Terms of Engagement

3AIP provides patent research, prior art analysis, freedom-to-operate analysis, invalidity search, AI output validation, prosecution support, and patent illustration services as defined in the project-specific scope of work agreed before commencement.

Each engagement defines the deliverable, technology domain, jurisdictions covered, databases to be consulted, and the turnaround timeline. Scope changes require written agreement and may affect fees and timelines.

Initiation. All engagements begin with a scoping conversation. No project work commences until a mutual NDA has been executed and the scope and fee have been agreed in writing.

Confirmation. An engagement is confirmed upon the Client’s written acceptance of the scope and fee. Work commences following confirmation and NDA execution.

Named analyst. Every engagement is assigned a primary analyst whose name is disclosed to the Client before work begins. A senior analyst co-reviews all final deliverables. Both names appear on the deliverable.

AI status check. Before any task begins, the project lead checks whether the Client is designated a No-AI Client in our No-AI Client Register. If so, no AI tool of any kind is used at any stage of the engagement. If the Client wishes to be added to the register, a written instruction (email or engagement letter clause) is sufficient.

Fees are agreed on a per-project fixed-fee basis following scoping, or under a retainer arrangement agreed separately. 3AIP does not publish standard pricing because scope variation is too significant for useful published rates.

Invoices are issued upon delivery of the final deliverable unless milestone billing has been agreed. Payment terms are 30 days from invoice date unless otherwise specified. Retainer fees are invoiced monthly in advance.

3AIP reserves the right to suspend work on overdue accounts following written notice.

All research reports, opinions, and analysis documents produced by 3AIP are prepared exclusively for the Client’s use in the matter specified. They may not be shared with third parties, used in litigation, or published without 3AIP’s written consent, except as needed for the Client’s own legal matter as originally described.

Deliverables represent the professional judgment of the named analyst(s) at the time of preparation, based on the databases searched, the parameters specified, and the materials provided by the Client. They are not legal opinions and do not constitute legal advice.

Intellectual property in 3AIP’s methodology, search frameworks, and internal processes remains vested in 3AIP. Intellectual property in the specific deliverable produced for a matter is assigned to the Client upon full payment.

3AIP’s use of AI tools is governed by our AI Usage & Client Data Protection Policy (v1.0). The following provisions are incorporated into every engagement:

Three-condition rule. AI tools assist only retrieval across public patent databases and literature, and only where: (a) the tool is on our current Approved Tools Register, having passed our vendor due-diligence process; (b) the client has not been designated a No-AI Client; and (c) the use is logged in the project file. Any use case that does not satisfy all three conditions is treated as prohibited.

Client Confidential Information. Client-provided search queries, invention disclosures, correspondence, file numbers, draft claims, unpublished materials, and all work product are classified as Client Confidential Information. This material is never submitted to any third-party or public AI tool. A named analyst reads the invention and builds the search strategy used for public-source retrieval.

Absolute prohibitions. Without exception and for every member of our team:

• No client confidential information is entered into any third-party or public AI tool.
• No AI tool is used on an engagement where the client has opted out, at any stage.
• No client files, invention disclosures, draft claims, unpublished materials, or work product are uploaded to an AI tool.
• No browser AI-assist features that transmit content are used while working in client files.

Audit trail. Every use of an AI tool in connection with a project is logged in the project file. On request, 3AIP will provide a summary of what AI tools (if any) assisted in an engagement and at which stages.

Opt-out. The Client may instruct 3AIP to use no AI tools of any kind on their engagement. A written instruction — email or engagement letter clause — is sufficient. This instruction will be applied at every step, not merely noted.

Indicative turnaround times — 3–4 business days for patentability/prior art searches, 6–8 business days for FTO and invalidity searches — are targets, not guarantees. Complex matters, broad claim sets, or unusual technology domains may require additional time, communicated as early as possible.

Client-imposed deadlines agreed at scoping will be honoured. Emergency turnaround may be available on request and may attract a priority fee.

3AIP’s liability in respect of any engagement is limited to the fees paid by the Client for that engagement. 3AIP is not liable for indirect, consequential, or special damages, or for decisions made by the Client or third parties in reliance on a deliverable.

Deliverables represent professional research opinion and are not guarantees of patentability, non-infringement, or any other legal outcome. Patent law determinations remain the responsibility of qualified legal counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

Either party may terminate an engagement on written notice. If the Client terminates after work has commenced, fees are due for work completed to that point. If 3AIP terminates due to material breach by the Client, fees for completed work remain payable.

These Terms and all engagements governed by them are subject to the laws of India. Any dispute arising from an engagement that cannot be resolved by discussion shall be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seated in Chandigarh, India.