Intellectual Property

The development and protection of marketable ideas, processes, patents, trade secrets, trademarks, service marks, copyrights and other forms of intellectual property is essential for maintaining a competitive business edge. This is especially true for the entrepreneurial, high-tech and emerging growth companies that our firm traditionally has represented. Now, more than ever, business success depends upon product innovation and name recognition, meaning that our clients must take steps to guard their intellectual property from theft, infringement and dilution. The Intellectual Property Practice Group specializes in helping our clients protect these increasingly important assets.

Our attorneys provide advice and representation in the acquisition, licensing and transfer of intellectual property assets; obtain copyright registrations; prepare and prosecute foreign and domestic patent applications; prepare and prosecute foreign and domestic trademark and service mark applications; implement procedures and nondisclosure agreements to protect trade secrets; and prosecute and defend against claims of infringement, unfair competition and theft of intellectual property.

Our lawyers prepare and negotiate patent, trademark and copyright licenses; counsel clients regarding trademark issues in advertising and product packaging; conduct and interpret trademark availability and patent novelty searches; counsel clients in the preparation and negotiation of technology research and development agreements; and counsel clients with regard to all aspects of patent protection.

The practice group also provides counseling and litigation services in the related areas of:

Representative intellectual property clients include several nationwide securities brokerage firms, a leading cable television company, several creators and distributors of computer software, a national industry trade association, a major pharmaceutical company, the largest food company in the world, the largest dry pet food manufacturer in the United States, an international printer of magazines, a leader in soy protein technology, one of the nation's largest consumer products manufacturers and a variety of other large and small businesses, as well as authors, artists, inventors and other individuals.