Unilever Selects First To File For Patent Document Management

SAN MATEO, CA, December 16, 2010 (Press-News.org) First To File (FTF), the world's leading patent document management company, today announced that Unilever has selected FTF's Web-based Electronic File Room (EFR) patent document management service to enhance its global patent prosecution practice. EFR enables Unilever to manage patent documents, prior art, and meta-data-based knowledge across its worldwide Patent Group, significantly reducing costs, risks, and environmental impact while increasing patent prosecution efficiency. More information about FTF and EFR is available at http://www.firsttofile.com.

In line with Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan, launched last month, this selection of First To File's EFR is Unilever Patent Group's first measure in reducing its reliance on paper.

FTF's Electronic File Room integrates seamlessly with Unilever's CPi docketing system, providing the company's worldwide intellectual property group with instant access to global patent portfolio documents and related information. EFR provides a comprehensive, organization-wide document management system, enabling Unilever to file, prosecute, share, and secure its worldwide patent portfolio with unprecedented ease, cost savings, and security.

"First To File's Electronic File Room helps us to achieve several strategic goals, including significantly reduced reliance on paper, increased global collaboration and efficiency, and higher-quality intellectual property rights," said Matt Goodwin, chief patent counsel, Unilever.

"The patent industry is at a 'tipping point' as it migrates from traditional paper-based processes to lower-cost and lower-risk digital ones," said James Bergeron, chief executive officer, First To File. "Companies like Unilever understand that their patent portfolios are among their most valuable assets and are selecting First To File to collaboratively manage large volumes of patent documents and information across globally distributed teams."

About First To File
First To File (FTF) is a legal-services technology company based in San Mateo, Calif. FTF's mission is to transform the manner in which IP professionals conduct business by automating the storage, management, and analysis of legal documents worldwide, enabling lawyers to more effectively add value to their organizations. FTF's Electronic File Room (EFR) is a Web-based patent document management and prosecution automation service for IP organizations and law firms of all sizes. EFR reduces companies' reliance on paper and transforms the manner in which they prosecute their patents, increasing overall visibility, efficiency, and patent quality while significantly reducing costs.

First To File is a registered trademark of First To File Inc. Electronic File Room is a trademark of First To File Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their respective holders.

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