West Coast Expansion Positions Article One Partners as Patent Researching Resource for Silicon Valley

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Article One Partners, the world's largest patent research community, today announced a triad of information key to its West Coast expansion. Along with the opening of its newest office in the heart of Silicon Valley, Article One formally welcomed Monica Winghart into her role as Chief of Legal Counsel to direct the ongoing rollout of Litigation Avoidance, the latest product designed to help companies analyze and act on patents of questionable quality from non-practicing entities.

Currently headquartered in New York City, New York, Article One's expansion to Palo Alto, California through Winghart's hire solidifies the company's desire to bring change directly to expanding patent disputes against Silicon Valley high tech giants. Winghart joins Article One after spending seven years directing all IP litigation matters at Clorox Co., including patent, trademark, trade secret and licensing disputes. Winghart, who also practiced in Atlanta gaining over ten years of intellectual property litigation experience, will serve as the firm's Chief of Legal Counsel and focus on the recent release of Litigation Avoidance.

Litigation Avoidance leverages the proven success of Article One's global community which conducts research to identify evidence predating patent claims, known as "prior art." Through this one-of-a-kind service, Article One identifies pre-litigation patents and distributes requests to over one million scientists and technologists to research the validity of the patents. Article One then uses that collected research where appropriate to file reexamination requests with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Microsoft Corporation was the first member to join in May 2011.

"By combining Litigation Avoidance with the strength of our research community, Article One is able to add a crucial level of review to the U.S. Patent System," said Ray Felts, president of North America, Article One Partners. "With the addition of Monica Winghart to our team, we're looking forward to providing a unique service and the expertise needed to effectively and locally address patent disputes in an innovation hot bed."

"Patent lawsuits can swiftly undercut all innovation within a company, which is why there is no substitute for equally matched speed and global reach in patent research," said Cheryl Milone, CEO of Article One Partners. "We are excited to add Litigation Avoidance to our patent defense strategy and believe it will be a powerful tool in the continuing war against patent suits from non-practicing entities."

Article One clients include 11 of the top 15 U.S. high tech companies, and 19 of the Fortune Global 500. Clients come from industries ranging from telecommunications, automotive, biomedical and pharmaceutical, to consumer electronics companies and premier international law firms.

ABOUT ARTICLE ONE PARTNERS

Article One Partners is a global online community providing notice of patent research to more than one million scientists and technologists in 176 countries and ten languages to research prior art for patents. Article One presents patent research requests online and with international affiliate websites in exchange for premium compensation for key foreign language evidence and non-patent literature essential for patent review. To learn more about Article One Partners, please visit: www.ArticleOnePartners.com.

SOURCE Article One Partners