Contact

Robert Kroeze MSc founded Patentcheck after his formative years at V.O., one of the largest IP law firms in Europe. He tenaciously searches in a variety of leading patent databases and is renown for his constructive reasoning from new angles in reports.

Rachel Crocker BSc ImechE has been involved from the start and took the role of Operations and Finance Director in 2017. Her 20+ years of experience in the oil and gas industry combined with her professional ethos suits clients at all levels.

For queries outside our remit we can draw from our vast network of IP professionals, comprising patent attorneys and IP lawyers in all fields of technology and countries.

2 Swallow Drive
Kelsall
Cheshire
CW6 0GD
United Kingdom

The number of amendments during patent application proceedings are taken into account. If a Tier 2 top-up search is required, we agree a new additional budget and possibly retuned focus.

Our standard tariff is £ 150.00/h ex VAT and our standard lead-time is 10 working days. Rush ‘drop-everything’ tariff is 1.5 x standard tariff. If the situation favours a fixed or no cure-part pay fee let us know and we’ll discuss.

1. Orders
1.1 All orders shall be deemed to be given to and can only be accepted by Patentcheck ltd, registered in England & Wales, reg. No. 07239595.
1.2 The client shall provide Patentcheck ltd with information and instructions necessary for the handling of an order. If through a delay or lack of information or instructions from the client an agreed time limit is compromised, Patentcheck ltd shall, if possible, request an extension of such time limit.
1.3 If in the early stages of executing an order it appears that upon continuation of such execution an essential conflict of interest may arise with a previous order of another client, Patentcheck ltd will inform the client of the new order as soon as possible accordingly.
1.4 An order can be considered accepted upon written confirmation by Patentcheck ltd, or after Patentcheck ltd. has initiated and reported work on said order. Non-performance by Patentcheck ltd of work it has not been explicitly instructed to do can never give rise to any liability.
1.5 In carrying out an order, Patentcheck ltd. is entitled to engage third parties. In the selection of such third parties Patentcheck ltd. observes due care and attention.

2. Exclusion of liability
2.1 Due to the nature of patent and related prior art searches liability to Patentcheck ltd. shall be limited to the amount the client has paid to Patentcheck ltd. for the order concerned.
2.2 Patentcheck ltd. excludes any liability for any incorrectness and/or incompleteness of literature sources consulted by Patentcheck ltd. and of the registers consulted by Patentcheck ltd., as well as for any incorrectness and/or incompleteness of the information provided by the client.
2.3 Patentcheck ltd. excludes any liability for damage attributable to third parties it has engaged.
2.4 Cases are treated with total confidentiality. However, Patentcheck are not regulated by any body apart from ourselves and our reputation. Please feel free to ask details of our clients for reference purposes.

3. Invoices
3.1 Patentcheck ltd may on rare occasions require the client to pay an advance. Patentcheck ltd is then entitled not to start or continue any work before the advance has been paid by the client. If a payment delay possibly compromises an agreed time limit, Patentcheck ltd shall, if possible, request an extension of such time limit.
3.2 Unless agreed otherwise, the client shall be charged a fee based on hourly rates previously determined by Patentcheck ltd, multiplied by the number of hours devoted to an order. Alternatively the client and Patentcheck ltd may agree a fixed fee or a no cure-half pay fee.
3.3 Standard delivery time is 10 working days. For rush delivery times shorter that the standard delivery time in connection with the execution of an order a factor of 1.5 or otherwise agreed could be applied to the standard hourly fee.
3.4 After the expiration of thirty days from the date of an outstanding invoice, the client is in default and owes Patentcheck ltd interest at the rate of the statutory interest plus 2%. All reasonable costs incurred in obtaining the client’s compliance with one or more of its obligations shall be fully for the account of the client.

4. Force majeure
4.1 Without prejudice to its other rights, Patentcheck ltd is entitled in case of force majeure, of which Patentcheck ltd will inform the client as soon as possible, to suspend the performance of an order, or to dissolve the contract for professional services without judicial intervention, without Patentcheck ltd being liable to pay any damages.

5. Dissolution/Right of retention
5.1 Patentcheck ltd is entitled, without any warning or notice of default being required, to dissolve the contract with the client out of court, in writing, if the client is granted a (provisional) moratorium on payments, the client’s involuntary liquidation has been petitioned for or has been ordered, the client’s company is wound up, the client ceases its current enterprise, a substantial part of the client’s assets has been attached, or the client must in any other way be deemed incapable of fulfilling its obligations in respect of Patentcheck ltd.

6. Settlement of disputes
6.1 The legal relationship between the client and Patentcheck ltd is governed exclusively by English law. All disputes between the client and Patentcheck ltd shall be submitted exclusively to the competent court in the district of Liverpool.