3 Ways Small Law Firms Can Improve IP Efficiency
知財ビジネス管理 | 知財戦略
5月 26, 2025
For small law firms, managing intellectual property (IP) can be a challenging and time-consuming task, especially if they don’t have the right tools and processes in place. If you’re part of a small firm and new to managing IP, you might be tracking IP budgets in spreadsheets, storing prior art references in one system, and keeping important documents scattered across other platforms. This disconnected and disorganized approach not only takes up a lot of your time but also increases the likelihood of costly mistakes that can affect your clients.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could simplify tasks, save time, and reduce the chance of errors? PATTSY WAVE®, from Anaqua, does this and more. PATTSY WAVE is an IP docketing and management software that simplifies processes, helps reduce repetitive tasks, improves accuracy, and frees up your time to focus on your clients. Here are three specific ways PATTSY WAVE helps small firms streamline IP management while improving efficiency and boosting productivity.
1. Improve Your Daily IP Tasks
PATTSY WAVE is continuously evolving with advanced automation tools to help small law firms handle more work without the need for extra staff or resources. These tools are designed to work seamlessly together to reduce manual effort, organize important documents, and improve daily workflows.
Specifically, PATTSY WAVE’s Drag & Drop functionality ties key automation capabilities together which will allow you to:
- Simplify document processing: Quickly upload documents from foreign agents or clients to newly docketed actions. This works seamlessly with AutoDocket® & Download, an automation feature that dockets incoming U.S. patent and trademark activity, to ensure critical documents are saved and nothing gets missed.
- Keep matters organized: Effortlessly load documents into patent and trademark case files or records, and link them directly to action items, saving time and keeping everything in one place.
- Sync documents automatically: Any documents added via Drag & Drop or AutoDocket® & Download are automatically synced to their corresponding workspaces in your Document Management System (DMS). With a single click, you can access the right documents directly from their Interactive Dockets and open them within your DMS, eliminating extra steps.
2. Automate Prior Art Management and IDS Generation
Managing prior art and generating Information Disclosure Statements (IDS) can feel never-ending, especially if you’re relying on manual entry and spreadsheets that require extra time to prepare forms, track references, and double-check for errors to ensure accuracy. When working manually and under tight deadlines, it’s easy for mistakes to happen and more difficult to manage IDS submissions effectively.
With PATTSY WAVE’s IDS management integration, you can manage the entire process all on one platform. Instead of using spreadsheets, PATTSY WAVE enables you to:
- Cross-cite prior art between related applications
- Track supplemental IDS requirements with ease
- Generate IDS forms with a single click
Plus, the automated data validation feature significantly reduces the manual effort of compiling prior art references, making the entire process faster, easier and more accurate. By simplifying IDS management, PATTSY WAVE not only saves you time but also cuts costs by eliminating the need for additional IDS-specific software.
3. Simplify IP Cost Estimation
Estimating related IP costs can quickly become a complex, time-consuming and costly task. Obtaining accurate IP filing cost estimates has traditionally been a manual process. This often means researching filing fees across multiple jurisdictions, consulting with foreign associates, or calculating costs using spreadsheets. While these methods work, they are prone to errors, difficult to standardize, and require a significant amount of time and effort.
Small law firms trust Global IP Estimator® as their go-to resource for accurate and detailed IP filing cost estimates. Global IP Estimator calculates all aspects of filing costs such as official PTO fees, prosecution fees, and ongoing maintenance. With its integration with PATTSY WAVE, generating these estimates has never been easier. Instead of switching between systems, you can quickly generate precise estimates within minutes, all from one platform. This allows you to dedicate more time to servicing your clients and reduce the risk of costly miscalculations.
“If you don’t have tools like the Global IP Estimator or PATTSY WAVE for annuities, then you’re stuck with going to foreign websites and looking up the costs for every single case. This process can be time consuming and brings with it a heightened risk of inaccuracy without a software like Global IP Estimator.””
- Joshua Gibbs, National Intellectual Property Manager, DLA Piper
IP management doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With PATTSY WAVE’s built in capabilities, small law firms can centralize workflows, reduce errors, and save valuable time. By automating routine tasks, PATTSY WAVE allows you to work more efficiently and focus on what really matters, serving your clients.
Ready to become more efficient with managing your clients’ IP?
