NOVAK DRUCE + QUIGG LLP is an intellectual property law firm dedicated to providing the ultimate in innovative, personal service for our clients.NDQ attorneys help our clients navigate the complexities of US intellectual property law by securing, enforcing, and defending their intellectual property rights.

NDQ can help you maximize your intellectual property’s potential and turn it into a dynamic asset for your company portfolio and the global marketplace of ideas.

Our multi-faceted practice includes patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution; strategic management and development of patent and trademark portfolios; litigation of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret disputes; development and oversight of domestic and international licensing agreements and programs; due diligence related to corporate transactions; and intellectual property analytical and consulting services. As a result of our multi-faceted practice, we represent clients in almost every type of courtroom, administrative proceeding, mediation, arbitration, or other form of dispute resolution in order to enforce, protect and defend our client's intellectual property rights.

From initial beginnings in North Texas and reaching across continents to Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia, since 1989 Gregory V. Novak and Tracy W. Druce have provided their experience and expertise in Intellectual Property law to the benefit of their clients. Today at NDQ, their commitment to excellence in Intellectual Property law and counseling continues and remains the foundation for the future. The Firm's current client list includes some of the most recognized corporations in the world.

Since its inception, the firm has steadily expanded its practice, adding attorneys with diverse backgrounds in intellectual property law, including mechanical engineering, all forms of consumer and computer technology, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

NDQ attorneys have come from some of the most recognized intellectual property practices in the country and have held senior positions in law firms, corporations and government agencies.

In 2004 the Firm was honored to have Donald J. Quigg join the Firm. Mr. Quigg is a former USPTO Commissioner for Patents and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Firm.

The entire team approach of NDQ is ready to engage and serve the needs of both our current and future clients with absolute loyalty and quality for years to come.

Our mission is to achieve outstanding results for our clients by anticipating and addressing their greatest long-term intellectual property challenges, as well as their day-to-day intellectual property issues and needs.

Our Guiding Principles reinforce our Mission of achieving outstanding results for our clients. They are the foundation of our firm and are in fact mutually reinforcing and guide us in how we serve our clients and practice our profession. As a firm, and as individuals, we are driven to deliver outstanding service to our clients. We work with our clients to understand their business and related issues such that we can truly provide objective, pragmatic, and valuable counseling. Furthermore, we understand that resources are scarce and thus work with our clients to ensure that our services are focused on those matters of greatest importance and impact.

As attorneys, we have a profound respect for the law and strive to practice at the highest possible standards. We believe that we have an obligation to not only represent ourselves and our clients, but the entire legal profession. We are proud of our profession and respect its role and place in our society. We continually contribute to the legal profession through our involvement and support of many professional organizations, including ABA, AIPLA, INTA, state and local Bars, and non-US professional patent Bars and Associations.

NDQ LLP offers a distinct and innovative approach to Intellectual Property. We believe Intellectual Property should be a dynamic, not static, part of your overall business portfolio. We believe in building on traditional Intellectual Property law by helping our clients maximize their Intellectual Property potential, both now and for years to come.

Our law firm focuses on securing, enforcing, and defending intellectual property rights in virtually every area of patent, trademark, and copyright law. We represent entrepreneurs, start-up companies, middle market companies, and major global corporations both domestically and internationally. Our clients span almost every major industry group, from chemicals to consumer electronics, providing the foundation for unparalleled intellectual property expertise and experience.

Securing your intellectual property is only one part of our comprehensive approach. NDQ'S pioneering Total Intellectual Property Services (TIPS) programs offer a unique and comprehensive system for integrating and energizing intellectual property into your overall business plan. TIPS and its modules can and have been adapted by NDQ clients to fit to any size patent portfolio, from only a handful of patents to more than a thousand.

By taking the best of traditional intellectual property law and building on it, NDQ can take your Intellectual Property to the next level.

Our practice includes patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution; strategic management and development of patent and trademark portfolios; international prosecution and management of patent and trademark applications; litigation of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret related-cases; U.S. patent reexaminations; development of legal opinions, development and oversight of domestic and international licensing agreements and programs; IP due diligence related to corporate transactions; and intellectual property analytical and consulting services. We represent clients in almost every type of courtroom, administrative proceeding, mediation, arbitration, or other form of dispute resolution.

Patent Applications
Patents are the foundation of our practice at NDQ, for both US and international clients. We have vast experience in obtaining patents in the United States as well as throughout the world.

However, our objective is to not simply execute the complex set of tasks involved in acquiring a patent, but to assist our clients in developing and executing strategies that protect investments in technology, product/market development, and other related infrastructure. (details)

Patent Reexaminations
As part of its comprehensive approach to intellectual property protection and defense, NDQ has a growing practice in the area of ex parte and inter partes patent reexaminations, often in cases where there is concurrent litigation. (details)

Trademark Applications
At NDQ, we also have great depth of experience prosecuting and obtaining trademark registrations in the United States and around the world either directly, or through the Madrid Protocol for international registrations, CTMs for European Union trademark registrations, and coordinating with local counsel when necessary. (details)

Trademark Oppositions/Cancellations
NDQ regularly urges on behalf of our clients, or defends against, actions to prevent or cancel trademark registrations before the USPTO's rademark Trial and Appeal Board.

(read more)

NDQ is always looking for qualified candidates at all levels, including attorneys, patent agents, patent paralegals, docketing specialists and administrative assistants. The firm offers competitive salaries and benefits, and values a collegial working environment. Interested candidates should send their resumes to recruiting@novakdruce.com, or mail or fax them to our Houston Office.

NDQ's attorneys represent their clients in a variety of intellectual property and general litigation. The Firm is comprised of veteran litigators, attorneys experienced in patents, trademarks and copyright law, and an active court and World Intellectual Property Organization and Uniform Domain Name Dispute mediator. We draw on this expertise to create unique and innovative approaches tailored to achieving our clients' goals.

Patents
NDQ's seasoned litigation attorneys have handled a broad and complex variety of utility and design patent infringement matters and related causes of action. NDQ draws on its depth of knowledge in the field and incorporates innovative theories when appropriate to resolve disputes in manners most favorable to its clients. See representative lists of cases on our Resources page.

Trademarks
NDQ has seasoned trademark litigation attorneys as well who represent our clients in enforcing or defending their trademarks, utilizing our deep experience in the field to craft unique strategies to resolve such disputes. One of these cases, Enrique Bernat F. S.A. and S.A. Chupa Chups v Guadalajara, Inc, 21 F.3d 439 (5th Cir. 2000) is cited in MCCARTHY ON TRADEMARKS AND UNFAIR COMPETITION as a case of first impression and the leading trademark case on the doctrine of foreign equivalents. See representative lists of cases on our Resources page.

Copyrights
NDQ also evaluates and litigates copyright infringement cases. See representative lists of cases on our Resources page.

Trade Secrets
NDQ also evaluates and litigates trade secrets cases. See representative lists of cases on our Resources page.

Domain Name Disputes
In order to give appropriate response to our clients' needs for effective protection of their brands, NDQ includes within its services experienced, multi-lingual assessment and prosecution of actions under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).

Attorneys with NDQ have successfully brought UDRP actions before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) and obtained domain name transfers for their clients. In addition, one NDQ attorney is also trained and qualified as a UDRP arbitrator for WIPO, bringing a unique perspective to UDRP actions brought on behalf of our clients.

General Litigation
On occasion, a case will arise that isn't strictly an intellectual property matter, but involves commercial issues related thereto. NDQ's litigators have handled a variety of non-IP matters as well, and can step up to handle such litigation.

Portfolio Analysis
We are skilled in quickly analyzing an existing portfolio for strengths and weaknesses, and using the analysis to identify potential business opportunities and liabilities. This analysis is also useful for identifying potential value extraction targets.

Technology Analysis
NDQ can also provide a detailed analysis of technology areas, quickly identifying the significant players, key patents and inventors and wide range of other useful metrics helpful in developing a comprehensive portfolio management plan.

Portfolio Value Extraction Analysis
NDQ has developed a wide range of creative strategies to extract value from your existing portfolio.

Intellectual Property Acquisition
NDQ has long worked with its clients on stand-alone intellectual property acquisitions, and as components of larger acquisitions. NDQ an evaluate the other party's intellectual property assets through such efforts as due diligence research and portfolio evaluation, map he other party's IP assets against our clients, and use this knowledge to enhance the negotiations designed to reach our client's stated oals.

NDQ's attorneys represent their clients in a variety of intellectual property and general litigation. The Firm is comprised of veteran litigators, attorneys experienced in patents, trademarks and copyright law, and an active court and World Intellectual Property Organization and Uniform Domain Name Dispute mediator. We draw on this expertise to create unique and innovative approaches tailored to achieving our clients' goals.

Patents
NDQ's seasoned litigation attorneys have handled a broad and complex variety of utility and design patent infringement matters and related causes of action. NDQ draws on its depth of knowledge in the field and incorporates innovative theories when appropriate to resolve disputes in manners most favorable to its clients. See representative lists of cases on our Resources page.

Trademarks
NDQ has seasoned trademark litigation attorneys as well who represent our clients in enforcing or defending their trademarks, utilizing our deep experience in the field to craft unique strategies to resolve such disputes. One of these cases, Enrique Bernat F. S.A. and S.A. Chupa Chups v Guadalajara, Inc, 21 F.3d 439 (5th Cir. 2000) is cited in MCCARTHY ON TRADEMARKS AND UNFAIR COMPETITION as a case of first impression and the leading trademark case on the doctrine of foreign equivalents. See representative lists of cases on our Resources page.

Copyrights
NDQ also evaluates and litigates copyright infringement cases. See representative lists of cases on our Resources page.

Acquisition Agreements

Non-Competition Agreements

Assignments
NDQ regularly prepares intellectual property assignments for our clients, whether to transfer ownership of a patent application to acquiring new intellectual property through licensing.

Licensing
We routinely advise clients on the licensing of intellectual property.  License Agreements can be an effective means to allow a client to generate additional revenue, either through the outlicensing of their own intellectual property; or, through the licensing of intellectual property from another, thereby allowing for an expansion of potential business and markets. Additionally, a License
Agreement can be one approach in resolving litigation between parties which involves intellectual property components.

Confidentiality/Secrecy Agreements
A contract that obligates the receiver of confidential information not to disclose the information to third parties or to use the information for any unauthorized purpose. This can later be used as evidence that the invention has not been publicly disclosed. (details)

Cooperative Development and Research Agreements
The so-called "greenfields" development of new intellectual property through patents and trade secret protection is exciting and challenging. Through the involvement of third parties involved in working towards the common goal, maintaining confidentiality is crucial. (details)

One practice area truly sets NDQ apart from a traditional Intellectual Property practice.  Our Total Intellectual Asset Audit, Development and Management Programs (TIPS) can take your Intellectual Property to the next level, transforming it into a dynamic part of your company portfolio.  TIPS, designed after a decade of close collaboration with our clients, is designed to add value and depth to a client's intellectual asset portfolio, and assist that client in defining and implementing future intellectual property driven growth.
        
TIPS accomplishes these objectives through a dual "bottom up" and "top down" approach in a client's organization, linking and coordinating interaction between research and development, product management and marketing, and corporate management. Through this interaction, TIPS acts as a catalyst in directing intellectual property portfolio growth with smart targeting of competitors and their competitive processes, along with effective revenue generation through proactive licensing and enforcement. The overall goal of TIPS is to ultimately transform a client cost center to a client profit center through unified and proactive strategies, implemented through cost-effective utilization of counsel.   
        
TIPS and its suite of services have been utilized by NDQ clients with minimal patent portfolios to more than a thousand patents. We realize that different clients have different needs at different times, so TIPS is fully modular, allowing a client to choose which module or modules best meets their current business and intellectual property requirements. TIPS can always be expanded to meet changing client demands and budgets.
        
With more than a decade of experience in active TIPS engagements with clients, NDQ has the ability to bring further success to a client organization through the inclusive and supportive modular approach of TIPS.

Patents are the foundation of our practice at NDQ, for both US and international clients. We have vast experience in obtaining patents in the United States as well as throughout the world. However, our objective is to not simply execute the complex set of tasks involved in acquiring a patent, but to assist our clients in developing and executing strategies that protect investments in technology, product/market development, and other related infrastructure. We also assist our clients with broader portfolio issues such as determining where the portfolio needs to be strengthened, which inventions to patent, where to apply, and which patents to maintain.

Perhaps most importantly, we maximize the potential of our client's technology, by prosecuting patents with a litigation perspective. Our patent litigation experience provides us with that valuable perspective.

NDQ's patent attorneys have both the experience and the technical background crucial to successful patent prosecutions. Our attorneys' background and expertise includes mechanical, electrical, and biochemical engineering; consumer electronics; petrochemicals; geology; agriculture; and construction.

NDQ attorneys are assisted by paralegals who also have significant background in these fields, along with outside patent agents and technical advisors with Ph.Ds in scientific and engineering fields. NDQ can also call upon our relationships with non-US firms to assist in obtaining foreign patents.

As part of its comprehensive approach to intellectual property protection and defense, NDQ has a growing practice in the area of ex parte and inter partes patent reexaminations, often in cases where there is concurrent litigation.

Reexaminations can be necessitated when a client is sued by a third party based on a patent that should not have been issued, or to reinforce the validity of a client's patent when they are trying to enforce one against an infringing third party.

At NDQ, we also have great depth of experience prosecuting and obtaining trademark registrations in the United States and around the world either directly, or through the Madrid Protocol for international registrations, CTMs for European Union trademark registrations, and coordinating with local counsel when necessary.

Mirroring our approach to patent prosecution, we apply our litigation perspective to the trademark prosecution process, taking care to understand, consider and protect our clients' interests and goals.

In order to give appropriate response to our clients' needs for effective protection of their brands, NDQ includes within its services experienced, multi-lingual assessment and prosecution of actions under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).

Attorneys with NDQ have successfully brought UDRP actions before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) and obtained domain name transfers for their clients. In addition, one NDQ attorney is also trained and qualified as a UDRP arbitrator for WIPO, bringing a unique perspective to UDRP actions brought on behalf of our clients.

Our mission is to achieve outstanding results for our clients by anticipating and addressing their greatest long-term intellectual property challenges, as well as their day-to-day intellectual property issues and needs.

Our Guiding Principles reinforce our Mission of achieving outstanding results for our clients. They are the foundation of our firm and are in fact mutually reinforcing and guide us in how we serve our clients and practice our profession. As a firm, and as individuals, we are driven to deliver outstanding service to our clients. We work with our clients to understand their business and related issues such that we can truly provide objective, pragmatic, and valuable counseling. Furthermore, we understand that resources are scarce and thus work with our clients to ensure that our services are focused on those matters of greatest importance and impact.

As attorneys, we have a profound respect for the law and strive to practice at the highest possible standards. We believe that we have an obligation to not only represent ourselves and our clients, but the entire legal profession. We are proud of our profession and respect its role and place in our society. We continually contribute to the legal profession through our involvement and support of many professional organizations, including ABA, AIPLA, INTA, state and local Bars, and non-US professional patent Bars and Associations.

At NDQ, the practice of Intellectual Property Law is not a part-time pursuit, it is our only pursuit. Thus, we have developed a distinctive and focused set of intellectual property legal expertise. Furthermore, as a result our exclusive focus on intellectual property, we have also developed the ability to assist you on related intellectual property issues such as IP insurance, IP structured finance, sophisticated analytical tools, and IP management systems. At NDQ, we seek to attract, develop, and retain exceptional attorneys - without which we cannot achieve outstanding results. We have created a collegial environment where our people are encouraged to challenge the status quo and question conventional wisdom. As a result, we are a firm of leaders, able to address your most important intellectual property matters.

Underlying our Mission and Guiding Principles are a core set of values which guide our practice and the operation of our firm.

• Deliver the highest quality work, always exceeding client expectations while maximizing the result of all our interactions
• Conduct ourselves in the highest moral and ethical standards
• Continually push ourselves to develop new skills and capabilities, building upon our existing capabilities and knowledge base
• Create and maintain a caring and respectful environment where individuals can excel and grow, rewarding individuals based on merit
• Invest in our future through our people

Patent Applications
Patents are the foundation of our practice at NDQ, for both US and international clients. We have vast experience in obtaining patents in the United States as well as throughout the world.

However, our objective is to not simply execute the complex set of tasks involved in acquiring a patent, but to assist our clients in developing and executing strategies that protect investments in technology, product/market development, and other related infrastructure.

We also assist our clients with broader portfolio issues such as determining where the portfolio needs to be strengthened, which inventions to patent, where to apply, and which patents to maintain.

Perhaps most importantly, we maximize the potential of our client's technology, by prosecuting patents with a litigation perspective. Our patent litigation experience provides us with that valuable perspective.

NDQ's patent attorneys have both the experience and the technical background crucial to successful patent prosecutions. Our attorneys' background and expertise includes mechanical, electrical, and biochemical engineering; consumer electronics; petrochemicals; geology; agriculture; and construction.

NDQ attorneys are assisted by paralegals who also have significant background in these fields, along with outside patent agents and technical advisors with Ph.Ds in scientific and engineering fields. NDQ can also call upon our relationships with non-US firms to assist in obtaining foreign patents.

Patent Reexaminations
As part of its comprehensive approach to intellectual property protection and defense, NDQ has a growing practice in the area of ex parte and inter partes patent reexaminations, often in cases where there is concurrent litigation.

Reexaminations can be necessitated when a client is sued by a third party based on a patent that should not have been issued, or to reinforce the validity of a client's patent when they are trying to enforce one against an infringing third party.

Trademark Applications
At NDQ, we also have great depth of experience prosecuting and obtaining trademark registrations in the United States and around the world either directly, or through the Madrid Protocol for international registrations, CTMs for European Union trademark registrations, and coordinating with local counsel when necessary.

Mirroring our approach to patent prosecution, we apply our litigation perspective to the trademark prosecution process, taking care to understand, consider and protect our clients' interests and goals.

Trademark Oppositions/Cancellations
NDQ regularly urges on behalf of our clients, or defends against, actions to prevent or cancel trademark registrations before the USPTO's rademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Copyright Applications
NDQ can assist our clients in obtaining copyright registration to strengthen our clients' IP portfolios, and ensure the availability of statutory damages in the event of copyright infringement.