
Stephen S. Wentsler
Since 2000, Steve Wentsler has gained extensive experience preparing and prosecuting patents in the mechanical, biomedical, electro-mechanical, and glass manufacturing industries. Prior to entering the practice of law, Steve was a patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office for over three years.
Steve’s domestic patent practice includes preparing original patent applications and responding to Office actions from originally-filed applications, national phase applications and convention applications. He has particular experience drafting original patent applications for strategic filing in various foreign countries such as Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and countries of Europe.
Steve’s domestic patent practice also includes rendering opinions concerning infringement and validity and he frequently suggests design changes to avoid infringement concerns. His domestic patent practice further includes conducting state-of-the-art investigations, clearance investigations and due diligence investigations.
Steve’s foreign patent practice includes significant experience responding to Office actions from the European Patent Office, Japan Patent Office, Korean Intellectual Property Office, China National Intellectual Property Administration, Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, and Intellectual Property India.
Steve frequently speaks, both domestically and internationally, on topics of U.S. patent practice and procedure. He has spoken at events hosted by FICPI (International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys), AIPLA (American Intellectual Property Law Association), and CIPLA (Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association).
Steve is a member of FICPI and served as a Council Member of the U.S. Section (2012-2022). He is also a member of AIPLA the American Intellectual Property Law Association (IP Practice in Japan Committee) and the Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association.
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers 2016 - Northeast Ohio - Intellectual Property Law
The Best Lawyers in America - 23rd Edition
Presentations
- Japan Patent Attorneys Association, “Update on Means Plus Function Claims,” Tokyo, Japan (April 17, 2018) and Osaka, Japan (April 19, 2018).
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, "Prosecution History Disclaimer: US Prosecution Tips," La Quinta, California, January 2018.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, "Means Plus Function: Recent Decisions and Practical Solutions," Washington, D.C., October 2017.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, “Claim Drafting Tips post-Biosig and Williamson,” Washington, D.C., October 2015.
- Korea Patent Attorneys Association, “USPTO Proposal to Require Identification of Patent Owners,” Seoul, Korea, April 2014.
- FICPI Kyoto Symposium, “Description Requirements in the United States,” Kyoto, Japan, April 2014.
- CIPLA CLE Presentation, “Changes in Patent Practice: Submission of Prior Art under the AIA and New Appeal Rules,” Cleveland, Ohio, March 2012.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, “USPTO Implementation of Obviousness Guidelines,” Orlando, Florida, February 2011.
- Korea Patent Attorneys Association, “New Initiatives for the USPTO under Director Kappos,” Seoul, Korea, July 2010.
- FICPI ABC Meeting, “U.S. Patent Prosecution: Examiner’s Perspective” and “Update on U.S. Patent Law Reform,” Ottawa, Canada, June 2010.
- Japan Patent Office, “Pros and Cons of Accelerated Examination at the USPTO,” Tokyo, Japan, April 2009.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, “USPTO Rules Update: Status of the Rules Changes - Tafas v. Dudas; and Final Rules Changes for Ex Parte Appeals,” Washington, D.C., October 2008.
- CIPLA CLE Presentation, “Best Practice Strategies in View of the USPTO Revised Rules of Practice,” Cleveland, Ohio, October 2007.
