Confidentiality

We believe that information confidentiality is one of the most important aspects of our client relationship.  Rest assured that as a Bay Area IP client your confidential information is fully protected by attorney-client privilege.  Moreover, as registered patent practitioners, we are bound under the severe penalty of US law, and binding ethical duty under the US Patent Bar, to preserve all privileged information in strict confidence. 

If any registered patent practitioner (attorney or agent), or his/her employees, is found to compromise a client's confidential information as protected by law, he/she can be permanently barred personally from practicing in patents or any other area of law.  Simply put, no registered practitioner would risk their career because of improper behavior.  In stark contrast, it is important to understand, that non-attorney companies are run by unregistered/unlicensed persons who can continue to do non-legal business (e.g., marketing, prototyping, patent/trademark searches, etc.)  even if they intentionally compromise the secrecy of your confidential information.  Even if you go through the considerable expense to sue such a company for damages (e.g., under an confidentiality agreement), they could just fold the company and do business under a new corporate name. 

However, as a secondary layer of protection for those who wish it, upon request, we can provide you a nondisclosure agreement (NDA).  Generally, if you seek an NDA from us should, you provide us with your full legal name, the name of your invention, and your residence address- we will send you a signed copy of the NDA.