Greer Burns & Crain (GBC) is pleased to announce for the second year in a row the firm’s client, Cummins Allison, has received the number one ranking by Crain’s Chicago Business for patent quality. Crain’s Eureka Patent Quality Index ranks Illinois-based companies on patent activity focusing on the uniqueness of the invention covered by each patent as well as the quantity and the quality of patents received. Crain’s Chicago Business also named Cummins Allison as one of the top ten most innovative companies in Chicago.
Cummins Allison, a leading provider of currency, coin and check processing solutions, ranked first overall in 2016 for patent quality with a quality score of 170.6 – placing the company’s patents in the top 1% of all U.S. patents issuing in 2015.
Moreover, Cummins Allison has a history of receiving the highest quality patents and has ranked in the top three of all companies in Illinois in each and every year since Crain’s Chicago began publishing its Eureka Index. Since 2012 when Crain’s Chicago began publishing its Eureka Index, Cummins Allison patents have been ranked first in 2015, second in 2014, first in 2013, and third in 2012.
GBC helps Cummins Allison patent its inventions and assists the company in managing a wide portfolio of U.S. and foreign patents. Cummins Allison develops technology and processing equipment that images, counts, denominates, authenticates, and sorts currency, and is the only surviving U.S. manufacturer of equipment for processing paper currency. “Cummins Allison is excited to be recognized for our unique and industry-changing innovations,” said Jeffrey Knoll, Executive Vice President, Corporate Counsel of Cummins Allison. “Partnering with Greer Burns & Crain enables us to strategically develop strong, innovative, and enforceable patent portfolios that are the foundation of our business.”
“I have been honored to have been working with Cummins Allison for over twenty years to help them build and enforce an extensive portfolio of patents,” said Paul R. Kitch, GBC Chicago partner. “Our internal team works side-by-side with the company to obtain results enabling Cummins Allison to reach its business objectives.”
Mr. Kitch is the current Chair of the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Patent Law Committee and the President-Elect of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago. His practice focuses on strategic patent portfolio management including patent prosecution, litigation and counseling. He is successful in getting infringing products off the market and obtaining related damages.
About Greer Burns & Crain LTD
At GBC, we see the law as a tool to help shape our clients’ futures. We are constantly thinking about what is important to our clients now and next so we can foresee obstacles and opportunities in their space and smooth the way. We work together to handle complex challenges in litigation, patents, trademarks, anti-counterfeiting and all other facets of Intellectual Property Law anywhere in the world.
In 2015, GBC was ranked as the second busiest trademark litigation practice in the U.S. based on number of cases filed and that trend continues in 2016. GBC has also been recognized as Best in the USA for Software Trademark Portfolio Management, Best Technology Law Firm in the Midwestern USA, a leading law firm in Internet & Domain Name Disputes, Best Online Law Firm in Chicago, and Most Renowned IP Law Firm in Illinois.
