PALO ALTO, CALIF.—Womble Bond Dickinson patent attorneys Bill Jacobs and Dan Ovanezian have been recognized by the US Patent and Trademark Office for their devotion to pro bono service.
USPTO Silicon Valley Branch Director John Cabeca awarded Jacobs and Ovanezian certificates for performing 50+ hours of patent pro bono work.
For example, Jacobs and Ovanezian have helped inventors obtain patents through California Lawyers for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that serves as the statewide administrator for the California Inventors Assistance Program. This pro bono program helps inventors bring good ideas to life, even if they lack sufficient funds to hire IP counsel.
The awards ceremony took place May 5 in San Francisco.
Bill Jacobs is an intellectual property attorney with an electrical engineering background who helps clients formulate strategies to protect and utilize their IP assets. His practice includes patent and trademark prosecution, software copyrights and licensing. He also counsels clients in patent infringement and validity matters.
Dan Ovanezian has 20 years of experience in intellectual property law. His practice encompasses the entire patent life cycle, including mining and identifying patentable inventions and advising patent committees, conducting training seminars in IP matters, and prosecuting patent applications with the USPTO. Dan also helps companies establish patent committees and perform IP landscaping, and regularly guides startups looking to develop IP portfolios for IPOs and other exit strategies.