@bretttrout

Brett J. Trout

Iowa Patent Attorney

Author since 2003 of BlawgIT

Author of Cyber Law: A Legal Arsenal for Online Business

 

Today, we’re tweeting with @BrettTrout, a patent lawyer, award-winning blogger and author from Des Moines, Iowa

1. @BrettTrout, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is the person behind @BrettTrout?
   My lovely wife. She reins in my motorcycle racing, cage fighting and general nerdery
    
2. Tell us about your law practice.
   Patents, Trademarks, Software Licensing, Terms of Use, Document Retention Policies. Counselor for all things nerdly
    
3. I’m beginning to detect a theme…. What type of clients do you represent?
   I typically represent smaller clients: individuals, inventors, start-up ventures and small software companies.
    
4. What is the most important legal issue affecting these clients?
   Volatility of the law. IT laws are constantly changing. Clients need to be able to rely on the underlying rules of the game.
    
5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   We are in this together. I provide you the appropriate legal advice to help you make your business decisions.
    
6. What’s the most significant client representation you’ve had?
   I just wrapped up a 5yr patent infringement trial. We not only won, but the court awarded us treble damages & atty fees.
    
7. You must have many infringement trials. Why was this one most significant?
   Patent infringement litigation typically runs over $1.5M per side just in atty fees. We did this one for about 1/10th that.
    
8. That IS significant. Why do your clients hire you?
   Most appreciate my ability to communicate. Communication is the most important aspect of the atty/client relationship.
    
9. Why *should* they hire you?
   Not every client *should* hire me. Every client is unique. Sometimes I refer them to an atty better matched to their needs.
    
10. How is the economic crisis affecting your clients?
    I have not noticed the economy affecting my clients. People are still inventing. Small companies are still growing.
     
11. That’s great for them and you. Switching gears a bit: how do you sell your practice?
    Iowa is the most restrictive state when it comes to *selling* your practice. I rely mostly on atty & client referrals
     
12. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Too much time. I love interacting with people, so it is more “fun” than “work.” Probably a couple hours per day.
     
13. What value have you seen from being on Twitter?
    Des Moines’ Twitter community is powerful & vibrant. Twitter connects me w/a lot of great people both locally & abroad.
     
14. You publish an award-winning patent law blog, “BlawgIT” (http://bit.ly/QdAe). What led you to start blogging in 2003?
    Fellow Des Moinesian @ChrisPirillo got me hooked on blogging. He’s always way ahead of the curve, so I knew it would be big
     
15. Has blogging made you a better lawyer? How?
    Yes. Blogging forces me to stay up to date on important issues & be able to communicate them succinctly to clients
     
16. You’re also a published author. How did you come to write a book on CyberLaw?
    I wanted a CyberLaw desk reference back in 2000. When I couldn’t find one, I wrote one. Currently working on the 4th ed.
     
17. In your spare time, no doubt… What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    Transparency. The Internet breaks down barriers b/t clients & lawyers, forcing lawyers to be more honest, open & responsive
     
18. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    I see smaller firms gaining ground as they interconnect w/one another to offer clients much more customized legal services
     
19. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    I’d love to race motorcycles, but I’m too big. I’d love to fight MMA but my wife wants me in one piece. Probably an inventor
     
20. How do you want to be remembered?
    He was good at what he did.
     
21. What do you do when you’re not working?
    I attend a lot of my kids’ sporting events. I read. I cook. I travel. I drink wine. I connect with friends & family.
     
22. Our last question of the day: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    I found law school was fun & interesting, but I may be the only one. Most importantly, choose quality of life over money.

Thank you so very much for tweeting with 22 Tweets and answering our questions today

Thank you. It was a pleasure. @22twts is a great series

I hope you’ll consider a second twitterview one day to talk about motorcycle racing and cage fighting!

Ha. I crash a lot & take a lot of punches, but what I lack in skill, I make up for in entertaining hyperbole.

As long as you keep entertaining your tweeps like me, we’ll be happy with whatever you do in your non-Twitter time!

 Print This Post Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Blawger, Des Moines, IP | Comment (0)