As a member of Sutherland's Intellectual Property Practice Group and a seasoned litigator involved in complex civil matters, Ann Fort has protected the intellectual property rights of numerous clients in the United States and abroad. Her comprehensive experience encompasses patent infringement, licensing disputes, trade secret protection and unfair competition. In addition to trying cases in both federal and state courts, Ann works toward alternative dispute resolution, when feasible, and has represented clients in arbitrations and mediations. Ann focuses her practice on technology businesses, and has handled cases involving loan and deposit pricing software, Internet-based information management systems, ground fault circuit interrupters, power management unit chips, interactive television program guides, computer network security protection systems, and medical information systems. She also has represented insurers and other financial services businesses in complex multi-party litigation where knowledge of internal business operations was essential to successful resolutions. In the pharmaceutical industry, Ann represents pharmaceutical patent owners in licensing disputes, and accused infringers of formulation patents. In addition to U.S. and overseas corporations, Ann has represented university technology transfer organizations and non-profit research institutes. An active leader in Sutherland's pro bono program, Ann recently achieved clemency for a pro bono client on death row, representing him for more than 11 years before he was ultimately granted clemency just hours before his scheduled execution. She serves on American Bar Association and Georgia Bar committees charged with considering capital defense representation and related policy issues. Representative Experience Ann's recent representative experience includes: · Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. v. Epstein, et al. (Super. Ct. Cobb Cty., Ga.): Representing an industry-leading supplier of comprehensive data processing solutions for banks and other financial institutions. Obtained expedited discovery to examine marketing communications and competing product software code. Matter ongoing. · Aldav LLC v. Cumulus Media (E.D. Tex.): Defended the U.S.'s second-largest operator of radio stations in a suit brought by a non-practicing entity asserting an Internet radio advertising patent. The case settled after limited document discovery. · University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. v. KB Visions, Inc. (Super. Ct. Athens-Clarke Cty., Ga.): Won summary judgment for UGA's technology transfer organization terminating an exclusive field of use license, and dismissing the inventor/licensee's claims of ownership of the patent and breach of fiduciary duty in a related action. · General Protecht Group, Inc. v. ITC (Fed. Cir.): Won Federal Circuit reversal of the ITC's single infringement finding against our client. While the ITC's exclusion order was in place pending appeal, obtained U.S. Customs and Border Protection approval for importation of a design-around. · General Protecht Group, Inc. v. Leviton Manufacturing (D.N.M.): Won a preliminary injunction finding an implied license and enforcing an exclusive venue clause in a previous settlement agreement. The injunction required dismissal of related ITC and district court patent infringement claims. · In re Gemstar Litigation (MDL/ITC): Led a team of lawyers representing a major international communications/entertainment company (Gemstar/TV Guide), in a series of cases relating to set-top box technologies, including antitrust and patent misuse claims. The case was reported to be, at one stage, the largest set of patent cases in the country, and resulted in publicly reported settlement payments exceeding $200 million. · Internet Security Systems, Inc. v. SRI International (N.D. Ga.): Defended SRI against a declaratory judgment claim asserting patent non-infringement and invalidity related to computer network security systems. After transfer, this matter was resolved in favor of SRI. Professional Honors and Awards · Intellectual Property Community Service Award (2010) · Named among the "Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend magazine (2006, 2007) · Recipient of Sutherland's first annual Charles T. Lester Pro Bono Award (2009) Professional and Community Involvement · Patent Strategy & Management, Board of Editors · American Bar Association, Steering Committee, Death Penalty Representation Project · American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Woman Advocate Committee · State Bar of Georgia, Intellectual Property Section, Litigation Committee · State Bar of Georgia, Post-Conviction Representation Committee · Atlanta Intellectual Property Inn of Court, Master of the Bench · American Intellectual Property Law Association, Women in IP Committee · International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association · TurningPoint Women's Healthcare, Board of Directors and Executive Committee · Hagar's House, Decatur Cooperative Ministries, Volunteer Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements · Co-author, "Defending Enhanced Document Review Tools," Executive Counsel (December 2011) · Author, "The America Invents Act: What In-House Counsel Need To Know About Patent Reform," Partnering Perspectives (Winter 2011) · Author, "Hiding in Plain Sight: Avoiding Damages for Wilful Patent Infringement," IP Value 2009 (January 2009) · Author, "When Worlds Collide: Practical Electronic Discovery and Litigation Preparation for the CIO," white paper for the Technology Association of Georgia (July 10, 2008) · Author, "How CIOs Can Reduce the Expense and Headache of E-Discovery Compliance," TechLINKS (January 2008) · Author, "Mandatory E-Discovery: Compliance Can Create David and Goliath Issues, Reminiscent of the Early Days of Sarbanes-Oxley," The Daily Report (March 19, 2007) · Author, "IRS Listens to Taxpayers and Limits Taxation of Patent Cross Licenses," Practical US/International Tax Strategies (March 15, 2007) · Author, "Buyer Beware: When 'All Rights' Doesn't Mean What You Think," Patent Strategy & Management (August 1, 2006) · Co-author, "Retroactive Licenses and Claim Settlements," Patent Strategy & Management (July 1, 2006) · Co-author, "Patent Licenses Can Create State Contacts Bestowing Personal Jurisdiction," Intellectual Property Litigation Reporter (May 23, 2006) · Speaker, "Impact of Diverging Client Expectations in E-discovery," The Cowen Group, Roundtable Discussion Leader (December 6, 2011) · Speaker, "Selecting a Patent Suit Venue," WRG 8th Annual Patents in Financial Services Summit (July 27-28, 2011) · Speaker, "ESI & E-Discovery," Ga CLE (January and March 2010) · Speaker, "Standing and Other Pre-Suit Considerations in Patent, Trademark and Copyright Cases" (December 4, 2008) · Speaker, Georgia State University College of Law Corporate IP Roundtable (September 9, 2008) · Speaker, "West LegalWorks: Patent Claim Construction 2008" (February 27, 2008) · Speaker, Protiviti Discovery Risk Management Roundtable (August 16, 2007) · Speaker, 2nd Annual Conference on Corporate Intellectual Property in China (April 26-27, 2007) · Speaker, Litigation Committee, IP Law Section, State Bar of Georgia (April 17, 2007) · Speaker, Council of Appellate Lawyers & Appellate Judges Summit (November 11, 2006) Industries Biotechnology and Life Sciences Pharmaceutical News Sutherland Partner Ann G. Fort Among Those Honored at Intellectual Property Community Service Awards Luncheon
October 1, 2010 Sutherland Successfully Represents General Protecht Group, Inc. in ITC Appeal
September 1, 2010 Cumulus Strikes Deal In Aldav Web Radio Patent Suit
March 15, 2010 Reprinted with permission Intellectual Property Law360, http://www.law360.com/ Teva Launches Generic Prevacid After Patent Win
November 10, 2009 Reprinted with permission IP Law 360, http://www.law360.com/ Sutherland Hosts Atlanta Pro Bono Awards Reception
Ann G. Fort receives first annual Charles T. Lester Pro Bono Award.
April 13, 2009 Legal Alerts Legal Alert: Let's Be Reasonable: Recent Federal Circuit Actions Follow Trend Toward E-Discovery Reform
February 1, 2012 Legal Alert: A Runaway Train? Citing Secret Stolen by Chinese Competitor, ITC Derails Import of Railway Wheels, and Federal Circuit Affirms
October 14, 2011 Financial Services Patent Holding Company Update
September 19, 2011 Legal Alert: Shredding Before Suing? Think Twice (Update)
June 22, 2011 Legal Alert: ICANN Formally Adopts New Generic Top-Level Domain Name Program, Postpones Application Period
June 20, 2011 Legal Alert: Wireless Network Patent Owner Accusing Electricity Coops of Infringement
June 20, 2011 Legal Alert: New Generic Top-Level Domain Name Application Procedures Are in the Home Stretch
June 14, 2011 Legal Alert: Some Surprises Among the Courts Selected for Patent Pilot Program
June 10, 2011 Legal Alert: Shredding Before Suing? Think Twice (Update)
June 2, 2011 Legal Alert: Patents on Computerized Settlement of Foreign Exchange Transactions Invalid Under Bilski
March 31, 2011 Financial Services Patent Holding Company Update
March 15, 2011 Legal Alert: Preclusive Effect of Unselected Patent Claims Not Resolved in Katz Decision
February 22, 2011 Financial Services Patent Holding Company Update
February 4, 2011 Financial Services Patent Holding Company Update
September 29, 2010 Legal Alert: Decision Clarifies Joint Inventorship Requirements
April 14, 2010 Legal Alert: False Patent Marking Statute Requires a per Article Penalty
December 30, 2009 Legal Alert: World Intellectual Property Organization Announces 2008 Was a Record Year for Cybersquatting Cases
March 26, 2009 Legal Alert: Shredding Before Suing? Think Twice
February 13, 2009 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Articulates How Other Patent Validity Doctrines Are Implicated When Asserting Anticipation
November 5, 2008 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Accepts and Rejects Hearing En Banc in Two Section 101 Cases
February 28, 2008 Legal Alert: Citing Phillips, Federal Circuit Panel Vacates ITC's Claim Construction
January 7, 2008 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Clarifies Patent Licensee Standing
October 25, 2007 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Issues Patentability Opinions on Computer and Electronics Issues
October 3, 2007 Legal Alert: Maryland Federal Court Tightens Reins on Admissibility of Electronic Evidence
May 15, 2007 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Eases Requirements for Declaratory Judgment Jurisdiction
March 29, 2007 Legal Alert: IRS Listens to Taxpayers and Limits Taxation of Patent Cross Licenses
February 20, 2007 Legal Alert: U.S. Supreme Court Facilitates Ability to Challenge Patent Validity
January 11, 2007 Legal Alert: Patent Licenses Can Create State Contacts Bestowing Personal Jurisdiction Over Licensor
May 5, 2006 Publications Claim Construction: Does the Federal Circuit Have the Last Word?
Summer 2009 Reprinted with permission ITC Trial Lawyers Association's 337 Reporter Hiding in Plain Sight: Avoiding Damages for Wilful Patent Infringement
January 2009 Reprinted with permission IP Value 2009 When Worlds Collide: Practical Electronic Discovery And Litigation Preparation For The CIO
July 10, 2008 Reprinted with permission of Ann G. Fort, a member of the Technology Association of Georgia How CIOs Can Reduce the Expense and Headache of E-Discovery Compliance
January 2008 Reprinted from TechLINKS, Vol. 11, No.1 Mandatory E-Discovery: Compliance Can Create David and Goliath Issues, Reminiscent of the Early Days of Sarbanes-Oxley
March 19, 2007 Reprinted with permission, Fulton County Daily Report IRS Listens to Taxpayers and Limits Taxation of Patent Cross Licenses
March 15, 2007 Reprinted with permission, Practical US/International Tax Strategies Buyer Beware: When 'All Rights' Doesn't Mean What You Think
August 1, 2006 Reprinted with permission, Patent Strategy & Management Retroactive Licenses And Claim Settlements
July 1, 2006 Reprinted with permission, Patent Strategy & Management Patent Licenses Can Create State Contacts Bestowing Personal Jurisdiction
May 23, 2006 Reprinted with permission, Intellectual Property Litigation Reporter Events CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office Breakfast
November 16, 2011 WRG 8th Annual Patents in Financial Services Summit
July 27-28, 2011 ESI & E-Discovery
January and March 2010 Standing and Other Pre-Suit Considerations in Patent, Trademark and Copyright Cases
December 4, 2008 Georgia State University College of Law Corporate IP Roundtable
September 9, 2008 West LegalWorks: Patent Claim Construction 2008
February 27, 2008 Protiviti Discovery Risk Management Roundtable
August 16, 2007 2nd Annual Conference on Corporate Intellectual Property in China
April 26-27, 2007 State Bar of Georgia, IP Law Section, Litigation Committee
April 17, 2007 Council of Appellate Lawyers & Appellate Judges Summit
November 11, 2006 |