A member of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, Melissa Patterson focuses on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, licensing, and litigation, particularly in innovative technologies such as software, computer and mechanical devices, AR/VR headsets, mobile communications, artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, insurance, healthcare records management, geophysical management, automotive technologies, and financial networks. She has successfully prosecuted over 1,000 U.S. and international patent matters, collaborating extensively with foreign counsel.
In her IP licensing practice, Melissa analyzes open-source licensing terms and provides insightful patent and licensing opinions, drawing on her background in computer programming. She has managed over 200 trademark matters, conducted numerous non-infringement and invalidity analyses, and offered technical insights into pre-litigation and computer code-related issues. Her comprehensive experience includes drafting and analyzing patent licenses and addressing technical aspects in patent litigation cases.
Education & Credentials
Education
Loyola Law School
J.D.University of California, Irvine
B.S., Information and Computer ScienceCoursera
Certificate- IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity, 2020
- Neural Networks and Deep Learning, 2019
- Machine Learning, 2018
Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- Best Lawyers
- Ones to Watch, Intellectual Property Law, 2023-2025
- Intellectual Property Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA)
- Variety of New Lawyer Content, 2021
- Commitment to New Lawyers, 2019
Prominent Assignments
- Representing a startup company that produces a statistical modeling and visualization app, including handling their intellectual property portfolio.
- Successfully prosecuted over 1,000 U.S. and international patent matters for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
- Drafted more than 500 original patent applications, including conducting thorough invention disclosures and preparing detailed claims, figures, and specifications.
- Handled patent prosecution across various technical and business art units within the USPTO.
- Reviewed open-source licensing terms to develop clear, actionable strategies for clients to discuss with their internal programming departments.
- Developed strategies to navigate data use restrictions in light of open-source licensing limitations for various commercial applications.
Professional Involvement
- Executive Committee Member and Former Chair, Intellectual Property Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA)
- UC Irvine Alumni Association; Anteaters in Law section, Board Member-at-Large
- Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scout Troop Leader
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Volunteer Attorney
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Publications/Presentations
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Co-Author, "Part 2: Key Takeaways from Claim Examples in the 2024 AI Patent Eligibility Guidance,” Dickinson Wright IP Blog, November 2024
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Co-Author, "Key Takeaways from Claim Examples in the 2024 AI Patent Eligibility Guidance: A 3-Part Series,” Dickinson Wright IP Blog, October 2024
- “Key Rules and Cases for Patent Practitioners Working on AI Patent Applications,” October 11, 2022
- “Takeaways From the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Partnership Series,” October 4, 2022
- “Takeaways From the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Partnership Series,” September 29, 2022
- ‘3D-Printed Masks, Disinfecting Devices, and Simplified Ventilators – a Sampling of Tech Advances in the Age of COVID-19 from California Universities,” May 27, 2020
- “COVID-19 Web-Based IP Platform to Facilitate Connections,” May 19, 2020
Presentations
- Panelist, “5th Annual Roundtable: How to Get Into Intellectual Property Practice with Any Background,” San Diego County Bar Association, Webinar, September 25, 2023
- Panelist, “10-Year Review of ICS,” University of California, Irvine, April 20, 2023
- Panelist, “5 Things Every Engineer/Programmer Needs to Know About Patents,” University of California, Irvine, April 12, 2023
- Moderator, “Patent Practice Foreign Filing and Prosecution Tips,” San Diego County Bar Association, December 15, 2022
- Moderator, “AI/ML: Myth or Reality?” Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association’s Washington in the West Conference, June 23, 2022
- Panelist, “UC Irvine ICS Alumni Lunch & Learn: Intellectual Property Strategy for Software,” ICS Alumni Chapter’s Lunch & Learn, April 9, 2021
- Panelist, “3rd Annual Roundtable: How to Get Into Intellectual Property Practice with Any Background,” San Diego County Bar Association, Webinar, March 4, 2021
- Moderator, “Innovation in the Age of COVID-19,” San Diego County Bar Association Virtual Roundtable, May 19, 2020
- Fireside Chat with San Diego In-House Counsel, October 24, 2023