Nicholas S. Drysdale

Principal / Detroit Metro Office

Nick works diligently with his clients to best achieve their patent prosecution goals. Dedicated to client service and sensitive to his clients’ budgetary requirements, Nick’s interpersonal skills are appreciated and are particularly effective to help resolve issues.

Don’t let Nick’s easy-going demeanor fool you. Nick has prepared more than 500 filed patent applications in a variety of technological areas, such as vehicle powertrain control, semiconductors, electric motor control and plasma generation systems. Nick works productively with Patent Examiners to expedite prosecution and minimize cost. Nick’s experience as a patent attorney further includes USPTO appeals, having prepared more than 100 patent appeal related briefs. He was involved in drafting the Briefs leading to Ex Parte Wheat, Appeal No. 2010-008139 (BPAI 2012), which held that Patent Examiners cannot rely on alleged capabilities of a prior art controller to reject a functionally claimed controller unless the prior art controller is in fact configured to perform the claimed functions.

Background

Background

Working mostly with electrical inventions, Nick monitors case law regarding means-plus-function limitations (35 USC §112(6/f)) and subject matter eligibility (35 USC §101). He strives to keep his clients ahead of the curve when it comes to changes in the law, and how they affect patent management and strategy.

Nick joined Harness IP as a Law Clerk. In addition to working full-time throughout law school, Nick graduated in the top 8 % of his class. Prior to becoming a Patent Attorney, Nick was involved in business management, where he acquired extensive skills in client service and management.