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Artykuł Christmas wishes from our children pochodzi z serwisu 30-lecie JWP.

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Artykuł The most beautiful Christmas cards from our children pochodzi z serwisu 30-lecie JWP.

How did it happen that you started working for JWP Patent Attorneys?

At that time, I was in my fifth year of studies, writing a master’s thesis on intellectual property law, specifically on patent procedures, and I was looking for an internship. I already knew that I wanted to do my patent attorney apprenticeship, so I was looking for a job at a patent attorney firm.

I was sending my resume and our firm was the first to respond, very quickly, and over the next three days, I already had an invitation to an interview that was conducted with me by Att. Dorota Rzążewska.

I have been working in the firm for 13 years and I have gone through all levels of my career here, from assistant to specialist, trainee, patent attorney, and now deputy team leader. My entire professional life is connected with JWP.

That’s a great story! I see that in 13 years you have not been bored at all?

I feel strongly connected with the firm, although it has changed a lot over the years. When I started working for JWP, there were about 25 people employed; currently, there are over a hundred. I am one of the firm’s longest-serving employees, I know a lot of things inside out, so I can deal with them more easily.

And when it comes to my profession… I don’t think about changing the profession at all. This is a very interesting job and there has been no “wear and tear.” Every time a different client comes along, they have different needs, and because we serve clients from very different industries, we gather experience from really various areas. And not only from the area of industrial or intellectual property, but from the so-called borderlines. Sometimes we get questions about launching products to the market or pharmaceutical law… Sometimes we need to “enter” a new sector, for instance, the gaming sector, to learn its specificities, to understand the background of its activities in order to write, for example, a list. Some activities may seem simple and uncomplicated, but if you want to do this job properly and responsibly, you need to know the background of many industries, which is extremely interesting.

Every time we start working with a new client, we start a new adventure with them. It makes me feel like something new and unknown is starting. That’s why I strongly support my clients to be successful and I am happy to see how these new products enter the market and succeed.

What fascinates you most in this profession? What do you enjoy?

Apart from “new adventures,” I really like to conduct training. This is something that I do very often within our firm and the JWP Foundation. It gives me a lot of satisfaction. In addition, I teach classes on the patent attorney apprenticeship, so I am dealing with the youngest “generation” of patent attorneys. I am also involved in the activities of the patent attorneys’ council. Every patent attorney must belong to the council, but working for the council is my additional activity, which brings me satisfaction.

Could you share a strange or funny story that happened in our firm? Maybe you have come across an original client?

We have original clients every day. Really… The needs of the clients are endless. It gives me great satisfaction when a client thanks us sincerely for our commitment and support because it means they are content and feel well looked after. That’s when I know why I am working.

In terms of funny stories, I have fond memories of one client. We had great cooperation and a very good rapport because of our common name, and we liked each other very much. The gentleman I had the pleasure of dealing with was the senior of the family and, as part of what was probably a joke, one time when calling the firm he asked if his “fiancée” was at work. It always brought up such a big smile. After the initial shock, the reception desk already knew it was about me.

In 2012, as we were organizing the firm’s 20th anniversary, an exhibition of our clients’ products/solutions was planned. I was asked to call my “fiancé” to find out if we could somehow present the client at the anniversary. At the time, I took care of their entire trademark portfolio around the world, even in exotic jurisdictions, together with one of the then partners, Magda Pietrosiuk. We wanted to showcase their products. We got a whole cabinet of them, almost on the spot! When we wanted to return the products, my fiancé said, “Dear Ula, we’ll take the cabinet, because you won’t need it anyway, but please keep the products to yourself, you have a car, they’ll come in handy, and you’ll remember us.”And it was so nice…

It really is a remarkable story. Now we are in a very similar situation because we are celebrating our thirtieth anniversary, and it revolves around client diversity again. I am curious to see what our clients are going to leave us with in the office this time…

I no longer work with this client, but as far as I know, his company has now been taken over by his sons. He is probably no longer working and is doing what he has often talked about, that is, visiting various places with his wife.

Do you have any hobbies or special interests? What do you do after work?

Of course, it is important to have something to set your mind at ease. For me, swimming and cycling are such an escape. What’s more, I am a sociable person, I like to have people next to me, I spend a lot of time with friends, with colleagues from the chamber or apprenticeship. I always hang out in the city or the neighborhood; these are such simple pastimes.

I’ve also been listening to podcasts compulsively lately. I think it started with the pandemic… Sometimes people have different methods of assimilating knowledge: some are auditory learners, some are visual learners, and I am a kinesthetic learner. I need to be in motion in order to assimilate knowledge. If I am learning, there has to be some movement involved, like wiggling my leg or flipping a pen in my fingers; otherwise, knowledge just doesn’t come into my head. I’ve found that a great way to occupy my mind, especially if I need to do something physical such as cleaning the flat or going for a walk, is a podcast. Podcasts also allow me to satisfy my hunger for knowledge – I like to know what is happening around me and I like to have the full picture. This trait of my character also definitely influences my professional work. I combine facts and I approach a lot of things holistically, from many different perspectives. When I advise clients, but also participate in some internal projects, I look at one thing from different points of view. I like to know the causes and try to anticipate the consequences, rather than just focusing on the “here and now.”

What are the podcasts you listen to in your spare time?

I am interested in general knowledge about the world, geopolitical and political topics, and what’s currently happening in the world. Sometimes I also find psychological topics interesting, especially social psychology. On the other hand, I am least interested in interviews with famous people about their lives. I’d rather listen to someone who has sound knowledge about a subject on which I don’t have the foggiest idea, such as China’s political system, how life is in North Korea or how countries cooperate on the International Space Station.

It is indeed very interesting; such knowledge opens up new perspectives. Perhaps when you find out how the space station functions and how it is organized, you can transfer this knowledge to another ground? In that sense, this is the answer to my question – you have interests that influence your work.

I really like business stories. Stories about big successes or, on the other hand, stories about big failures or scammers. It is also something that has become the “in-thing” recently on various streaming services, I mean, documentaries about a Tinder swindler or the Fyre Festival in the US. This is also interesting, how people cheat and how not to be fooled. It also touches on business, and since we deal with it a lot, it is worth learning about it, finding out about various mechanisms or people, and knowing that sometimes you have to take what you hear with a grain of salt. Something that has fascinated me recently is a saying that supposedly functions in the US, that is, “fake it till you make it.” Apparently, a lot of business in the United States is based on this expression. First, we make a good impression – we pretend we know how to do it, even though we don’t really have a firm idea, but maybe somehow it will work. And it often does. Building confidence in the accomplishment of a project is sometimes the key to success.

Do you have any plans? A new pet, skydiving, tidying up the flat?

I would like to start a diving course. I already had it in mind before the outbreak of the pandemic, because I was planning to go on a diving course to Egypt in March to do my OWD – Open Water Divers – certification. Unfortunately, the pandemic broke out, so I’ve had to postpone it; now, I am waiting for its realization, as I would like to dive in Micronesia.

Micronesia?

Yes, I am basically a person who really likes places that can be called “getaways”, that is, best for me when there is no one thousands of kilometers next to me, like somewhere on a lonely island in the Pacific. I would love to go somewhere in the Pacific, to Vanuatu or some other tiny island, like a desert island, and spend a month on the beach by myself. This is such a lifelong dream of mine.

Well, you have to explain yourself now, because you said at the beginning that you like to surround yourself with people – how do you combine that?

I like to surround myself with people, but sometimes I also need to be alone. I am a Pisces, and I guess it comes from that, although I don’t quite believe it. I am a person who is very sociable and empathetic, but on the other hand, sometimes I need to crawl into my shell and just not have people around me – such a duality of nature. For me, this is nothing strange, but some people might think there is a contradiction.

That’s why, even though I am drawn to isolated areas, I am just as happy to go to Rome or London where there are thousands of people. And that is my dual nature.

Artykuł “Every time we start working with a new client, we start a new adventure.” – Ula Nowak pochodzi z serwisu 30-lecie JWP.

Could you tell us how you joined JWP? Did you know the firm before or maybe it was just a coincidence?

It was over 10 years ago. I had heard of JWP, of course – I had previously worked for another firm which cooperated with Ms. Dorota Rzążewska. Both law firms were on the same floor, actually, in the same office building in Żurawia Street, so it was quite a natural transition for me.

What do you remember about your first days at work here?

What usually stays in mind are things that are out of ordinary or special in some way… Nothing like that happened, it was all natural and nice.

What do you like most about your job? Which aspect of this profession do you find particularly interesting?

For me the most interesting aspect is litigation. You have to look for arguments no matter which side you are on: different ones to defend and different ones to attack. If I could, I would be in the courtroom all day long, listening and learning. There’s no other way to learn the ropes in this business. You can’t get it from books.

I also like to share my experience with others, but only if it is welcome – if they are willing to listen to me. Nowadays people tend to resort to Google or some websites for advice and things you have experienced firsthand are often of little value to others. I have a teacher’s streak, probably because I worked at the University of Warsaw for 15 years teaching undergraduate students. This experience of teaching is deeply rooted in me. The exchange of knowledge, whether in a team or on a blog, is a very important and positive part of my work. I really enjoy talking with colleagues, trainee patent attorneys and assistants, because certain dilemmas they have can only surface in such conversations. What is obvious and not even worth mentioning for me, for them can pose a problem.

As for everyday matters, I really like meeting and talking with the inventors. We can discuss what it is they really want and decide whether their invention is really an invention or rather a scientific publication. Most often I need to make them aware of what can be submitted to the Polish Patent Office and what is not accepted.

Within our team, I am responsible for applications concerning supplementary protection certificates (SPCs), and at the moment I’m sharing this duty with Adam Trawczyński. This is a field where Sherlock Holmes skills come in very handy, because it’s not only about the essence of the case, but more about the formalities, i.e. you have to check all the dates, documents… All these jigsaw puzzles that you get from the client have to be put together, plus whatever you dig up yourself on the websites of the offices issuing relevant European decisions and certificates. Everything must be in order. An SPC application is made up of all these things. It is relatively difficult to obtain such protection at the Polish Patent Office, as it means an additional maximum of five years of protection after the “lifespan” of the patent has ended (the SPC is granted only for inventions in the field of medicinal products and plant protection). Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to clarify the matter further. The right is obtained on the basis of the EU Directive as adapted by Polish regulations. So, it is a real minefield and you never know what you may come across. That’s why it is so interesting, despite the fact that these are supposed to be just formalities. SPC issues are also often part of the litigation over the basic patent.

I like this kind of childlike joy, openness, thinking outside the box that fills me at work. I’ve dealt with various fields in my practice, including mechanics, utility models, even trademarks. I do not limit myself to patents concerning life science solutions. I have learned to approach things and people with an open mind and flexibility. I think it makes you innovative to some extent. Being inflexible, narrow-minded, limited only to black and white options prohibits you from seeing solutions that are available and often remain unsaid. What is important in my work is looking at things from a wider perspective, considering areas at the intersection of different specializations, listening carefully and asking questions, systematically expanding and updating my knowledge in order to be able to offer best advice and support to our clients.

How has the profession of the patent attorney changed over the years?

Nowadays, we are concerned with validations on an everyday basis. It is hardly innovative but necessary. You have to put in a lot of effort, because often it is both the topic and the deadline that pose a challenge. At the same time, verifying European patents validated in Poland gives you an opportunity to learn about the latest solutions that are protected in Europe.

Another big change is that recently we have all been working from home. There is no denying that there were a lot of technical hiccups to deal with. We have it all sorted out at the moment, but this does not mean there are no new challenges ahead. You constantly have to adapt, learn and get used to new situations, as well as take advantage of the new technologies that have become available.

After 40 years, the Unified Patent Court is finally being established and it is something I would like to be a part of. I think I will need some postgraduate studies or training in this area, because an appropriate certificate is required. Nobody knows if Polish clients will undergo this procedure – not all of them can afford to pay hundreds of thousands of euros. Still, it is always better to have such a certificate and be ready than to look for it later when the need arises. So, the Unified Patent Court is an interesting career option for me in the future.

Could you tell us about some unusual situation you had at JWP?

I have been dealing with biological treatment plants for a long time. One of our customers is a company that has been with JWP from the start, for 30 years now. The owner of this company is a charming elderly gentleman who has the physique of a young man and a crazy, untamed mind. I never know when he is going call me and exclaim: “I’ve got something new!”. Such moments give me great joy.

Back in the days when we didn’t use to have company mobile phones, I gave him my home number and I have learnt my lesson! Now, when he has a eureka moment, he calls me at all times, be it a holiday or a Sunday or a Saturday or late at night. He always says: “Mireczka, I just wanted to tell you what I’ve come up with…”.  JWP has obtained several Polish and European patents for him, so this is a big deal, also for me personally.

I really value this working relationship, especially that a conversation with this client is a conversation with a man who lives in his own world, speaks his own language, makes notes on chocolate bar wrappings. He wakes up in the morning or in the middle of the night and scribbles on them. He arrives at the office after a five or six hour journey by train, takes out these wrappings (so I already know what he’s eaten and how much of it) and shows me his notes. He is a charming man, extremely creative; collaborating with him requires a lot of time and energy, but it is also great fun.

Clients come to JWP with various matters and they have different financial and time limitations. Sometimes there is no “chemistry” between us at the beginning; we speak our professional jargon and quite often it has nothing to do with what the clients hear, because the words “patent” or “invention” mean something altogether different to them than to us. The same goes for such terms as “novelty” or “level of invention”. What does the latter mean? It takes a while to figure out what it is for them and how to sell it (because writing a patent description is like handing something to someone on a plate). But then things work out smoothly.

I have also managed to solve impossible cases and weird problems before the Patent Office. I’ve sorted out other people’s blunders. Troubleshooting and an emergency rescue service, that’s me. I think that clients value us in particular for going out of our way to deliver what they want. They know they’re going to be well looked after. We act holistically when developing our strategy. When we do patent research and a report is drafted, we are able to say if the route chosen by the client is a dead end and or not – and of it is, we can suggest changing the criteria slightly or point at other, more promising options. There are more and more patents on the Polish market, and in order not to be accused of infringing someone else’s rights, you have to be aware of what has already been published.

Do you have any hobbies or interests?

One of my passions – one I cannot really fulfil as I don’t have a garden, just a balcony – are plants. Various kinds of plants, in particular those that are useful and fragrant. Sometimes tomatoes or strawberries, but most often flowers. When I was in lockdown during Covid-19 I decided to take care of the green area at the entrance to my building. Last year I dug some holes here and there and planted a few dozen tulip bulbs. Now I’m worried that frost could kill them, because green leaves are already beginning to emerge from the ground. I enjoy this kind of contact with wildlife. I also love all sorts of outdoor activities. I go sailing in the Masurian Lake District or on the Adriatic Sea whenever I can. I also go kayaking. Most often, though, I go for walks in the forest. I do Nordic walking and run. This is a different kind of running called slow jogging and it is a Japanese art of getting in touch with nature. It’s not about breaking records in timed runs, but about slowly getting to move your entire body. I am a member of a slow jogging group: we meet up and slow jog at a leisurely pace, chatting, gossiping or singing on the way. I also go biking and I am willing to take up any kind of crazy activity, if I am offered a chance to that by a member of some FB group. I am ready to go anywhere, just to be with people, human contact is absolutely vital for me. I like relaxing outside, in nature. I have not gone into a cave yet, I have not been winter swimming, but I have been trekking in the mountains, slalom skiing on Kasprowy Wierch, tramping in various strange and wild areas. Exploring new places, being amazed by what I see gives me a fresh outlook on life.

I notice a certain pattern here: you professionally deal with inventions, which is challenging in all sorts of ways, and, at the same time, you look for various challenges in your spare time…

Well, yes. I start my day with squats to warm up.

Ha, ha. Ok, I don’t… 😉 .

And, when there’s no alternative because the weather is terrible, I run up the stairs. I try not to get rusty.

Tell me then about your dreams. I guess you have plenty interesting ones.

I dream of cultivating gardens where I could have a controllable jungle. Planting something, watching it grow and bloom… Apart from that, I dream of holiday trips to sunny places because I miss the warmth.

Artykuł “Troubleshooting and an emergency rescue service – that’s me”, says Mirosława Ważyńska pochodzi z serwisu 30-lecie JWP.

How did it happen that you started working for JWP?

It’s a tricky story because it was my wife Emilia who was initially interested in the profession of a patent attorney. And it was her who planned such a career path after graduation.

At that time, as a graduate of the Warsaw University of Technology, I was a subscriber to a newsletter of the local career office, which was a partner of the JWP Foundation’s talent acquisition program called Rzecznicy Talentów [Attorneys at Talent]. After reading the e-mail about the program, I said to my wife: “Look, Honey, they are organizing a course on intellectual property law. Let’s go, maybe this is something for us.”

That was six years ago. I joined JWP Patent & Trademark Attorneys as the winner of the second edition of the program. First, I completed a three-month internship, and then I stayed in the firm as an assistant to a patent attorney. In September 2016, I passed the apprenticeship exam and became a patent attorney trainee; then, there were brief perturbations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to postpone the exam. Finally, the exam took place, and I have been a patent attorney since December 2020.

Already during my internship, I really enjoyed this profession and I wanted to continue such a career. It’s been six years since then, so I’m already a little further along the professional path, but I have very fond memories of it. I also have some comparative scale because I have gone through many positions at JWP, from lower to higher ones, which gives a lot of knowledge and a view of work from many perspectives.

How do you recall your first days at JWP?

At first, it was a shock for me. It was like a picture from an American, or Warsaw, TV series. Everything seemed new to me and highly professional. It was a clash of two worlds: the scientific reality prevailing at the university and research institutes, where I had the opportunity to work before, with large-scale commercial business, governed by its own rules, and a modern office.

The profession of a patent attorney – what does this job look like “from behind the scenes”?

We work with data and information almost all the time, especially patent attorneys who work in technical fields because every solution is different and requires a separate analysis. Each time, it is necessary to find out what the solution is, what technical effect is achieved, or what problem is solved thanks to it.

We provide the client with a professional opinion that the solution is patentable and there is a chance to obtain a patent, or that we need to modify the scope of protection. It also happens that we encourage the client to develop the technology in some specific direction that may arise directly from our analysis.

There are a lot of third parties’ exclusive rights on the market and entrepreneurs have to deal with them, monitor them, search for them, and be aware of their existence in order not to infringe these exclusive rights. This is another issue that patent attorneys address.

It is also important to realize that we are not always on the side that obtains the right for the client. Sometimes clients may have a problem due to the existence of someone else’s right and believe that it was granted incorrectly, e.g. for a solution that in their opinion is not new. Then we are on the opposite side of the barricade and act on behalf of the client to invalidate such defectively granted patent. Therefore, the spectrum of activities is very broad, but what connects them is certainly a lot of analytical work, work with data, within the patents, and technical solutions – one cannot escape from that.

What fascinates you in this profession?

What I find most interesting from the perspective of this profession is the variety of solutions we encounter; the fact that every solution is different and relates to very different fields. This is the advantage of working in a larger patent office, which, I think, cannot be experienced while working as an “in-house” patent attorney in a given company or running a single-person law firm. At JWP, we have a lot of specializations; I work in the patent department, which is dedicated to life science and materials chemistry. On a daily basis, I deal not only with such areas as chemistry, biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, material engineering, but also with heavy oil processing and extraction of chemical raw materials. Sometimes I’m involved with construction aggregates, while other times the inventions are more about pharmaceuticals, medicine, or crop protection products. That’s what keeps it interesting.

There’s also a lot of room to use skills in many areas. It is important both to communicate with the client and to talk to them strategically about the opportunities, about the risks, about why it’s worth taking a certain path and not taking the other path as it may prove ineffective. There are a lot of threads that we discuss in relation to the specific case with which the client comes to us. It is great to have the opportunity to interact with inventors and to support their efforts in the process of development and protection of innovative solutions.

Have you ever had a funny or unusual situation at work?

Yes, sometimes it’s surprising but also funny. Clients come to us with very different solutions and ideas. Often, in the minds of clients, there is a popular interpretation of the word “patent”, that is, to obtain a form of protection for an idea. We, on the other hand, have to place this within the framework of the law, which defines what a patent can and cannot be granted for. We need to answer the following questions: does a given solution meet the requirements to be a technical solution? Does it constitute an object that is excluded from patents, such as a method for treatment or inventions that are based on purely mathematical methods or scientific discoveries? Sometimes, this is also an element of our work – to walk the path from discovery to the construction of the invention together with the inventor, that is, the path to a particular solution for which protection can be obtained.

I remember one such funny situation from my first years of work. At that time, we were approached by a gentleman who wanted to patent a pigeon competition system! Back then, as a fresh trainee, I was tasked by my then superiors to face this question and respond to the client on the basis of the Industrial Property Law Act. Curious about this topic, I started to dig into it. The client sent us a link to his website, and it turned out that he is actually a breeder of fancy pigeons, which to my surprise is a very expensive and time-consuming hobby. Some pigeons that are considered beautiful and can win prizes in competitions are horrendously expensive. The client, who approached us at the time, developed a way of comparing individuals in terms of what points they could score in the competition. It is a similar situation as in the case of exhibitions of any other purebred animals, e.g. cats, where they are judged in terms of meeting the criteria for a given breed, e.g. the shape of the eyes, ears, behavior, or reaction to stimuli. This also applies to pigeons. I remember there was a lot of laughter, but on the other hand, well… People try to protect their ideas, very different ones, and it’s our job to assess whether it can be done and how to do it best.

In this particular case, we were not able to provide protection to the game system in the form of pigeon competition. It was a game, and mathematical methods, mental methods, are not patentable, so here it was not possible to translate it into any technical solution to help that client; but, of course, he got an answer from us. However, it shows how, colloquially speaking, “wild” can be the ideas that we face every day.

And was this idea of the gentleman dealing with the pigeons protected in any other way?

No, it wasn’t protected in the end because it was an example of a client who comes to us with an idée fixe. He has an idea, but he only has a concept. And we can only protect those ideas that have materialized. The issue of choosing the right form of protection, depending on whether it is a technical solution or whether it is a design that is supposed to please the eye of the potential consumer – these are things that we are able to evaluate and protect. What still needs to be clarified is that the job of a patent office is not to be a hub for inventors. We help inventors to obtain a monopoly on their solutions. Each of us has the technical knowledge, market knowledge in a given industry and can be an advisory voice, while the issue of the solution itself and the direction in which the client develops its product is its job and its business decision.

Do you have a hobby?

The contact with nature is what I like and value in my free time – I mean hiking in the mountains or cycling. Any form of spending time that allows me to get away from the computer for a while is highly desirable. A few years ago I was an enthusiastic rollerblader and I even took part in speed skating competitions.

I get the impression that your work is also your passion.

Yes, it certainly is to a large extent. Of course, this is also strictly a professional activity, but it is undoubtedly a profession that requires commitment and I cannot imagine doing it in the so-called 9 to 5. This job requires being in the community of attorneys, keeping up with legal changes, with what is happening in the surroundings. It is also necessary to be proficient in the industry in which one specializes, in my case, it is chemistry, biotechnology, and medicine. One has to be up to date.

I also try to popularize knowledge about intellectual and industrial property law; sometimes, I write an article or conduct training on this subject. Because of all this, it is a professional interest, indeed, and it definitely consumes a lot of my time.

It requires commitment.

I’m sure you have a goal, a dream. Can you reveal your secret?

I have big dreams, and not just one. And there would probably be some goals too. In the professional sphere, I would like to improve awareness of intellectual and industrial property rights, mainly among small and medium-sized enterprises. I observe that there is a need to inform that it is worthwhile to register your rights since all industrial property rights (unlike copyright) arise upon registration. It is required to file an application with the relevant Patent Office, possibly through a patent attorney as a business advisor. There is a lot of work to be done to make Polish entrepreneurs aware of the fact that it is worth doing because it brings benefits in the form of a certain exclusivity.

I cannot imagine that entrepreneurs who invest their own money in the development of a new product or technology would simply launch the product on the market and wait until it is counterfeited by the competitors. In order to manage risk and business profitability from the entrepreneur’s perspective, turning towards obtaining a monopoly, registering the relevant industrial property rights, such as filing an invention for protection or applying for protection of industrial designs, in terms of what the final product looks like, is a kind of policy for the entrepreneur. In the case of patents, the exclusivity lasts for 20 years. This is a period to prove that the earlier investment in the development of a new technology simply pays off. It is well known that all entrepreneurial activities are motivated by the need to make a profit, and of course, one does all kinds of things around that. However, the main need is to earn in order to reward oneself, one’s employees, and to some extent to earn in order to be able to stimulate the circle of development, that is, to create further innovations.

In fact, this is what the entire patent system is based on. It is an agreement between the state and the applicant that says that we, dear inventor, as an authority, will guarantee you a monopoly, but in return, you describe and define your solution. Thanks to the publication, the competitors have the opportunity to become familiar with this solution and they are stimulated to improve their solutions. Seeing the solutions of the competitors, being aware of the fact that they cannot be produced in an identical form because here it is the competitor who has a monopoly, will inspire others to do it differently or better; they will change, develop and submit their own solution and protect it. This is a mechanism that guarantees the constant advancement of knowledge in all areas of technical human activity.

A lot of people do not realize what a patent actually is – having a patent in the form of a “congratulatory card” from the Patent Office is one thing, but it is also an asset of an enterprise, a required element of financial settlement… We can talk about a patent on many different levels. The first point is, primarily, that it is a legal instrument that justifies undertaking innovative activities because it protects exclusivity and allows for financial progress.

It also has a big impact on the market…

Yes, it is constant stimulation of the market, a constant search for improvements.

It’s not surprising that this is your goal, as it has an impact on the world; it’s safe to say that it’s a noble goal.

Some time ago, during backstage conversations at work, the topic of how technical students are educated came up. When, ten or so years ago, we had classes in intellectual property law, depending on our luck, a lecturer would come and most often talk about writing poems and singing songs. This is also very important, but has too little to do with the protection aspect of technical solutions. And that is what technical students are going to face when they graduate from institutions of higher education. When they enter the industry and make new products, they should have this knowledge in the back of their minds. If they continue the scientific path, then it is even more likely that they will be the authors of various solutions, and they should be aware of where the boundary between scientific discovery and the development of a solution worth seeking patent protection for. Raising awareness is always the right way to go. People should know how to use it wisely.

And then we will be needed more. This is also a kind of wish from my perspective, from the perspective of our community of attorneys: to educate people in this area so that they are aware and they know that when it comes to this type of work, the best person to contact is a patent attorney and not, for example, a lawyer who deals with divorces. I am not convinced that they would be the best advisor in terms of inventions or copyright. It is worth betting on full specialization.

Artykuł “To walk the path from discovery to invention together with the inventor.” Adam Trawczyński pochodzi z serwisu 30-lecie JWP.

Tell us about your beginnings at JWP, please.

I started working for JWP almost twelve years ago, in 2010. I was in my final year at university and I remember that I was very keen to get a job with this firm. I wanted to become independent and gain experience in a field that had been completely new to me. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to cope with the challenges, but I learned very quickly that the people here are very kind and friendly. They helped me to beat the stress and after that it only got better.

What are your memories of your first days here?

I remember that I was interviewed for this job by Ms. Dorota Rzążewska, attorney at law, and Ms. Magda Rzążewska. It was still a relatively small company then, so it was easier to adapt. There were not so many people or such dynamically developing departments. My team consisted of three people, not ten like today. It was definitely easier for such a rookie as me. If I joined JWP today, I think it might be a bit more difficult.

What did you graduate from?

Iberian and Ibero-American Studies.

Everything was completely new to you…

Yes, it was.  I decided to throw myself in at the deep end; at first I was an assistant to a patent attorney, and at the same time I was writing my MA thesis. Fortunately, I was able to combine the two. A few years later, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I completed a postgraduate course in intellectual property law which also made working at JWP much, much easier.

What do you value most about working for JWP?

I can honestly say that what I value most in this company are the people. I am an extrovert who suffers when there are no people around. I started working for JWP quite a long time ago, but there is still a group of people at JWP I have known all that time and without any doubt I feel closest to them. There are also a lot of new employees joining the team – at one point there were so many I even stopped counting! So in my opinion it is the people are the strength of this firm.

Working with such different individuals opens your eyes and helps you understand a lot of things. I really enjoy observing and analyzing human nature, so I know how to approach a person and what can follow. It also makes it easier to recover from potential conflicts. Diversity helps. Besides, the smiles I get every day at the office are priceless.

Can you share an interesting anecdote about JWP?

There was a situation that has stayed in my memory for years. It’s no big deal, but I remember it as if it happened yesterday. Shortly after I started working here, our head office, which at that time was still located in Żurawia Street, was visited by none other than Mr. Dariusz Michalczewski [former professional boxer; Editor’s note]. We were representing him before the Polish Patent Office in connection with his “Tiger” trademark and I must admit that greeting Mr. Michalczewski in the hall was something quite unusual, out of the ordinary. I wasn’t prepared for such a surprise and didn’t realize at that time that JWP was dealing with such well-known people. I remember saying to myself: “Anything is possible here”!

Do you have any hobbies? Do your hobbies have any influence on your work?

I have been an avid reader of psychological thrillers for many years. I read a lot and at any time of day or night, whenever I can. I love analyzing the meanders of the human psyche, it makes it easier for me to understand people. I think it is a useful skill at work. We talk differently with an extrovert than with someone who is withdrawn or phlegmatic. Everyone should be approached individually. Working in such a big team gives you a wide range of possibilities, so I think this insight into human behavior somehow helps me in my work.

What are your dreams at the moment?

This seems like a simple enough question and just two weeks ago I would have said that my dreams are quite mundane: getting a bigger flat, buying a pet… But in the light of what is happening in the world today, I must admit that right now I only wish we could live in peace, without any strife. I am unable to look ahead and dream about anything, as I just have this feeling that…

Our dreams have become reduced.

Exactly.

It’s true. I absolutely share your dream of living in peace, so let’s wish it comes true. And when it does, it will hopefully be possible to fulfill the next ones in line which are still there and waiting. So… What kind of pet would you like to have?

A turtle.

An aquatic or a land one?

The latter. I’ve always dreamt of having a turtle, but was not allowed to in my childhood. When I moved out and my daughter was born, it was also difficult to find time and resources to keep a pet. But I’m planning to move house and definitely want to get a turtle, so keep your fingers crossed.

I will.

Artykuł “Anything is possible here!” – Patrycja Wrzosek-Mijas pochodzi z serwisu 30-lecie JWP.

Sylwia Zwolan is a specialist in industrial property matters. She is involved in the works connected with conducting trademark and industrial design cases under the domestic (Polish Patent Office), EU (EUIPO) and international (WIPO) systems. Her duties include preparing application documents and other official papers, as well as dealing with translation and communicating with clients and foreign attorneys.

How did it happen that you started working for JWP?

My career at JWP started almost nine years ago. Before that I also worked in a patent law firm, but it was much smaller. My previous employer retired and closed his business. Most of the cases he conducted were handed over to Ms. Dorota Rzążewska, attorney at law, and I was recommended for cooperation. I remember well my first conversation with Ms. Rzążewska – it was really stressful, but also exciting. I was very happy about the prospect of working here. JWP was already a big law firm then.

Do you remember your first day at JWP?

At the beginning working at JWP was a whole new adventure for me, and the first day was quite unusual as we were moving from our previous main office in Żurawia Street to the office building in Żelazna Street. I met most of the people then. Everyone was in a hurry to move, so I was able to blend in with the crowd and observe everything from a distance.

I must say, however, that I received a warm welcome. From my first day I remember Helena Gajek very well. She showed me her support with a friendly smile and a kind word. Such gestures are very important. You always remember them.

Can you name a client that most people might know?

CD Projekt – the largest Polish producer of computer games, whose flagship production is the “Witcher” trilogy. They have also released “Cyberpunk 2077” computer game.

Our department is involved in conducting application proceedings on behalf of this client, we also coordinate trademark registration in various countries all over the world and advise them on building and managing the industrial property rights portfolio. Cooperation with this client has certainly allowed me to get to know the gaming sector better. I follow with interest all the gaming industry trivia and new products appearing on the market.

Have you ever used the products of any of JWP’s clients?

Plenty of times. For example, I have used SMYK products a lot, mainly because of my daughter and the many children of my relatives and friends. I also buy PIĄTNICA products (cream cheese – my daughter’s favourite), MIESZKO confectionery (because I love sweets!) and beverages produced by Grupa Żywiec (but only non-alcoholic ones😉).

And what is your hobby?

I exercise regularly, I like to watch a good movie and listen to Polish jazz which I have discovered thanks to my husband.

I used to be a professional athlete – for many years running was my passion. I devoted all my free time to training, which required self-discipline and many sacrifices on my part. Sport has taught me a lot, above all perseverance, responsibility and conscientiousness, but also humility. The relay races in which I participated were mostly about team work, which has taught me the value of mutual understanding and compromise. On the other hand, individual races which I mainly trained for meant that I had to fight with myself to overcome my own weaknesses. I think sport has shaped me to a large extent and had a huge impact on who I am today. I look back on that period of my life with fondness… Maybe one day I will return to running regularly…

Do you have any dreams?

Yes, I have many! Small and big, but most of them are my secrets. I can tell you about one of them: I would love to take a swing on the Nevis Swing in New Zealand (the biggest swing in the world – editor’s note). It would be like going back to my childhood in a way, only slightly more extreme 😊.

Great! What I like most about this dream is that it is attainable!

Right! Maybe not tomorrow, but in time…

I’m keeping my fingers crossed! 😊

Artykuł “A kind word and a smile – you can’t forget that” – Sylwia Zwolan pochodzi z serwisu 30-lecie JWP.