Michael T. Hages

Partner

ABOUT MICHAEL

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Assistant
Elisha Menzel

Michael Hages is a registered patent attorney and works with clients on a comprehensive range of intellectual property services. Mike regularly helps clients to develop and implement design and utility patent strategies, including identifying patentable innovations, drafting and prosecuting patent applications, and providing written and oral opinions regarding freedom-to operate, non-infringement, and invalidity.

Mike studied industrial design at the professional and graduate levels, giving him a unique understanding of product and interaction design, including 3-D and 2-D visual design, design research, and strategic development. With his specialized understanding of design prosecution, he advises clients on design patent law and the effective use of design patent filings in advanced protection strategies. Mike has written extensively about design patent strategies, including in his series of articles, The Design of Design Patents, and has presented on design patent matters at the USPTO’s annual Design Day seminar.

Combining this background with his education and experience in mechanical engineering, Mike works with clients as they seek utility and design patents for mechanical technologies, such as consumer electronics, motor vehicles, cooking and refrigeration, footwear, medical devices, and semiconductor packaging. He also has experience in developing and implementing patent strategies for cutting-edge technology and interfaces related to augmented reality and autonomous driving and navigation.

Mike also assists clients in trademark matters including the preparation and prosecution of trademark registration applications. He specializes in helping clients work to develop trade dress rights as an extension of a comprehensive design patent strategy.

EDUCATION

University of Dayton, J.D., cum laude, 2005
University of Michigan, B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2002

PRACTICE AREAS

Utility Patents
Design Patents
Trademarks

ADMISSIONS

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 2005
State Bar of Michigan, 2015
State Bar of New Jersey, 2005
State Bar of New York, 2005

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS

Design West Michigan
Cycling, skiing, fitness, cooking, music, art and design.