Patent intelligence firm NLPatent has rebranded to Clerq, launching a next-generation agentic AI platform designed to automate complex patent research. This strategic evolution aims to transform workflows that traditionally take weeks into tasks completed in minutes. The company's new chapter is further supported by key partnerships with RPX Corporation and Park IP, and the appointment of veteran IP strategist Michael Chernoff.
A New Era of Patent Intelligence
Clerq's platform marks a significant shift from a standard search engine to an agentic system that executes tasks from start to finish. The new agentic workflows can conduct rapid triage assessments and generate full patentability reports with detailed reasoning. This innovation dramatically reduces turnaround times, collapsing extensive research projects into approximately ten minutes of automated work under professional supervision.
"This isn't a smarter version of the same software-as-a-service model; it's service as software," stated CEO and Co-Founder Stephanie Curcio. The platform delivers a completed, citation-backed work product directly to the responsible attorney for review and refinement. This approach eliminates the need for lengthy internal or external handoffs, empowering professionals to maintain direct control over the work.
The new name, Clerq, is inspired by the role of a law clerk who performs substantive work under an attorney's guidance. The company's five-year foundation in developing proprietary language models provides its AI agents with the necessary context for expert-level analysis. This deep-seated expertise in patent-specific retrieval distinguishes Clerq in an increasingly crowded field of generalist AI tools.
Strategic Alliances to Enhance Ecosystem
To support its growth, Clerq has established strategic cross-referral integrations with RPX Corporation and Park IP. These partnerships embed Clerq's platform directly into each partner's environment, creating a more seamless and connected ecosystem for intellectual property management. The integrations are designed to reduce friction and preserve strategic context across different stages of the patent lifecycle.
The collaboration with RPX connects Clerq's research engine to RPX Empower, a comprehensive patent intelligence platform. Steve Chiang, Chief IP and SaaS Officer of RPX, noted that this strengthens the foundation for assessing patent risk. He emphasized that the partnership reflects a shared vision for a market moving towards integrated capabilities rather than isolated tools.
Similarly, the integration with Park IP embeds Clerq's intelligence layer into its global patent translation and foreign filing services. "Our clients are asking for fewer disconnected systems and more connected outcomes," commented Erin Wynn, General Manager at Park IP. This alliance helps organizations move their innovations into global markets more efficiently by streamlining critical IP execution processes.
Bolstering Leadership with Industry Veteran
Clerq has also strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Michael Chernoff as Director of IP Strategy. Chernoff brings a wealth of experience from his time as a USPTO patent examiner, Chief Patent Counsel at a Fortune 500 company, and head of a large patent search practice. His consistent recognition in the IAM Strategy 300 underscores his standing as a leading global IP strategist.
In his new role, Chernoff will guide enterprise sales, customer success, and the company's product roadmap. "Back when I was in-house, this is exactly what I wished existed, and it didn't," Chernoff stated. His endorsement highlights the platform's practical value and its development by a team of scientists, engineers, and IP professionals with direct industry experience.
The launch of Clerq represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of intellectual property management technology. By combining its advanced agentic AI with strategic industry partnerships and seasoned leadership, the company is poised to redefine efficiency in patent research. This multi-faceted approach promises to deliver a more integrated, intelligent, and streamlined experience for patent professionals worldwide.