Technical Expertise

Ference & Associates practices IP property law predominately in the fields of high technology. Our attorneys and agents are trained in the areas of science and engineering and all have technical degrees. We have prepared and prosecuted patents, trademarks and copyrights across of broad array of technical areas. A description of these technical areas appears below:

Biological

Biology examines the structure, function, growth, origin, evolution distribution and classification of all living things. Traditionally, the specialized disciplines of biology are grouped by the type of organism being studied and are further divided based on the scale at which organisms are studied and methods used to study them: biochemistry examines the foundational chemistry of life; molecular biology studies the complex interactions of systems of biological molecules; cellular biology examine the basic building blocks of all life, the cell; physiology examines the physical and chemical functions of the tissues and organ systems of an organism and finally, ecology examines how various organisms interrelate with their environment.

Computer

Computer software includes computer programs, procedures and documentation that performs some task on a computer system. This includes application software such as word processors, which perform productive tasks for users, system software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to provide the necessary services for application software, and middleware which controls and coordinates distributed systems.

Chemical

The chemical industry converts raw materials (oil, natural gas, air, water, metals, minerals) into more than 70,000 products. Polymers and plastics, especially polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, terephthalate, polystyrene and polycarbonate comprise about 80% of the world-wide output. Chemicals can be divided into a few broad categories: basic chemical, life sciences, specialty chemical and consumer products.

Electrical/Electronics

Electronics refers to the flow of charge (moving electrons) through non metal conductors (mainly semi-conductors), where electrical refers to the flow of charge through metal conductors. For example, flow of charge through silicon, which is not a metal, would come under electronics; whereas flow of charge through copper, which is a metal, would come under electrical.

Electro-mechanical

This field encompasses the intersection of electromagnetic phenomena with physical objects. Motion sensors and accelerometers are among the inventions in this area.

Mechanical

This art area encompasses machines. Common usage - this is a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work.

Software

Software includes computer programs that perform some task on a computer system. This includes application software such as word processors which perform productive tasks for users; system software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to provide the necessary services for application software; middleware which controls and coordinates distributed systems; and firmware which is programmed resident to electrically programmable memory devices, on board main boards, or other types of integrated hardware carriers.