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US 2006/0080244 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for insuring and paying annuities for patents
OwnerSteven Lundberginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are described that allow and enable the provision of malpractice or errors and omissions insurance to cover malpractice or other negligent conduct in connection with the payment of annuity or maintenance fees for patents and patent applications throughout the world
Claims51
A method comprising:
- identifying a patent right for which an annuity or maintenance payment is due;
- providing liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- charging an insurance fee for the liability insurance;
- and
- billing an owner of the patent right for the insurance fee.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- identifying a patent right for which an annuity or maintenance payment is due;
- providing liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- charging an insurance fee for the liability insurance;
- billing a law firm responsible for causing the annuity or maintenance payment to be paid;
- and
- the law firm billing an owner of the patent right for the insurance fee.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- maintaining a record of a plurality of patent rights for which annuity or maintenance payments are due;
- providing liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- charging an insurance fee for the liability insurance for each of the plurality of patent rights;
- and
- billing an owner of each of the patent rights for the insurance fee.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- maintaining a record of a plurality of patent rights for which annuity or maintenance payments are due;
- providing liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- charging an insurance fee for the liability insurance for each of the plurality of patent rights;
- billing a law firm responsible for causing the annuity or maintenance payment to be paid, wherein the law firm is billed a separate insurance fee for each of the patent rights;
- and
- billing an owner of each of the patent rights for the insurance fee.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- a law firm or annuity or maintenance payment provider maintaining a record of a plurality of patent rights for which annuity or maintenance payments are due;
- providing liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- charging an insurance fee for the liability insurance for each of the plurality of patent rights;
- billing a law firm responsible for causing the annuity or maintenance payment to be paid, wherein the law firm is billed a separate insurance fee for each of the patent rights;
- billing an owner of each of the patent rights for the insurance fee;
- and
- the insurance provider verifying that the annuity or maintenance payments have been properly paid in accordance with instructions from an authorized party.
4 more elements
A system comprising one or more computer systems including software program components adapted to:
- identify a patent right for which an annuity or maintenance payment is due;
- track a liability insurance coverage provided to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- record a charge for an insurance fee for the liability insurance;
- and
- record a billing to an owner of the patent right for the insurance fee.
2 more elements
A system comprising one or more computer systems including software program components adapted to:
- identify a patent right for which an annuity or maintenance payment is due;
- track a liability insurance coverage provided to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- record a charge for an insurance fee for the liability insurance;
- bill to a law firm responsible for causing the annuity or maintenance payment to be paid;
- and
- record a law firm charge to an owner of the patent right for the insurance fee.
3 more elements
A system comprising one or more computer systems including software program components adapted to:
- maintain a record of a plurality of patent rights for which annuity or maintenance payments are due;
- record a liability insurance coverage provided to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- record a charge of an insurance fee for the liability insurance for each of the plurality of patent rights;
- and
- bill an owner of each of the patent rights for the insurance fee.
2 more elements
A system comprising one or more computer systems including software program components adapted to:
- maintain a record of a plurality of patent rights for which annuity or maintenance payments are due;
- record a liability insurance coverage provided to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- charge an insurance fee for the liability insurance for each of the plurality of patent rights;
- bill a law firm responsible for causing the annuity or maintenance payment to be paid, wherein the law firm is billed a separate insurance fee for each of the patent rights;
- and
- bill an owner of each of the patent rights for the insurance fee.
3 more elements
A system comprising one or more computer systems including software program components adapted to:
- bill a law firm or annuity or maintenance payment provider maintaining a record of a plurality of patent rights for which annuity or maintenance payments are due;
- record a liability insurance coverage provided to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- charge an insurance fee for the liability insurance for each of the plurality of patent rights;
- bill a law firm responsible for causing the annuity or maintenance payment to be paid, wherein the law firm is billed a separate insurance fee for each of the patent rights;
- bill an owner of each of the patent rights for the insurance fee;
- and
- verify that the annuity or maintenance payments have been properly paid in accordance with instructions from an authorized party.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- and
- charging an insurance fee for the liability insurance that is based on one or parameters related to the quantity or value of annuity payments handled by the law firm or other service provider.
Apparatus comprising one or more computer systems including one or more computer program components to cause the one or more computer systems to:
- record the granting of liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- and
- bill an insurance fee for the liability insurance that is based on one or parameters related to the quantity or value of annuity payments handled by the law firm or other service provider.
A method comprising:
- providing liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- charging an insurance fee for the liability insurance that is based on one or parameters related to the quantity or value of annuity payments handled by the law firm or other service provider;
- notifying the insurance provider or its agent of any annuity payments that will not be paid for a matter handled by the law firm or other service provider;
- and
- the insurance company or its agent providing notice to the owner or agent of the matter that the annuity payment is not being paid or has not been paid.
2 more elements
Apparatus comprising one or more computer systems including one or more computer program components to cause the one or more computer systems to:
- record the granting of liability insurance to cover damages incurred in the event a responsibility to process the annuity or maintenance payment is not properly handled or paid by a law firm or other service provider;
- bill an insurance fee for the liability insurance that is based on one or parameters related to the quantity or value of annuity payments handled by the law firm or other service provider;
- notifying the insurance provider or its agent of any annuity payments that will not be paid for a matter handled by the law firm or other service provider;
- and
- providing notice from the insurance provider or agent to the owner or agent of the matter that the annuity payment is not being paid or has not been paid.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.