<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">There\u2019s a handful of cases where lawyers don\u2019t paper similar arrangements and this go sideways. Here\u2019s an excerpt from a CLE paper I did, fwiw, and see the tail end for a suggestion to consider but if this were legal advice, it would include a bill:<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 13pt; font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; color: rgb(47, 84, 150); font-weight: normal;"><a name="_Toc34305151"></a><a name="_Toc118734219"></a><a name="_Toc191394503"></a><a name="_Toc503447387"><span class="Heading3Char" style="color: rgb(31, 55, 99);"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: black;">B. The Other Party to a License or Shared Prosecution </span></b></span></a><span class="Heading3Char" style="color: rgb(31, 55, 99);"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: black;">Agreement</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: black;">.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> It is common for different entities to have input into prosecution, as where a licensee has input into prosecution of pending applications. In such circumstances, the parties likely can assert a \u201ccommon interest\u201d privilege so that third parties cannot access their communications. However, courts continue to conflate the existence of a common interest with implied joint attorney client relationships.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> In one example, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. ("DePuy") entered into a research agreement with Orthopaedic Hospital (\u201cOH\u201d). OH would develop products and DePuy would pay a royalty if any were commercialized. Some patent applications were filed. OH later contended that DePuy had developed products that required it pay OH a royalty; DePuy refused, and OH brought a declaratory judgment. <i>See DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. v. Orthopaedic Hosp., </i>2016 WL 7030400 (Dec. 1, 2016). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> During the suit, OH moved to compel all documents from DePuy related to prosecution of the applications. DePuy refused to provide the documents. In doing so, it conceded that the parties shared a common interest with respect to the patent applications, but contended that DePuy\u2019s in-house attorney did not jointly represent both OH and DePuy when doing so.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> The court held that as a matter of law DePuy\u2019s in-house lawyer represented both it and OH. In doing so, it applied the test for determining whether a lawyer represents a client. Thus, because the lawyer jointly represented both OH and DePuy, nothing was privileged between them in this dispute.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> As I've written, this is legally incorrect. The issue isn't whether DePuy's in-house lawyer represented one client, but whether she represented two. When that is the issue, courts that appropriately analyze this issue recognize that a different analysis is required. <i>See U.S. v. Holmes, </i>2021 WL 2309980 (N.D. Cal. June 3, 2021). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Applying the \u201creasonable belief\u201d test in a joint client context to imply an attorney client relationship can create conflicts of interest. <i>See id.</i> For example, if a lawyer is being paid by one client, believing it is the \u201conly\u201d client, but a court implies a joint attorney-client relationship, then the rule against accepting payment from anyone to represent a client is implicated, which can require full disclosure to the client and ensuring no interference with the lawyer\u2019s exercise of independent judgment on behalf of either client. <i>See </i>Model Rule 1.8; <i>Harish v. Arbit, </i>2025 WL 354484 (D.N.J. Jan. 31, 2025).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Further still, with respect to in-house counsel, this could create the unauthorized practice of law (for example, if in-house counsel were not licensed in the state where the activities occurred, but registered by the state, and the \u201crepresentation\u201d went beyond that necessary to practice before the USPTO. It could also result in liability by in-house counsel to third parties, and in-house counsel typically don't have malpractice insurance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> This same fact pattern has bitten several outside firms and in-house counsel before. Any time a lawyer is prosecuting patents where there is some agreement where a \u201cnon-client\u201d has input -- a joint venture agreement, a license, a joint development agreement -- the lawyer should be extremely careful to ensure that the \u201cnon-client\u201d knows it is not a client. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Normal1" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For example, i</span>n <i>N</i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">aturalock Solutions, LLC v. Baxter Healthcare Corp.,</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> No. 14-cv-10113, 2016 WL 2958374 (N.D. Ill. May 20, 2016), Naturalock entered into a License and Development Agreement with Baxter to patent a natural replacement for Heparin that Naturalock had invented. Baxter agreed to test, develop, commercialize and patent the invention and retained K&L Gates to file applications. Naturalock then sued Baxter, claiming breach of the agreement, and sought production of all communications about prosecution with K&L Gates. Baxter objected but the court ordered production. In its motion to compel, Naturalock argued that it was the sole client, but if not it was a joint client, and Baxter argued it was the sole client.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> Naturalock had its own counsel. Even so, the court held it was a joint client of K&L Gates because K&L Gates had \u201cprovided legal services to Naturallock and acted at the direction of Naturalock in addition to Baxter.\u201d The court reasoned that it \u201cdoes not matter what K&L Gates or Baxter perceived the relationship to be\u201d but instead on \u201cwhether the attorney was acting in a professional relationship to the person asserting the privilege.\u201d Among other things, the court noted that Naturalock had never been \u201cexplicitly informed that K&L Gates represented only Baxter.\u201d<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> There are other cases with mixed results or similar facts. <i>E.g., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. v. Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc., </i>2019 WL 3284673 (D. N.J. June 6, 2019) (denying motion to disqualify based upon firm\u2019s representation of client who had joint defense agreement with moving party); <i>Speed RMG Partners, LLC v. Arctic Cat Sales Inc.</i>, 2020 WL 12442105 (D. Minn. Aug. 21, 2020). <i>See also BlueRadios, Inc. v. Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.C., </i>2024 WL 4228929 (D. Mass. Sept. 18, 2024) (holding in a legal malpractice case that plaintiff\u2019s claim that law firm had jointly represented it was barred by limitations).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> Including a clause that states something like the following may help to reduce problems:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;">The parties recognize that they share a common interest in prosecuting patent applications. However, Firm A represents only Company A and does not owe a duty of loyalty or confidentiality to Company B. Company B has been given the opportunity to retain independent counsel and understands it cannot rely on Firm A for legal advice or to protect its interests.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><br></p><div>
<div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div>David Hricik</div><div><br></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
</div>
<div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div>On Jun 11, 2025, at 9:47\u202fAM, Masson, Roger M. via Patentpractice <patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><meta charset="UTF-8"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Jim,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I haven\u2019t had this situation in patent prosecution but the representation agreement should spell out that you do not represent Licensor assuming you decide to represent only Licensee, which I would be inclined to go with to avoid issues when the parties disagree on something.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width: 916px; border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width: 6.25in; border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">Roger <o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">Masson<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="400" style="width: 300pt; border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">Senior Counsel<o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">151 North Franklin Street, Suite 2500<o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">, <o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">Chicago<o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">, <o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">IL<o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"> <o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);">60606<o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 9.75pt 0in 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(39, 170, 225);">O:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"> <a href="tel:312-704-3516" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 40, 86); text-decoration: none;">312-704-3516</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"> | <o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(39, 170, 225);">F: <a href="fax:312-704-3001" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 40, 86); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">312-704-3001</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"><a href="mailto:RMasson@hinshawlaw.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 40, 86); text-decoration: none;">RMasson@hinshawlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 1.5pt 0in 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"><a href="https://www.hinshawlaw.com/professionals-roger-masson.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 40, 86); text-decoration: none;">My Bio</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"> | <o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"><a href="http://hinshawlaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 40, 86); text-decoration: none;">hinshawlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"> | <o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0in 3.75pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/17618/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span id="cid:image001.jpg@01DBDAAC.F97FBD50"><image001.jpg></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0in 3.75pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hinshawlaw/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span id="cid:image002.jpg@01DBDAAC.F97FBD50"><image002.jpg></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0in 3.75pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/hinshaw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span id="cid:image003.jpg@01DBDAAC.F97FBD50"><image003.jpg></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td style="padding: 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hinshawlaw/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span id="cid:image004.jpg@01DBDAAC.F97FBD50"><image004.jpg></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: rgb(0, 40, 86);"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 9.75pt 0in 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in 0in 15pt;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: currentcolor rgb(0, 40, 86) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 0in 15pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hinshawlaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span id="cid:image005.jpg@01DBDAAC.F97FBD50"><image005.jpg></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: currentcolor rgb(0, 0, 1) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 0in 15pt;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.hinshawlaw.com/newsroom-news-hinshaw-90-year-anniversary.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span id="cid:image006.jpg@01DBDAAC.F97FBD50"><image006.jpg></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 15pt;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.hinshawlaw.com/newsroom-news-hinshaw-2023-2024-mansfield-rule-certification-trendsetter-firm.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span id="cid:image007.jpg@01DBDAAC.F97FBD50"><image007.jpg></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 1pt; font-family: remialcxesans;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1pt; font-family: template-ZNERoCcCEfCLPQAiSCarSw;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1pt; font-family: zone-1;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1pt; font-family: zones-AQ;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(225, 225, 225) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Patentpractice <<a href="mailto:patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com">patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Jim Larsen via Patentpractice<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tuesday, June 10, 2025 10:04 PM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br><b>Cc:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jim Larsen <<a href="mailto:jim@larsen-ip.com">jim@larsen-ip.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[Patentpractice] PoA/Representation of licensee and licensor?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: white;">Dear Listmates, I have a question of first impression (for me) regarding power of attorney. A new client (Licensee) has, by license agreement, agreed to solely \u201cbe responsible for and shall control the preparation, filing, prosecution, protection,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 1pt; color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Dear Listmates,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I have a question of first impression (for me) regarding power of attorney. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A new client (Licensee) has, by license agreement, agreed to solely \u201cbe responsible for and shall control the preparation, filing, prosecution, protection, defense and maintenance of all claims relating to the Patent Rights [i.e., full interest in several existing foreign patents] licensed hereunder which are solely applicable to the Field of Use (\u201cLicensee Claims\u201d).\u201d Note: Licensor is currently a part owner of Licensee.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The agreement also requires that Licensor have a chance to review the text of each patent application \u201crelating to Licensee Claims\u201d before filing, and \u201cLicensee shall give Licensor the opportunity to provide comments concerning the preparation, filing, prosecution, protection, defense and maintenance of the Licensee Claims, and shall give reasonable consideration to such comments\u2026.\u201d<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Acknowledging the potential breadth of \u201crelating to\u201d language, the license agreement was reportedly hard-fought, was executed before we got involved, and is not likely to change. So, my question regards power of attorney and (joint?) representation. I think we needn\u2019t represent the Licensor, and Licensor\u2019s \u201copportunity to provide comments\u201d does not necessarily require us to directly communicate with Licensor. Is it nevertheless advisable to get POA and conflicts waiver from both Licensor and Licensee? Or, since Licensor is a part owner of Licensee, would POA from and representation of Licensee be sufficient? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I see these and other variations as each having pluses and minuses, but I bet some of you have dealt with a similar situation. What works best?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is an Illinois registered limited liability partnership that has elected to be governed by the Illinois Uniform Partnership Act (1997).<br><br>The contents of this e-mail message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) named in this message. This communication is intended to be and to remain confidential and may be subject to applicable attorney/client and/or work product privileges. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this message and its attachments. Do not deliver, distribute or copy this message and/or any attachments and if you are not the intended recipient, do not disclose the contents or take any action in reliance upon the information contained in this communication or any attachments.<br></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">--<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">Patentpractice mailing list</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="mailto:Patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/patentpractice_oppedahl-lists.com" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">http://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/patentpractice_oppedahl-lists.com</a></div></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>