Sughrue Mion, PLLC

The firm of Sughrue Mion, PLLC is engaged in the practice of law relating to intellectual property. The firm's diverse client base, encompasses a broad spectrum of multinational corporations, high technology growth companies and small start-up ventures. The firm represents its clients before the federal and state courts nationwide, as well as federal agencies having jurisdiction over matters that concern issues of international trade and intellectual property acquisition and protection. Moreover, the firm's proximity to the United States Patent and Trademark Office provides a unique opportunity to directly represent clients before that agency and, in particular, its Appellate Boards. The firm is well known for its representation of clients in connection with the development and exploitation of emerging technologies, such as superconductors, multiprocessors, biotechnology and robotics, as well as established technologies, such as data processing, nuclear engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, photography, telecommunications and semiconductors. The firm has expanded over the years to its present complement of 43 partners and a comparable number of associates and clerks. The firm has spacious offices in Washington, D.C., San Diego and Mountain View, California and an office in Tokyo, Japan that is staffed by partners and associates to provide services to a client base in the Pacific basin.

PTO Announces New Ex parte Appeal Rules Effective January 23, 2012
Stuart S. Levy, February 6, 2012
Effective January 23, 2012, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) established new rules for Ex Parte Appeals. These new rules supercede previously announced final rules governing Ex parte appeals. These rules do not relate to contested cases (interferences). Nor do they relate to Inter...

Global-Tech Appliances, Inc., et al. v. SEB S. A. - A Higher Standard For Inducement Under §271(b)
June 14, 2011
In a patent dispute that called into question the proper standard for proving induced infringement under §271(b), the Supreme Court raised the standard and thus the level of culpability required for those accused of aiding and abetting acts of direct infringement under §271(a).

Therasense, Inc. and Abbott Laboratories v. Becton, Dickinson and Company
June 9, 2011
In view of the unintended burdens placed on the entire patent system by the decades old “sliding scale” and “low standards” for establishing the requisite intent and materiality elements of inequitable conduct, a six judge majority of the en banc Federal Circuit announced...