Profile
Heribert Muensterer focuses his practice on preparing and prosecuting US and international patent applications, primarily in the chemical, pharmaceutical and related arts. He also has extensive experience with appeal proceedings before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences of the USPTO. His experience further includes freedom to operate and non-infringement studies and prior art analyses.
Heribert started his career in the IP arena in 1983 in Germany where he practiced as German Patent Attorney and European Patent and Trademark Attorney until moving to the U.S. in 1999. During his time in Germany his activities included the drafting and prosecution of patent applications, procuring hundreds of German and European patents for his clients, mainly from the U.S. and Japan. He also represented clients in numerous opposition and appeal proceedings in the German Patent Office, the German Federal Patent Court and the European Patent Office. Upon his move to the U.S. Heribert joined a mid-size IP law firm in the DC metro area where he practiced U.S. patent law for more than 12 years before joining Abel IP.
Heribert’s first-hand knowledge of and extensive experience with the patent systems in the U.S. and in Europe enables him to provide unique advice regarding the significant (and often not very well known) differences between these systems and to help clients to avoid pitfalls. He also has lectured on these differences both in the U.S. and in Germany on several occasions.
Areas of Experience
- US and international patents
- Intellectual property portfolio development and management
- Freedom-to-Operate analysis
- Non-Infringement analysis
- Prior art analysis
Technologies
- Chemical and pharmaceutical compositions
- Polymers
- Advanced materials
- Pharmaceuticals
- Ceramics
- Metallurgy
- Nanotechnology
- Biotechnology
- Batteries and Fuel Cells
- Semiconductors
- Chemical engineering
Admissions
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- European Patent Office
- German Patent and Trademark Office and German Federal Patent Court
- Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) (European Community trademarks and designs)
Education
- Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry), Technical University of Munich/Germany, with honors, 1981
- Diploma in Chemistry, Technical University of Munich/Germany, with honors, 1979
Publications
- H. Muensterer, G. Kresze, M. Brechbiel, H. Kwart, “Transition State Geometry in Superene Reactions”, J. Org. Chem., 1982, 47, 2677
- R. Bussas, H. Muensterer, G. Kresze, “Ene reaction mechanisms. 1. Chirality Transfer to the enophile 4-methyl-N-sulfinylbenzenesulfonamide”, J. Org. Chem., 1983, 48, 2828
- H. Muensterer, G. Kresze, V. Lamm, A. Gieren, “Ene reaction mechanisms. 2. Regioselectivity with N-aryl-N’-tosylsulfur diimides as enophiles. Crystal structure of N-(pentafluorophenyl-N’-p-tosylsulfur diimide”, J. Org. Chem., 1983, 48, 2833
- G. Kresze, H. Muensterer, “Bis(methoxycarbonyl)sulfur Diimide, a Convenient Reagent for the Allylic Amination of Alkenes”, J. Org. Chem., 1983, 48, 3561
- R. Bussas, G. Kresze, H. Muensterer, A. Schwoebel, “Progress in the Chemistry of Aza-Analogs of SO2”, Sulfur Reports, Vol. 2, No. 6 (1983)
- G. Kresze, H. Braxmeier, H. Muensterer, “Allylcarbamates by the Aza-Ene-Reaction: Methyl N-(2-Methyl-2-Butenyl)Carbamate”, Organic Synthesis, Coll. Vol. 8, 427 (1993)
- H. Muensterer, “Fallstricke und andere Besonderheiten der US-Patentpraxis aus deutscher Sicht” (Pitfalls and other peculiarities of U.S. patent practice from a German perspective), VPP Rundbrief March 2009, pp. 6-13; also published in “Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwaelte”, Juli/August 2010, pp. 332-339.
- H. Muensterer, “Einwendungen Dritter gegen US-Patentanmeldungen” (Pre-grant submissions of third parties in US patent applications), “Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwaelte”, April 2013, pp. 166-171
- H. Muensterer, “Der Stand der Technik im reformierten US-Patentgesetz” (The prior art according to the reformed US Patent Act), “Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwaelte”, Juni 2013, pp. 269-273
- H. Muensterer, “Die beschleunigte Pruefung von US-Patentanmeldungen” (The accelerated examination of US patent applications), “Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwaelte”, Dezember 2013, pp. 546-550
- H. Muensterer, “Die Weiterverfolgung einer US-Patentanmeldung nach einer ‘Final Office Action’” (The further prosecution of a US patent application following a Final Office Action), “Mitteilungen der deutschen Patentanwaelte”, April 2014, pp. 158-165