While finding the perfect piece of prior art for patent invalidation isn’t always possible, GreyB’s thorough search strategies ensured that we identified the strongest prior art available, giving us a newfound confidence in our case.
After successfully working with Steve Rotzin on a challenging patent litigation case, we spoke with him to learn about his experience working with GreyB. Before jumping to our discussion, let’s get acquainted with Steve and his impressive role at Simpson Strong-Tie.
Meet Steve Rotzin
Steve Rotzin, Director of Legal Operations and IP Management at Simpson Strong-Tie, has over 20 years of experience managing a global IP portfolio of 2,000+ patents and trademarks. He excels in IP management, from working with product development on disclosures to overseeing prosecution strategies, litigation, and licensing agreements.
With a background in software development, including leading the DeckPlanner 3D visualization program, Steve effectively merges technical and legal expertise. Currently pursuing his JD, he continues to enhance his legal skills while driving efficient operations and contributing to M&A activities, evaluating IP assets, and integrating systems post-acquisition.
Highlights from the conversation
Could you describe how you initially connected with GreyB?
We were involved in a patent litigation case when GreyB reached out to us to offer to help invalidate a patent suit. We took our chances and hired GreyB to work on the project. GreyB delivered exceptional results. Their continuous updates and quick adaptation to our feedback were particularly valuable. The teams assigned to our projects were highly knowledgeable in the relevant technology areas. While finding the perfect piece of prior art isn’t always possible, GreyB’s thorough search strategies ensured that we identified the strongest prior art available, giving us a newfound confidence in our case.
Given your extensive experience working with various vendors, what specifically led you to select GreyB for your patent invalidation project?
I have worked with many vendors providing prior art searches. The common problem is that most don’t grasp the finer details of the issues; “issue spotting” is the key in any legal matter.
GreyB exceeded my expectations in “issue-spotting.” Even before we hired GreyB, they did some preliminary analysis independently and showcased their capability to work on such projects. That captured my attention. Additionally, I liked their reporting style and the team that came on the initial call.
How would you describe your experience working with GreyB, and to what extent did we meet your expectations?
Our experience working with GreyB on the patent invalidation has been great. Not only did they help us find good results, but they also suggested good combinations, made claim matrices, and created charts to make the review process easy for us. The project was a success, and we were incredibly satisfied with the results.
What aspects of working with GreyB did you find most valuable?
I liked the commitment to the project and going above and beyond, providing us with more value than expected. Timely project updates, regular calls, fast responses, and a very affable team have made this a decision for us.
What factors distinguished GreyB from other vendors you have worked with?
GreyB’s thoroughness, thoughtfulness, clarity, work product, results, and professionalism.
Next Read: 5 Key Search String Mistakes You Should Avoid At All Costs During A Prior Art Search
