Protect Your Intellectual Property With An Experienced Patent Attorney
Startup businesses, independent inventors or anyone who has a brilliant idea can benefit from the expertise of a licensed patent attorney.
Robert Downey, a board-certified intellectual property attorney, has more than 30 years of experience in patent and trademark law, filing for patents and trademarks in the U.S. and worldwide.
After running his own firm in Boca Raton for nearly three decades, Downey re-joined the Miami-based firm where he started his career, Malloy & Malloy P.L., Florida’s oldest Intellectual Property boutique firm, founded in 1959, and specializing in patent, trademark and copyright law, including litigation, licensing and brand management. Downey leads the firm’s Boca Raton office, along with Senior Associate Attorney W. John Eagan.
“Patent law is the only area of law that requires a separate bar exam given by the U.S. Patent Office,” Downey says. “You have to have an extensive background in science and engineering.”
Downey, a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and former Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve, explains he enjoys the high attention to detail required to file patents and trademarks.
“It’s a very complex process and requires extensive knowledge of the patent law and the legal terminology to properly present claims that best define a client’s intellectual property rights,” Downey says. Clients include companies, individuals and retirees.
“There are quite a few retired business owners in Boca Raton that know a lot about developing a product,” Downey says.
One success story is a client and retired paint chemist who came up with a unique nail polish that resulted in a “crackle” finish.
“He developed the formula and came to my office to file for a patent. Soon, Revlon contacted him and we signed a million-dollar license agreement with the nail polish manufacturer,” Downey adds.
Other clients include two brothers in Boca Raton who created a unique pool vacuum and a Boca woman who started her own online clothing store.
“If you have an invention and feel it has potential for commercial success, it is highly advisable to file a patent application before you publicly announce it — even in presentations or on social media,” Downey says. “You don’t want others to copy it and benefit off of your original idea.”
Malloy & Malloy P.L. is located at 6751 N. Federal Highway, Ste. 300, Boca Raton. For more information, call 561-989-0889 or visit malloylaw.com.
Professionally Speaking Special Advertising Section