FAQs
What is Strawman Ltd?
Strawman Ltd is a service company designed to help you (the patent attorney) to provide complete anonymity to any of your clients wishing to oppose a patent. Currently, we are limiting our services to opposing patents at the European Patent Office (EPO).
Please visit www.strawman.info
Who needs Strawman Ltd?
Any would-be opponent. Numerous oppositions are filed daily – so potentially there is a need for Strawman for each and every opposition.
When should Strawman Ltd be used?
When your client wants to oppose a patent without revealing their identity. This may be important if, for example, your client :-
- Would like to file a particular submission against a competitor’s patent and would not want the same submission to come back to haunt them on one of its own patents.
- Would not want the competitors to know in which areas they are working.
- Would want its the competitors spend resources defending the opposition as opposed to spending them on other activities.
- Would wish to try to influence the selling price of a patent.
- Would wish to try to influence the terms of a patent licence whilst at the same time trying to negotiate face to face with the patent owner on friendly terms.
Why was Strawman Ltd set up?
To relieve you of the time and work in finding a name to front the opposition on behalf of your client. For a lay person, the entire concept of lending his or her name in the patent forum is scary. Strawman Ltd will make the process quicker, easier and safer.
Will Strawman Ltd know the identity of my client?
No. We would not know the identity of your client. We do not want to nor need to.
Is there a need for Strawman Ltd?
Strawman Ltd has its own separate legal entity. Hence, it can continue trading despite death or resignation. This in turn provides the ultimate protection to any “strawman” opposition that has been filed.
Should we discuss the existence of Strawman Ltd with our clients?
Should it be an express and/or implied term of your fiduciary relationship to discuss all avenues open to your client? If so, this would include the feasibility of using Strawman Ltd when discussing anonymity of oppositions.
Are you best servicing your client needs if you do not discuss the existence of Strawman with your client? Surely your client needs to be in possession of all of the facts when considering the merits of filing an anonymous opposition.
Can Strawman Ltd ever refuse the use of its name?
Yes, it can. We operate on a first come-first served basis procedure with one name, one opposition. Timing of completing and returning our online Application Form is therefore of the essence. In addition, currently, a patent proprietor cannot oppose its own patent and so we cannot represent the patent proprietor.
Could the law be changed making the concept of Strawman Ltd redundant?
In theory – yes. However, first, some authoritative EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal case law would have to be overturned. Even if the law were to change we believe that it wouldn’t happen immediately and that the changes would not be applied retrospectively. In our opinion, the system is therefore safe. So why deprive clients of the opportunity of using Strawman Ltd now?
Are there many patent attorneys using your business?
Strawman Ltd is a growing independent business of which we are most proud. A large number of patent attorney firms across Europe have used our services.
Does Strawman Ltd prepare any of the opposition documentation?
No. We are interested neither in the merits of the opposing patent nor in the merits of the opposition to be filed. We do not prepare or take part in the preparation of any the opposition documents or statements.
How do I enlist the services of Strawman Ltd ?
The system is easy to use.
Simply visit www.strawman.info
