Patent lawsuits have become increasingly prevalent over the years. Many technology-based companies will encounter a patent infringement issue at some point no matter their size. When a company or business is hit with a threatening letter, they need to act carefully and swiftly.

The first step to take when this happens is to contact an attorney experienced with patent infringement. Or, if the company has in-house counsel, they will probably already be aware of the letter. These attorneys will be better prepared to interpret violations and determine if the lawsuit has merit.

If the claim is legitimate, the company should follow the advice of their attorney to reduce further liability. Often, the issue is over something small and can be easily remedied with modifications to the wording on the packaging or other materials.  

If it is not legitimate, the attorney can help the company file a counter claim to recoup losses. Some patent infringements have no legality behind them and are sent to scare a company into stopping production of their product or service.