Dr. Joe Happold
German Patent Attorney | European Patent Attorney | European Patent Litigator (UPC) | European Trademark and Design Attorney | Dr. | Dipl.-Phys. | Partner
“True consulting is not about short-term wins, but about relationships that still stand when you look your clients in the eye 20 years later.”
Technical focus
Joe’s technical expertise covers:
- Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering
- Automotive
- Production and Process Technology
- Physics, Chemistry
- Power Engineering and Technical Thermodynamics
- Aerospace Technology and Engineering
Legal focus
Joe’s legal focus is on:
- Patent lawUtility model law
- Trademark law
- Design law
- Prosecution, opposition, FTO & non-infringement assessment, invalidation and infringement proceedings
- IP Strategy
- Due Diligence
- Start-up and Investor Coaching
Joe and his team specialize in comprehensive, full-service support in patent, design, and trademark matters.
For their clients, they act as the primary point of contact for protecting new inventions and pursuing product imitators.
A particular focus lies on the development of a long-term IP protection strategy tailored to each client and their specific market environment.
“In my consulting work, I am direct and pragmatic. Not everything that is technically feasible under patent law makes sense from a business perspective. Each case is therefore assessed in light of the current situation and anticipated future developments, enabling advice that is truly aligned with the client’s interests and needs.”
About Joe happold
After studying physics in Stuttgart, earning a doctorate (Dr.-Ing.) at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and qualifying as a patent attorney, Joe worked as a patent attorney and partner at various law firms in the United States and in Stuttgart before joining DTS in 2022.
Joe is a German and European Patent Attorney, a registered representative before the EUIPO, and a European Patent Litigator (UPC). He regularly lectures in Germany and abroad, particularly for start-ups, on topics such as patent strategy, protection through trademarks and designs, and freedom-to-operate analyses.
Since 2022, he has been a partner and shareholder at DTS, based in Stuttgart.
Why DTS
“Throughout my career, I have often encountered archaic and patriarchal organizational structures in law firms that make a positive working environment unsustainable in the long term. It is therefore a personal priority for me to work together with all partners and employees to foster a pleasant and appreciative workplace culture. This, in turn, ensures that our clients benefit from a team that consistently performs at its best and that we can remain a reliable advisor to our clients over decades.”
Memberships
- Fédération Internationale des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle (FICPI)
- Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI)
- Observer at the Asian Patent Attorney Association (APAA)
Languages
German, English, French, basic knowledge of Japanese