Intellectual Property

The reason I became an intellectual property attorney was to be able to assist clients who are enthusiastic about taking the necessary steps to follow their dreams. I particularly enjoy working with the small startup company or the weekend inventor.

• Copyrights
• International Intellectual Property
• Technology Licensing
• Trade Dress
• Trademarks
• Trade Secrets

• Biotech & Medical
• Business Process
• Electronics & Computer
• Internet Patents
• Mechanical
• Patent Design
• Plants
• Technology & Engineering

CA, Apr 2001
Bar Number: 212815

Registered Patent Attorney - United States Patent and Trademark Office

Supreme Court of California, Federal Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit, Federal District Court, Southern and Northern Districts, California State Courts

American Bar Association, California State Bar

I recently participated in a week-long continuing education workshop titled "How to Craft, Draft and Prosecute Patents That Win at the Federal Circuit." The workshop discussed the sweeping changes to patent drafting and prosecution that are dictated by the most recent decisions of the Federal Circuit Court. The recent cases mandate drafting and prosecuting an application in a way completely different than was practiced just a few years ago. Further, the changes dictated by recent case law are so sweeping that a patent practitioner's failure to understand the effects of these changes leaves a client at a substantial disadvantage. Please see my website (www.italiaip.com) for a detailed explanation of these changes.

My research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and he received a patent in his field. As a patent holder, I went on to design and manufacture a biotechnology-related product that is currently sold throughout the world. My experience of taking an idea to a marketable product is one that helps me provide valuable insight to my clients.

One client that I am particularly proud of was a small company that I wrote a series of patents for. Based on the strength of the patent applications that I had drafted, they were able to obtain over $30 million in initial seed money. They are still going strong and look to bring their first product to market very soon.

I am just as proud of the weekend inventor that I helped obtain his dream of obtaining a patent for a mechanical device. I went on to help him get the product manufactured through my various contacts, and subsequently worked out a lucrative licensing arrangement on his behalf.

1

California

My practice focuses on all aspects of intellectual property, in fields that include mechanical and electrical engineering, chemical, computers, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

I started my own firm three years ago. Previously, I was at a large firm that taught me a great deal and forced me to take on a good deal of responsibility early. However, the big firm was not willing to take on smaller clients and that is what I find the most enjoyable.

After graduating from college, I went to work in industry before deciding to become an attorney. I was a research scientist at National Genetics Institute where I helped to detect quantitatively HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and other various forms of viruses.

I left NGI to pursue work on a specific protein that leads to heart disease at the University of Chicago. Our lab was able to isolate this protein and I published two important articles in peer-reviewed journals regarding our findings. Our lab was also able to patent the process of isolating the protein and it was during that application process that I decided to become a patent attorney.

After law school, I was employed at the 300 attorney firm of Manatt, Phelps, and Phillips in West Los Angeles. During my three years there, I handled various tasks related to patents, trademarks, copyrights and for a period of time was the solely responsible for the firm's patent practice.

Monica Hecht

(818) 973-2702

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Yes

None

I find that my clients prefer fixed fees for the majority of the services that I perform. This fixed cost covers all meetings, correspondence, telephone conversations, copies, postage, and reasonable revisions that will take place during the production of the documents/applications.

I also discount my prices as I continue to do more and more work for a client.

Trademark Application: $325
This fee includes a preliminary search, preparation and filing the application for one trademark in one class. I charge just an extra $100 if the client is filing the mark in an additional class.

Patent Searches: $800 - $1,600
This fee varies depending on how crowded a particular invention is with prior art (previously issued patents). If there are a considerable number of patents to read in a given field, then the price is goes up, and vice versa. The fee includes a written opinion of patentability, copies of the relevant patents, and an in-office meeting to discuss the findings.

Provisional Patent Applications: $1,700 - $2,500
This fee varies depending on the complexity of the invention. If your invention is very simple then you are going to be in the low range. This price excludes applicable Patent and Trademark Office fees which are presently $100.

Non-Provisional Patent Applications: $3,500 - $5,500
Again, this fee varies depending on the complexity of the invention, with the simplest inventions falling in the lower range. This price excludes applicable Patent and Trademark Office fees which are approximately $500.

$250/hr. However, most of my fees (as described above) are on a fixed basis.

I offer a free initial phone consultation.

An in-office consultation is $200. However, if we agree to work together during that meeting, and I receive an initial payment for those services, I waive the initial consultation fee. And if we agree to work together at a time subsequent to the office meeting, I credit $100 to the client's account.

I request 50% of the total fees at the beginning of any work. However, under the proper circumstances I will reduce the initial payment.