Ian J. Block is an associate with Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson LLP. Ian represents clients in trademark and copyright matters through federal litigation, enforcement, and prosecution, and also in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board opposition and cancellation proceedings. He counsels clients in managing their intellectual property portfolios and by drafting intellectual property transaction agreements. Ian serves as Executive Editor of the firm's Pattishall IP News law blog, which reports and comments on recent developments in intellectual property law.
Ian graduated from The University of Chicago Law School, where he was an editor and published staff member of The University of Chicago Legal Forum law journal and served as a judicial extern to Judge James B. Zagel, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Ian earned his undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Political Economy from Georgetown University, during which time he held positions with the United States Department of Justice and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Trials, Appeals & Litigation
ˇ Indigo Wild, L.L.C. v. NCN Beverages, LLC and Lifestyle Brands International, LLC, Opposition No. 91197275 (TTAB 2012) (Trademark Opposition)
ˇ Bayer HealthCare LLC v. Pharmascience, Inc., Opposition No. 91200243 (TTAB 2012) (Trademark)
ˇ PepsiCo, Inc. and Frito-Lay North America, Inc. v. Mike's Novelties, Inc., et al., Case No. 4:10-cv-03901 (S.D. Tex 2010, Judge Rosenthal) (Successfully obtained judgment finding trademark infringement and unfair competition, resulting in permanent injunction that stopped defendant wholesaler's infringing sales and distribution of unauthorized "can safe" products manufactured from altered PepsiCo and Frito-Lay product containers) (Trademark)
ˇ Ashley Furniture Inds. v. Laura Ashley, American Arbitration Association (AAA) Case No. 51133Y0105608 (Trademark, Breach of Contract)
ˇ CNH America LLC v. Davis Equipment Sales & Service, Inc., Case No. 4:2010-cv-00141 (S.D. Ind. 2010, Judge Young) (Unauthorized trademark use by former dealer) (Trademark)
ˇ Ferrara Pan Candy Co., Inc. v. Alanric Food Distributors, Inc., Opp. No. 91193541 (TTAB 2010) (Trademark)
ˇ PepsiCo, Inc. v. Outrageous Ventures, Inc. and PrankPlace.com, LLC, Case No. 3:10-cv-01309 (D. Conn. 2010, Judge Underhill) (Litigated case through favorable settlement that stopped all manufacture and sales of beer can wraps bearing trademarks and trade dress confusingly similar to PepsiCo's PEPSI and MOUNTAIN DEW marks and trade dress) (Trademark, Trade Dress)
Professional Activities
ˇ Pattishall Intellectual Property Blog : Executive Editor
ˇ American Bar Association, Section of Intellectual Property Law : Member
ˇ Chicago Bar Association : Member
Publications
ˇ Being Famous vs. Proving Fame: Evidentiary Pitfalls Revealed by Coach v. Triumph Learning, Pattishall Newsletter (April 2012)
ˇ Light Blue Color Mark for Tennis Racket Overgrips Held Valid but Not Infringed by Slightly Different Shade of Light Blue Grip Tape, Pattishall IP News (November 2011)
ˇ Co-authored a chapter supplement on "State Trademark and Unfair Competition Law Remedies," for the American Bar Association/BNA book Trademark Infringement Remedies(November 2010)
ˇ Co-authored The DMCA's Teeth: Court Awards Massive Statutory Damages for Access Control Circumvention Online, Pattishall Newsletter (Summer 2010)
ˇ Co-authored E-Discovery Guidelines and the Seventh Circuit's Pilot Program, Pattishall IP News (March 2010)
ˇ Court Limits Copyright Statutory Damages to Number of Registrations Owned,Pattishall IP News (February 2010), republished in the National Law Review (March 2010)
ˇ Second Circuit: "Substantial Similarity" Not Required to Prove Dilution by Blurring Under the TDRA, Pattishall IP News (December 2009)
ˇ Online Service Provider's Ownership of User Content Held Not to Eviscerate CDA Immunity,Pattishall IP News (November 2009)
ˇ Hidden WHOIS and Infringing Domain Names: Making the Case for Registrar Liability, 2008 U. Chi. Legal F. 431
Presentations
ˇ "The Overlapping Spheres of State and Federal Trademark Dilution Law," The University of Chicago Law School Trademark Law and Policy Seminar (May 2009)