Build a "unavoidable but easy-to-protect" patent wall for the leaders in water meter technology

2025-11-19
I. Case Introduction 
Facing the severe risk of plagiarism and the urgent launch schedule of a revolutionary intelligent water meter product by an industry-leading enterprise, we deeply integrated into its R&D system. With forward-looking claim layouts and professional review opinions, we responded and successfully obtained the authorization after one year. This enabled us to build a "difficult to bypass but easy to defend" legal barrier for it, ensuring the market security of the product with a huge investment. 



II. Case Details 
1. Customer Type/Industry: 
Water Resources Internet of Things Field / Intelligent Water Meter Manufacturing (National High-tech Enterprise, Industry Leader) 


2. Description of customer pain points/problems: 
(1) Innovation achievements are prone to being copied: As an industry leader, it has long been under the threat of imitation and plagiarism from competitors. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to establish a solid intellectual property barrier for the new generation of revolutionary products. 
(2) The patent authorization requirements are extremely high: The new product that is about to enter mass production requires an investment of nearly 10 million yuan. There are strict requirements for the authorization of core patents. Not only does it need to be "successfully authorized", but also the protection scope must be "wide and accurate" (difficult to be circumvented), and the infringement determination must be "clear and definite" (easy to protect rights). 
(3) Urgent market situation: The huge market expectations and production investments make patent authorization a crucial prerequisite for product launch and market capture. The time is tight and the responsibility is significant. 


3. Solution/Process: 
Deep integration and precise insight: The core technical team (including the technical director and senior attorneys, etc.) has visited the customer's production and R&D sites multiple times. Through disassembling prototypes and having in-depth discussions with engineers, they have thoroughly grasped the technical details and the essence of innovation. 
(2) Forward-looking planning and system construction: Based on a profound understanding of technology and industry, a comprehensive search was conducted on existing technologies, and a multi-level claim system covering key invention points and potential avoidance designs was meticulously constructed, forming a tight protection network. 
(3) Resilient Defense and Reasoning: When responding to the review comments, one should not merely give a simple reply, but instead construct a complete "chain of evidence" and "logical chain", clearly explain the technical advantages, demonstrate professional resilience in highlighting the key distinguishing features, and strive for the broadest and most reasonable scope of protection. 
(4) Value orientation and comprehensive protection: The entire application process is guided by the core demand of customers - "obtaining high-quality and enforceable patents". We act in response to customers' urgent needs and regard their investment and market expectations as our responsibility. 


4. Results/Data: 
(1) Successfully obtained patent authorization: After approximately one year of dedicated efforts, we successfully secured an invention patent authorization for our client. 
(2) Achieving the preset strategic goals: The protection scope of the authorized patents has fully achieved the ideal effect of being "difficult to circumvent and easy to defend", building a solid legal barrier for the core products. 
(3) Achieving high customer recognition: Customers highly praise the team's professional depth and service warmth, considering this patent as "a crucial guarantee for seizing the market and defending innovation", and expressing deep trust and reassurance towards the team's dedication to "treating customers' matters as their own affairs". 



III. Case Evaluation 
This case profoundly illustrates the essence of high-quality patents - they should not merely be a piece of authorization certificate, but must be a legal weapon that can effectively defend against competition and safeguard business interests in the market. ZYIP has precisely identified the essence of the technology and the competitive situation of the industry by moving its services deeper. Ultimately, what it delivers is not just an authorization notice, but also a strategic competitive advantage for the customer's core products. This demonstrates the core supporting value of intellectual property work for the commercial success of enterprises.
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