Patent, Patents, Everywhere

Congratulations to The Webb Law Firm for this nice piece of publicity on its steady success in the patent law world. But by identifying Webb as a symbol of success in Pittsburgh's New Economy, the Post-Gazette may be missing the boat. Webb makes a nice story for the P-G because it's an old Pittsburgh economy business that survived the disappearance of Pittsburgh's old economy. It focuses on patent and trademark law (part of "intellectual property law") and little else, without getting too wrapped up in the business problems of its clients. We'll see how long that business model lasts if Pittsburgh's high tech economy really gets rolling. Today's tech companies don't treat IP law as the legal backwater that it was when Webb was founded, or even that it was 25 years ago. IP law boutiques around the country are folding or being merged into integrated law firms. Here in Pittsburgh, firms like the local office of Morgan Lewis provide full-service tech law counseling and may be better examples of where Pittsburgh's legal and business markets are headed.