Selecting Visual Aids for Intellectual Property Cases

Intellectual property claims are notoriously complex. Patent infringement, copyright violations, trademark infringement, and other types of intellectual property cases often take several days or longer to resolve. These claims typically involve hundreds of documents and diagrams. At TrialSpectrum, Inc., our team of litigation consultants and trial technology professionals can not only help you decide what visual aids are most effective in your case—but also bring those visual aids to life using our in-house services.

Exhibit Boards

In cases involving a comparison of two products, as is common in infringement claims, it can be beneficial for the judge and jury to see the products side by side. An exhibit board is an excellent tool to use in this situation, as it allows for an extended period of observation. Comparing items using a slideshow can be difficult for jurors to follow. They may not be able to grasp the similarities in two items if an attorney is moving too quickly through a presentation. However, an exhibit board, especially when coupled with testimony from an expert, allows the jury to more easily digest information.

At TrialSpectrum, Inc., our focus is on keeping costs down while maintaining high quality products. We offer printing services in-house for this very reason. In addition, we are able to provide a faster turnaround time, since we do not need to wait on a third party to produce your exhibit board.

Animations

Animations are also beneficial in intellectual property claims. Animations can be used to show how an item is created and how it works. Attorneys have also used series of photos and diagrams to display this information; however, an animation is often much more effective. With a series of photos or diagrams, a juror may jump to conclusions if that juror feels that a piece of information is missing. The juror may assume how an item works, for example. With an animation, however, jurors are able to see products in motion so that no gaps in information remain.

Screen Displays

In today’s world, jurors expect to see technology used in the courtroom. Displaying exhibits on a screen in the courtroom is one way to deliver technology to jurors. At TrialSpectrum, Inc., we carefully create your exhibits and test them to ensure they are easy to see and understand.

One of the most important pieces of information in a patent infringement case is the patent drawing. This drawing, which is central to the patent application, is carefully examined during a dispute. On a screen, attorneys may zoom in to specific parts of a drawing while it is being presented to the jury. This allows the jurors to quickly learn about the patent owner’s intent when creating the product.

Outside of the Courtroom: Digitization of Files

Intellectual property cases involve thousands and thousands of pages of documents. We can index documents so that you may access them quickly. We can also upload your files to a secure cloud, ensuring that you have a backup at all times.

No matter what phase your intellectual property case is in, the professionals at TrialSpectrum, Inc. can help.

Call Today to Learn About Our Services

If you would like to learn more about the litigation consulting and trial technology services we offer at TrialSpectrum, Inc., give us a call at 1-800-789-0084 or visit www.trialspectrum.com. We offer a variety of packages to fit a range of budgets. We have assisted clients throughout the United States in dozens and dozens of legal claims.

Demonstrative Aids as an Essential in a Digital Era

In today’s legal world, the digitization of court documents, exhibits, and even deposition testimony becomes more and more prevalent. In this digital era, both decision-makers and jurors alike expect to see some type of technology in legal proceedings. In fact, studies show that visual aids have a significant impact on audiences, leaving a lasting impression even days later. At TrialSpectrum, Inc., our team of trial technology experts will create impactful visual aids for use in your legal proceeding, drawing on our knowledge of psychological influences and persuasive techniques.

Why Use Visual Aids?

As an attorney, you may be hesitant to incorporate new techniques into your courtroom practices. However, there are a number of good reasons to use visual aids that benefit both you and your audience. Visual aids may include a variety of exhibits, such as graphs, images, charts, maps, sketches, and other similar media.

Using visual aids forces you to be better organized when planning your arguments and outlining your case. You must think carefully about when and how to present a visual aid. Rest assured, the trial technology team at TrialSpectrum, Inc., will help you determine the best point in which to present a visual aid to your audience.

In a jury trial, no matter how strong your arguments may be, you still must win over the jury. Using visual aids adds credibility to your case. In addition, those who use visual aids maintain better eye contact with their audiences, which exhibits higher levels of confidence. Jurors are more easily persuaded by attorneys who appear confident and credible.

The Science Behind Visual Aids

Science has long supported the impact of visual aids on an audience. According to one study, three days after an event, the audience recalled 10 percent of what they heard. The same audience recalled 35 percent of what they saw, and a whopping 65 percent of a combined oral and visual presentation.

Additionally, studies have shown that it is much easier for the brain to remember images instead of words. The brain can only process a limited number of words at a time. In contrast, the brain processes images 60,000 times faster than words, and has been shown to correlate with a four-fold increase in learning.

Visual aids also improve reading comprehension. During trial, a visual aid paired with text makes a stronger impact on a juror as compared to text alone.

Visual aids strengthen one’s ability to organize and communicate ideas as well. When an attorney presents a clear argument, with excellent visual aids sprinkled throughout, jurors have a much easier time grasping the concept.

Finally, visual aids assist the audience in finding relationships and patterns—which is essential in a legal proceeding. When jurors are able to “connect the dots” in an argument, they are much more likely to find in that attorney’s favor. Attorneys must make it as easy as possible for the jury to be on their side, and visual aids are one way to do so.

Hiring a trial technology company like TrialSpectrum, Inc., is helpful no matter what type of law you may practice. We have assisted attorneys and law firms in all types of legal proceedings, including courtroom trials and mediations. With our assistance, you will be able to use visual aids that are carefully tailored to your case to make irrefutable arguments for your clients.

To Learn More, Call Us Today

To learn more about the services we offer at TrialSpectrum, Inc., give us a call today. We assist attorneys and law firms throughout the United States in all types of proceedings. To schedule a consultation, call 1-800-789-0084 or visit www.trialspectrum.com.

Trial Technology Hot Seat Operators: Are They Worth It?

If you are considering hiring a trial technology company to assist you with an upcoming legal proceeding, you may have heard about “hot seat operators” who are available to attend your hearing or trial with you. These individuals handle the exhibit database, display slideshows, animations, ensuring equipment is set up properly, and numerous other aspects of the technical part of a presentation. Many attorneys are wary of having others attend legal proceedings with them; however, hot seat operators bring significant value and peace of mind to many litigators.

Setting Up and Breaking Down Equipment

Before a pivotal hearing or a high-stakes trial in your client’s case, setting up monitors, audio equipment, and computers can be stressful—especially if you realize you have forgotten a flash drive or a power cord. When you hire a hot seat operator, you no longer have to worry about packing up all of your electronic equipment, transporting it to the courthouse, and setting it up. Once the legal proceeding has concluded, you may simply grab your file and head home (or, realistically, back to the office).

Trial technology experts are able to quickly set up your equipment and test its functions to ensure everything is working properly. Our hot seat operators are equipped with extra power cords, adapters, and other items that may be needed. We arrive at the courthouse in plenty of time to test Wi-Fi connections, adjust monitor brightness, and evaluate the acoustics of the courtroom. You may spend this extra time preparing for your hearing and meeting with your client.

Directing the Presentation

Trial attorneys have many tasks to juggle in the courtroom. They must watch the jury, study witnesses, anticipate responses, and prepare exhibits. When these attorneys have to walk back and forth to their computers during a proceeding, it can be distracting for both the attorney and for the jury. By hiring a hot seat operator, these attorneys may focus on their arguments while the trial technology expert seamlessly presents documents, photographs, videos, and other exhibits to the courtroom.

At TrialSpectrum, Inc., our trial technology experts meet with you well in advance of your proceeding to ensure your presentation goes smoothly. We will coordinate the timing of displaying exhibits with you to maximize the impact your arguments have on the jury. Using our litigation consultants, we will determine which arguments you should make as certain visual aids are displayed.

Easy Access to Exhibits

No matter how much you prepare for your hearing or trial, you know that the unexpected can happen. If you need to change an argument at the last minute, bring an exhibit back up for display, or alter what needs to be said during your closing arguments, our hot seat operators can quickly access the item you want and display it while you make your arguments. There will be no fumbling through large files to find what you need—our trial technology experts can digitize your client’s file and index it for easy reference. Quickly pulling up photos and documents to support your statements will drive your message home to the jury.

At TrialSpectrum, Inc., our goal is to provide you with cutting edge trial technology services so that you may obtain the best results possible for your clients. With our help, you will be confident and calm as you make your arguments.

Call Today to Learn More

If you would like to learn more about the array of services we offer at TrialSpectrum, Inc., give us a call at 1-800-789-0084 or visit www.trialspectrum.com. We offer many different packages to fit your unique needs and budget. We have partnered with law firms throughout the country in many types of cases and have boosted their success.