Reverse Engineering, in the world of Patents and IP, is typically utilized to determine if there is unauthorized use of someone else’s Intellectual Property in a product or process. While many of our subject matter experts have a strong familiarity with how many devices perform various functions, proving a component works in a specific way often requires peeking behind the curtain. For instance, in developing Evidence of Use or a Claim Chart, the documentation and inferences can likely only go so far in demonstrating that a device infringes the patent at issue.
Many of our Testing and Reverse Engineering capabilities are detailed in the technology sections of the TechPats website, including our testing of cellular networks, semiconductor-related analysis, and our work in systems and software.
Teardown
“Teardown” is a general term for dismantling a product, documenting the model and manufacturer of each part or component, and photographing the disassembly to show where each piece is located in the device.
There are many reasons for performing a teardown:
- Identifying each component
- Identifying the manufacturer of each component
- Pricing of each components (e.g., total parts costs, damages estimates)
- Identifying the origin of each components
- Circuit analysis
A tear-down report typically includes photographs and descriptions of all relevant features and components. To be more efficient and focused, TechPats’ clients generally prefer custom-tailored investigations that examine specific groups of components and how the parts function together.