical engineer, in-house patent department manager, and a patent agent brings an informed perspective to the product review process, which is both efficient and engineer-friendly. Mr. Kelley worked for more than a decade creating and then managing in-house patent departments that delivered roughly 800 U.S. and international patents to corporate clients. He currently holds three U.S. patents.
JOHN GILLIS
Patent Attorney
STEPHEN WILLIAMS
Patent Agent
JEFF CARTER
Attorney & Licensing Expert
KIMBERLY MCLEAN
IP Attorney
KARA LARSON
Patent Agent
RIGEL SEMPRUM
Business Operations Manager
KAREN SCHNAUBELT
Docketing & Administrative Assistant
