Amy Salmela has over 20 years of experience advising clients on all aspects of US patent prosecution and international IP protection strategies. An electrical engineer, Amy advises large North American and international clients in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, automotive, semiconductor, retail analytics, medical device and technology, software, consumer products, and high-end audio systems.
Amy handles all stages of US patent prosecution. She conducts pre-filing searches and drafts patent applications, conducts prosecution negotiations with the USPTO, and provides post-grant enforcement and defense counseling. Amy also helps clients with freedom to operate and clearance analyses as well as defensive positioning and opinion work. Clients have engaged Amy to conduct on-site invention harvesting and generation workshops.
Additionally, Amy has assisted clients in multi-million dollar IP asset acquisition and is experienced with technology transfer and licensing. She has served as the IP contact for a client throughout negotiations to be acquired by a Fortune 100 technology company, with valuation based primarily on the client’s IP portfolio, and assisted a client through IPO due diligence.
Amy is committed to providing access to justice and assisting under-resourced inventors access the patent system and was on the launch and steering committees for the US’s first patent pro bono program. She has served as an advisor and volunteer attorney to the program since, being honored multiple times as a Minnesota North Star Lawyer.
Published articles
- 2015
Landslide, In-House Pro Bono: Doing IP Work for Those Who Need it Most (link) - 2013
Cybaris, An IP Law Review, Patent Law Pro Bono: A Best Practices Handbook (link) - 2012
Cybaris, An IP Law Review, Usefulness Varies by Country: The Utility Requirement of Patent Law in the US, Europe, and Canada (link)
Education
-
2003
Juris Doctor (Minnesota Law Review Editor), University of Minnesota Law School -
2000
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Minor in Management (with honors), Milwaukee School of Engineering
Career history
- 2023 — 2024
Partner – Head of Patent Prosecution, Pranger Law PC - 2017 — 2023
Shareholder, Patterson Thuente PA - 2009 — 2017
Partner, Patterson Thuente PA - 2007 — 2009
Principal Patent Counsel, Infineon Technologies AG - 2003 — 2007
Associate, Patterson Thuente PA - 2001 — 2003
Law Clerk, Patterson Thuente PA
Speaking engagements
- March 2023
IPBC Europe, Improving diversity in IP (panel moderator) - March 2022
IPBC Europe, IP assets other than patents
Specialisms
Digital
- AI
- Applied maths & cryptography
- Automotive electronics
- Computer hardware
- Consumer electronics
- Digital health
- Electrical engineering
- Electromechanical systems
- Fintech
- Semiconductors
- Software
- Telecommunications
- Telemedicine and remote surgery
Dynamics
- Electromechanical systems
Elements
- Semiconductors
Energy
- Cells
- Grids
- Packs
HealthTech
- Digital health
- Femtech
- Medical devices
- Personalised healthcare
- Surgical tools and implants