biography

Craig Mueller serves as chair of the firm’s Mechanical Patent Practice Group.

Craig’s practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the mechanical, aerospace, electro-mechanical, civil, and software technology areas, drafting and prosecuting design patent applications, and preparing and prosecuting trademark and copyright applications. His practice also includes advising clients on various intellectual property protection strategies; protecting foreign intellectual property rights; drafting patentability, freedom to operate, and invalidity opinions; analyzing domestic and foreign patent rights; performing and supervising patent-related searches; and drafting technology-related agreements.

Before beginning his legal career, Craig was a senior engineer at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver, Colorado, initially serving on the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle systems engineering team, then as a designer of the Atlas V launch vehicle liquid oxygen and RP1 feed systems. In this latter role, he performed mechanical design/structural analysis and supervised pre-launch testing of various Atlas V propulsion system components. Before entering the ...

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  • Corporate Experience

    Lockheed Martin Space Systems 

  • Presentations & Teaching Experience
    • “Design Patents 101,” American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association’s Design Rights Boot Camp, 2018-2020.
    • “A Seat in the Gallery: A look at the players and alliances in three upcoming patent cases before Supreme Court,” Rocky Mountain IP Institute 2014.
    • “Patent Prosecution: Insights and Updates.” CLE International Presentation. 2013.
    • “AIA Odds and Ends,” CLE International Presentation. 2012.
    • “Pitfalls in Claim Drafting,” 7th Annual Rocky Mountain Intellectual Property & Technology Institute, 2009.
    • “Basics of Patent Prosecution,” CLE International Presentation. 2005.
  • Publications
    • “Design Patents 101,” IP & Technology Law BLOG, December 11 & 13, 2019.
    • “Claims with Precise Numerical Values – A Cautionary Tale,” IP & Technology Law BLOG, June 6, 2019
    • “Preserving Patent Rights on a Global Stage: Foreign Filing Options and How to Successfully Navigate Novelty Requirements,” IP & Technology Law BLOG, Jan 17, 2019.
    • “America Invents Act: Next Elements Ready to Take Effect,” Law Week Colorado, Aug 20, 2012.
    • “U.S. Patent Reform 2011,” Law Week Colorado, Oct 3, 2011.
    • “A Fresh Perspective on Design Patents,” The Colorado Lawyer, July 2009.
  • Recognitions

    Super Lawyers (Colorado) 2017-2024

    The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 – 2025

 

 

Denver

Craig W. Mueller

Partner | Chair, Mechanical Patent Practice Group

[email protected]

T: (303) 333-5438 M: (303) 917-4282

Credentials

Admissions

Colorado
The United States District Court for the District of Colorado
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Department of Veterans Affairs

Education

University of Denver, JD, 2003
Georgia Institute of Technology, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, 1994
University of Illinois, B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, 1993

Prior Law Firm Experience

Sheridan Ross PC
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP

Practice Areas