Practice Areas & Industries: Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

We have substantial experience investigating, preparing and prosecuting or defending lawsuits involving intellectual property rights. Our litigators have experience with various intellectual property issues including:

• computer crimes
• copyright litigation
• dilution
• domain name litigation
• franchise disputes
• patent litigation
• trade name and trade dress infringement
• trade secret litigation
• trademark and service mark infringement
• unfair competition
• international experience in all the above
• litigation arising during winding-up of a business

Our attorneys understand the importance of intellectual property issues to a business. Ideas are basic to all enterprise. They are essential to the growth and development of commerce. They create opportunities and generate wealth. Without adequate legal protection of ideas, enterprise is stifled. As technology brings the world closer together, the importance of protecting ideas nationally and internationally increases.

We approach all intellectual property litigation matters from a strong business perspective. Unlike many specialty intellectual property firms, we have a keen sense of the business aspects of our clients' problems, the need to effectively and definitively resolve intellectual property questions before they become "bet your business" problems, and the need for a balanced approach in resolving problems.

All litigation matters are staffed with an experienced partner and associates and paralegals where appropriate. This approach allows us to provide in-depth knowledge and experience while minimizing legal fees and costs. Because the protection of intellectual property is now a global issue, we have developed an expertise in both national and international issues. Many of our attorneys have lived and worked internationally and have handled intellectual property matters around the world. Some are admitted to practice in other countries. They can be called upon to provide advice and strategies for any intellectual property litigation matter. In addition, our paralegals are experienced in domestic and international issues and work closely with our intellectual property litigators to provide support and manage costs. We also have on staff a renowned scientists to assist in patent and other technology matters.

We also have commercial litigation expertise to assist our technology clients.

Representative Matters

National Football League Properties, Inc.: We assisted the NFLP in the seizure and impounding of counterfeit merchandise bearing NFL trademarks prior to its sale to the public at Super Bowl XXXII.

Dollar Rent a Car, Inc.: We have assisted this national car rental company in enforcing its franchise agreements and trademarks across the country. For instance, we substituted in as counsel in a lawsuit pending in Seattle, in which we convinced the Ninth Circuit to overturn a jury verdict against Dollar in the sum of $8.7 million and to direct judgment in Dollar's favor as a matter of law, which judgment included ownership of Dollar trademarks.

DaimlerChrysler Corporation: We have assisted this multinational car manufacturer enforce its trademarks and other intellectual property in various disputes on a national basis.

Impact Technologies: We successfully assisted a major semi-conductor distributor in defending against a preliminary injunction in a trademark infringement action.

Pandesic: We assisted our client and its members, Intel and SAP, in the resolution of Pandesic's business affairs.

Vitafree: We protected our clients, Vitafree and Genesis, from loss due to cyber-squatting from a competitor.