Experience

Billion & Armitage

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Shareholder

  • Feb 2013 - Present

  Richard E. Billion is a shareholder and registered patent attorney with over 30 years of prosecution experience. He currently practices intellectual property law with an emphasis in the mechanical and electro-mechanical aspects of computer hardware, medical apparatus, and other devices. Rich has extensive experience in preparing proof packages to apply patents in licensing situations and he uses his licensing experience to produce effective and licensable patents. Rich earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Highest Honors from South Dakota State University. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, an honorary society for engineers, and Pi Tau Sigma, an honorary society for mechanical engineers, while at South Dakota State. Rich earned a degree in law and a masters in business administration from the University of South Dakota. After graduation, In addition to working for several prestigious corporations, Rich has worked for several large intellectual property law firms, including Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear (1984-1986), and Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner (1996-2008) where he was a shareholder. He has spoken widely including several speaches at national AIPLA meetings. He also served as chairman of the AIPLA Committee on Medical Devices and Practices, a subcommittee of the Emerging Technology Committee. Rich has traveled extensively to Asia for license negotiations and has also given speeches on how economics impact patent law. Rich is admitted to the Minnesota, South Dakota, and Texas Bars in addition to the Patent Bar.



Clise, Billion & Cyr PA

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Shareholder

  • Sep 2009 - Feb 2013

  Richard E. Billion was a shareholder and registered patent attorney with this patent prosecution and licensing firm. He counseled clients and handled all aspects of the law related to intellectual property. Thsi firm was the predecesor to Billion & Armitage, P.A. Richard E. Billion was a shareholder and registered patent attorney with this patent prosecution and licensing firm. He counseled clients and handled all aspects of the law related to intellectual property. Thsi firm was the predecesor to Billion & Armitage, P.A.



Fair Isaac

• Chief Patent Counsel, Legal Director

  • Jan 2008 - Sep 2009

  Legal Director and Chief Patent Counsel for $750M dollar software and services company. Handling matters related to intellectual property including obtaining invention disclosures, educating management and employee inventors, and supervising patent prosecution of domestic and foreign outside counsel. Developed comprehensive patent strategy for building a more licensable patent portfolio. Thoroughly reviewed company patent portfolio to determine licensing value, and to identify potential licensees.



Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

• United States
• Law Practice
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Shareholder

  • May 1996 - Jan 2008

  Shareholder at the largest patent law firm in Minnesota and one of the largest all-prosecution patent firms in the country. Made Shareholder in 3.5 years. Handled all of clients needs including advising clients on patent strategies, and providing candid evaluation of individual cases. Supervised 25-30 associate attorneys. Drafted patents, wrote opinions, and conducted due diligence for potential patent acquisitions. Worked for a full range of clients with an emphasis in mechanical, electromechanical, medical devices, business method, and computer hardware and software patents.



IBM

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Patent Attorney

  • May 1989 - Mar 1996

  Honored for Outstanding Performance in Licensing. Developed and presented proof packages for licensing IBM patents. Prepared more than 350 new disclosures per year using a newly developed business process for patent committees. Drafted and prosecuted a full docket of patent cases during licensing effort. Supervised outside counsel. Performed patent prosecution, including drafting of original cases and corresponding with the US Patent Office. Set up a trademark enforcement program for IBM's AS400 trademark.



Control Data Corporation

• Patent Counsel

  • Jul 1986 - May 1989

  Patent Counsel for the Computer Products and Systems Division. Duties included managing all intellectual property matters for this division, including drafting and prosecution of patent and trademark applications, infringement and patentabilty studies, confidentiality agreements, and other contracts. Patent Counsel for the Computer Products and Systems Division. Duties included managing all intellectual property matters for this division, including drafting and prosecution of patent and trademark applications, infringement and patentabilty studies, confidentiality agreements, and other contracts.



Exxon Production Research

• Corporate Attorney

  • Aug 1984 - Jun 1986

  Corporate Attorney in Exxon’s research center for upstream oil activities. Assigned responsibility for divisions that accounted for one third of the company’s revenues. Handled intellectual property matters and general legal matters for these divisions. Corporate Attorney in Exxon’s research center for upstream oil activities. Assigned responsibility for divisions that accounted for one third of the company’s revenues. Handled intellectual property matters and general legal matters for these divisions.



Knobbe Martens

• United States
• Law Practice
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Associate Attorney

  • Jun 1983 - Jul 1984

  Associate Attorney with law firm specializing in all aspects of intellectual property law. Associate Attorney with law firm specializing in all aspects of intellectual property law.