Suiter Swantz IP

Happy Pi Day from Suiter Swantz IP! 🥧✨

March 14 = 3.14 = the perfect day to celebrate the number that makes so much of modern science, engineering, and technology possible. Whether you’re celebrating with pie, math, or a little of both — we’re here for it.

Fun fact: Pi has been calculated to over 100 trillion digits and it still never repeats.

🎉 Welcome to the team, Carly Schmitt! 🎉

Suiter Swantz IP is pleased to welcome Carly Schmitt to the Firm.

Carly joins our team and will play an important role in supporting our intellectual property practice. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to the skills, perspective, and energy she brings to our clients and our growing team.

Please join us in welcoming Carly to Suiter Swantz IP!

Read more in our blog: https://suiter.com/suiter-swantz-ip-welcomes-carly-schmitt-to-the-firm/

🎉 Welcome to the team, Jennifer Huffman! 🎉

Suiter Swantz IP is pleased to welcome Jennifer A. Huffman as an Intellectual Property Paralegal.

Jennifer brings 10 years of intellectual property experience and more than 15 years of total paralegal experience, with a strong background in U.S. and foreign patent prosecution. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies and adds valuable depth to our patent practice through her experience supporting complex IP portfolios.

We’re excited to have Jennifer on board and look forward to the expertise and perspective she brings to our clients and our growing team.

Read more in our blog: https://suiter.com/suiter-swantz-ip-welcomes-jenniferhuffman/

Suiter Swantz IP proudly announces that Patent Attorney, Elizabeth A. Schultz, has been appointed to shareholder of the Firm.

Read the full press release in our blog post: https://suiter.com/suiter-swantz-ip-appoints-elizabeth-a-schultz-to-shareholder/

Happy New Year from Suiter Swantz IP! 🎉

As we welcome 2026, we remain committed to protecting innovation and supporting our clients in achieving their intellectual property goals. Thank you for trusting us with your ideas and inventions. Here’s to another year of creativity and progress!

Read our New Year message here: https://suiter.com/happynewyear/

From all of us at Suiter Swantz IP, we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We hope you and your loved ones have a safe and cheerful holiday season!

Celebrating Thanksgiving with a side of innovation! 🦃 Discover the patents that shaped holiday traditions in our latest blog.

Happy Thanksgiving from Suiter Swantz IP!

Read here: https://suiter.com/thanksgivingpatents/

Suiter Swantz IP is pleased to congratulate Courtney Cournoyer and all newly admitted attorneys who were sworn in on September 25, 2025. This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

We are excited to officially welcome Courtney to our team of attorneys!

Read our official announcement on our blog: https://suiter.com/suiter-swantz-ip-adds-a-new-attorney/

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is raising the bar for Inter Partes Review petitions. Petitioners now must provide explicit mapping of each claim element to prior art references—general knowledge or “common sense” will no longer be sufficient.

Read our full blog, written by Ian Sannes, on what this means for IPR strategy and patent owners: https://suiter.com/uspto-enforces-stricter-ipr-petition-requirements-explicit-mapping-of-claim-elements-required/

🔐 Maintaining Your U.S. Patent Portfolio: It’s More Than Just Filing

Securing a U.S. patent is a huge milestone—but don’t stop there. You need to actively maintain and manage your patent.

Here are some key considerations every patent holder should know:

💵 Maintenance Fees
Don't lose your rights due to missed deadlines. Fees are due at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after grant. Maintenance fees are not needed for design patents.

👀 Monitor for Infringement
Patents are only as strong as your enforcement. Regularly scan the market for potential infringement, and be aware of the 6-year statute of limitations on bringing infringement actions.

🏷️ Patent Marking
Use proper patent marking (e.g., “Patent No. # # # # # ” or virtual marking with a website) to maximize your ability to collect damages—and deter potential infringers.

📁 Maintain Clear Ownership Records
Keep all assignment documents and ownership records up to date with the USPTO. This avoids delays in enforcement or licensing and ensures clear title.

🧠 A patent isn’t just an IP asset—it’s a business asset. If you're not actively maintaining and managing it, you're leaving value on the table.

If you have questions about maintaining your patent portfolio or want expert guidance tailored to your specific needs, reach out to Suiter Swantz IP. Our experienced team can help you navigate every aspect of patent ownership and ensure you’re fully maximizing the value of your intellectual property.



United States Patent and Trademark Office

Intellectual property is our priority. Every day, our team works on strategic solutions for brands, businesses, and entrepreneurs. From consultations and research to drafting, filing, and mentoring, we’re dedicated to helping inventors and businesses secure their future. Contact us with questions: https://suiter.com/.