Martin D. Hyden

European Patent Attorney

Martin Hyden's European practice involves a wide range of patent-related matters, with particular emphasis on international patent prosecution, protection, and portfolio management. He provides a variety of services to clients with the aim of aligning their patenting activities with their business goals.

Mr. Hyden has prepared and prosecuted several hundred patent applications before the UK and European patent offices and has managed prosecution of applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and patent offices in other countries. He has detailed knowledge of European Patent Office (EPO) opposition and appeal procedures and has represented clients in numerous hearings before the EPO examining, opposition, and appeal divisions. He has broad experience with Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications, as well as a wide knowledge of the procedures of numerous patent offices around the world. He also advises clients on detailed portfolio management, including budgeting and cost control, and works closely with clients to ensure that patenting becomes an effective part of business strategy.

Mr. Hyden's technical experience encompasses a wide range of technologies and industries including, the oil and gas industries, with a focus on exploration and production technologies; electronics and defense industries, covering electronics, electrical, and mechanical domains; as well as medical and chemical technologies.

Having previously worked in-house for a large, multinational oilfield service company for 13 years, Mr. Hyden continues representing it with patent prosecution before the UK and European patent offices. He also manages many of the patent applications he filed in-house, and acts as the local representative for various of the company's R&D centers in the U.S. and elsewhere. In addition, he counsels this company in international patent matters and assists in acquisition due diligence investigations.

In addition to his work in the oilfield sector, Mr. Hyden has also worked in-house in the electronics sector in the UK and USA, this latter position as in-house patent counsel with global patent responsibility for a company in the semiconductor test equipment field covering logic and memory testing, design debug and analysis, board testing, and test handling equipment.

Mr. Hyden regularly speaks on general patent matters and European and international practice issues at conferences in Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Highlights

• Has successfully defended patents for clients ConocoPhilips, BTG, and Capsugel in EPO opposition proceedings.
• Has taken on a portfolio of over 300 UK and EPO prosecution cases for firm client Schlumberger.
• Currently handling three opposition and seven appeals at the EPO for clients requiring close coordination with U.S. patent prosecution.
• Currently advising two clients for remediation of their EPO prosecution in view of developments from U.S.-originating CIP applications.
• Defending European patents of a UK-based biotech company in EPO opposition procedure relating to a product passing through FDA approval and in which tens of millions of dollars have been invested to bring the product to market.
• Represented a Swedish startup in the field of Internet access technologies. Previously helped develop a patent strategy and budget and worked with the company to prepare it for its initial public offering.

Professional Activities

• The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
• European Patent Institute
• European Qualifying Examination Committee (member, 2001-present)

Select Publications

• Coauthor. "A European Patent Office Tool That Deserves Another Look," Law360, Oct. 23, 2012.
• Coauthor. "Middle East: Why Patenting Now Will Prove Worthwhile," Managing Intellectual Property Asia-Pacific and Middle East IP focus, 2009.
• Coauthor. "3^rd Amendment to China's Patent Laws," The In-House Lawyer, June 10, 2009.
• Coauthor. "Practical Considerations for Insuring the Value of IP,” Intellectual Asset Management, 2009.
• Coauthor. "IP, IT and Life Sciences. The Great Cell Divide," Legal Week, Dec. 4, 2008.
• "Software Patents After the Court of Appeal Ruling," Computerworld UK, Nov. 10, 2008.