As the connection between artificial intelligence (AI) and patent law grows increasingly complex, inventors looking to patent their AI-driven innovations may find themselves concerned about their intellectual property assets.
If you are developing artificial intelligence technology, your innovations deserve patent protection from attorneys who understand how AI systems actually work.
NK Patent Law represents AI companies, machine-learning startups, and other hightech businesses across the United States in patent prosecution and intellectual property strategy.
From patent filings and prosecution to IP strategy, trademark management, and protecting trade secrets, we are your comprehensive solution for all IP concerns.
Our attorneys hold technical degrees in electrical engineering, software, biotechnology, and chemistry, giving us the technical fluency required to draft patent claims that capture the real innovation in your AI systems.
Because patent law is federal, we represent AI companies regardless of location. With 1,850+ issued patents and 775+ registered trademarks secured for clients, we help companies turn infrastructure, algorithms, model architectures, and training methodologies into protectable, enforceable business value.
Call (919) 348-2194 or contact NK Patent Law to discuss patent protection for your AI innovation.
Representative Experience
- Artificial intelligence-assisted video-based multi-object tracking.
- Natural language processing-based parsing of computer-aided dispatch notes.
- Artificial intelligence-based monitoring of a geographical region of interest by a mobile video source.
- Loss prevention using artificial intelligence video tracking.
- Automated software pipeline building using an expert system-based artificial intelligence model.
- Artificial intelligence-based tagging of airline fault codes.
- Automatically identifying user advertisement exposures using a cloud-based multi-model system.
Patent protection for AI and machine learning
AI patents present technical and legal challenges that require experience with both software systems and USPTO examination practice.
USPTO examiners frequently scrutinize AI applications under Section 101 patent-eligibility standards, often rejecting claims as abstract ideas.
AI patent applications are also frequently challenged under Section 103 for obviousness, particularly where known machine-learning techniques are combined in predictable ways. Successfully prosecuting AI patents requires drafting claims that focus on technical improvements, specific implementations, and unconventional approaches rather than generic algorithms.
Our patent prosecution work for AI clients includes:
- Patent applications for machine-learning models and datasets, neural networks, and training methodologies
- Claims drafted to satisfy Section 101 eligibility requirements and address Section 103 obviousness challenges
- Office Action responses addressing abstract idea and obviousness rejections
- Patent portfolio strategy for AI startups and growth-stage companies
- Continuation and divisional strategies around core innovations
- Freedom-to-operate analyses for AI products before market launch
- Prior art searches across machine learning publications, open source frameworks, and patents
Managing Partner Doug Meier began his career as an electrical engineer, designing software tools for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program before becoming a patent attorney.
That technical foundation directly applies to AI patent work, where understanding system architecture, data processing, and algorithmic behavior determines whether claims survive examination and provide meaningful protection.
Discuss your AI patent strategy with NK Patent Law.
Why NK Patent Law
NK Patent Law is your partner on your AI journey to accelerate innovation, optimize operations, and gain a competitive edge.
AI patent experience
NK Patent Law has helped clients secure patent protection across the technology areas where artificial intelligence is driving real innovation:
- Software and machine learning: algorithmic methods, model architectures, and AI applications
- Wireless communications and networking: including LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth standards
- Digital image processing: computer vision and image recognition systems
- Semiconductors and electronics: hardware accelerating AI workloads
- Mobile technology: device management and on-device intelligence
- Data processing systems: programming languages and computational modeling frameworks
This experience extends to real-world systems involving LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and digital image processing, which form the foundation of many modern AI applications across mobile devices, edge computing, and connected platforms.
We have helped build patent portfolios for technology companies exceeding 100 patents, developed patent strategies for FinTech software platforms, and secured protection for data scientists working on advanced computational methods.
Additional Practice Areas
Put us to work and start harnessing the power of your intellectual property.
Contact us today to learn more.
Beyond patents: protecting AI as a complete business asset
Strong AI protection rarely relies on patents alone. We help clients develop comprehensive strategies that combine multiple forms of intellectual property protection.
Our work includes:
- Trade secret protection for proprietary training datasets, model weights, and algorithmic methods that derive value from secrecy
- Trademark protection for AI product names and branding
- Licensing and technology transfer agreements for AI models, data, and applications
- Open source compliance review for commercial products built on frameworks such as TensorFlow and PyTorch
Trade secret protection is particularly important in AI. Patent protection requires public disclosure, while trade secrets allow companies to preserve competitive advantages indefinitely as long as reasonable steps are taken to maintain confidentiality. We help clients determine which aspects of their technology should be patented and which should remain confidential.
Why AI companies choose NK Patent Law
Choosing the right patent attorney directly affects the strength and long-term value of your AI patent portfolio.
Clients choose NK Patent Law because:
- We understand the technology and the rapid changes to the industry. Our attorneys hold engineering and science degrees, not just law degrees
- We focus on patent prosecution and intellectual property strategy as our core practice
- We provide business-partner-level attention from experienced attorneys
- We offer sophisticated IP counsel without large-firm pricing
- We work with companies from early-stage startup through funding rounds and exit
NK Patent Law has been recognized by Legal 500 U.S. Elite, Best Lawyers in America for Intellectual Property, Business North Carolina Legal Elite, and the Chambers USA Regional Spotlight Guide. Doug Meier and other firm attorneys have been individually recognized for their work in intellectual property law.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. AI systems, machine learning models, training methodologies, and AI applications can be patented when claims are properly drafted. The challenge is satisfying USPTO Section 101 patent-eligibility requirements, which can reject applications as abstract ideas, and Section 103 obviousness standards, which can reject combinations of known machine-learning techniques. Successful AI patent applications focus on technical improvements, specific implementations, and concrete technological problems being solved rather than generic algorithms.
Yes. Using open-source frameworks does not prevent patenting your AI innovation. Patents protect novel methods, training techniques, model architectures, and applications, not the underlying open-source libraries. The patentable aspects typically involve your unique approach to a problem, not the framework itself. You should still review your commercial implementation against the framework’s license terms, such as Apache, MIT, or GPL, to ensure compliance.
AI patent applications typically take two to four years from filing to issuance, depending on USPTO examiner workload, the complexity of the claims, and the number of Office Actions. You will usually receive a first Office Action within 12 to 18 months. Provisional applications establish your priority date immediately, whereas non-provisional applications proceed through examination.
Before any public disclosure of your innovation, including investor pitches, conference presentations, product launches, or research publications. Public disclosure can affect your patent rights, especially internationally. Provisional patent applications offer a cost-effective way to establish your priority date while continuing to develop the technology.
The United States operates under a first-inventor-to-file rule. The first applicant generally has priority, even if another party developed the technology earlier. If a competitor’s application publishes before yours issues, it can become prior art that blocks your claims. Early filing, including provisional applications, is critical in fast-moving AI fields.
NK Patent Law has experience helping defend patents in Inter Partes Review and Ex Parte Review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, including successfully defending patents where the Board denied institution on both challenges. Our attorneys have experience working on International Trade Commission Section 337 investigations and District Court proceedings involving wireless communications, smartphones, and digital image processing. For AI-related disputes, we can help defend your intellectual property through these proceedings.
Speak with an AI patent attorney
If you are developing AI technology or building a portfolio of AI-related patents, the strength of your patent applications matters as USPTO examination continues to evolve and competition increases.
Call NK Patent Law at (919) 348-2194 or contact us online to discuss your artificial intelligence patent strategy.