Bill Long, a member of Sutherland's Intellectual Property Practice Group, focuses his litigation practice on handling complex commercial matters involving patents, trade secrets, copyright, and other intellectual property and technology-related disputes. A significant amount of his experience includes dealing with disputes regarding computer systems, software, hardware and related technology, as well as chemical and pharmaceutical related matters. Bill has tried and arbitrated numerous cases involving a wide range of technology and intellectual property issues. He has also handled cases involving theft of broadcast digital satellite signals. Bill counsels clients on a variety of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret issues, including intellectual property strategy, portfolio management, and licensing issues. Prior to law school, Bill worked as a design engineer in the fields of process automation, instrumentation and control. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Georgia and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Representative Experience · Equifax, Inc. v. Verid, Inc. (N.D. Ga.), representing Equifax in asserting patents directed to Internet/online authentication technology. The matter settled after Markman briefing. · Depomed, Inc. v. Ivax Pharmaceuticals (N.D. Cal.), representing a major pharmaceutical company (Ivax) in a case relating to polymer controlled release delivery systems. The case settled through mediation on the eve of trial. · Freebairn v. Finazzle Corporation (N.D. Ga.), winning summary judgment in a copyright action involving television advertising. · Softcard v. Target & Visa (N.D.Ga.), representing Softcard in asserting its smart card technology patents in a case that settled through mediation. · CryoLife v. Tenaxis (N.D. Cal.), representing CryoLife, a surgical adhesive manufacturer in a patent related action under 28 U.S.C. § 1492. · Coleman, Inc. v. Essential Gear (N.D. Ga.), enforcement of patents and trademarks related to camping equipment against a large chain of retail stores and related companies. · FHS Acquisition Company, LLC. v. EMS Technologies, Inc. (D. Mass.), representing FHS, a manufacturer of computer related equipment in a patent infringement action. We obtained a seven-figure settlement prior to trial. · Automed Technologies, Inc. v. Knapp Logistik Automation, GmbH (N.D. Ga.), obtained summary judgment for Knapp, a logistics integration company in a patent infringement action involving automated prescription drug filling software and related equipment. · Palmtop Productions, Inc. v. Lo-Q PLC and Six Flags (N.D. Ga.), in a patent infringement action representing Lo-Q, a developer of software and related wireless technology used by Six Flags amusement parks to eliminate the need for patrons to wait in line. · ActNow Media, Inc., representation of a consumer goods manufacturer against multiple suits of patent infringement. Settled favorably. · The Homebingo Network, Inc. v. Cadillac Jack, Inc., (S.D. Ala.), representation of a manufacturer and designer of casino electronic gaming equipment in a patent infringement action. Case settled favorably following related arbitration evidentiary hearing. · Ser Solutions, Inc. v. Noble Systems Corporation (S.D.N.Y.), representation of Noble, a developer of call center software and related technology in a patent infringement action. · TTS v. Winko-Matic, et al. (Texas state court) Representing traffic equipment manufacturer in obtaining jury verdict for defendants in 5 week trial involving alleged theft of trade secrets and breach of non-competition covenants. · Representing DirecTV in hundreds of user piracy cases in the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia. Professional Honors and Awards · Recognized by The Best Lawyers in the area of intellectual property and patent law (2012) · Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of intellectual property and patent law (2008-2011) · Selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers® (2009-2011) Professional and Community Involvement · Member, American Intellectual Property Association · Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) · Member, Intellectual Property, Technology and Trial Practice Sections, State Bar of Georgia Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements · Author, "Doctrine of Equivalents: Where We Now Stand," Intellectual Asset Management (December/January 2007) · Speaker, "Legal Issues Impacting the Industry," GPhA/FDA Fall Technical Conference (October 3-5, 2011) · Speaker, "Legal Cost Prenuptials: Your Money or Theirs," 22nd Annual North American Entertainment, Sports and Intellectual Property Law Conference (November 4-8, 2010) · Speaker, "Containing Fees Associated with Employing Outside Counsel in a Period of Economic Instability," 7th Annual Patents and the Financial Services Conference (July 2010) · Moderator, "Expert Issues in IP Litigations," 15th Annual Intellectual Property Law Institute (November 2009) · Speaker, "Intellectual Property Essentials for Engineers: Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Trade Secrets," Legal Issues for Georgia Professional Engineers Seminar (March 27, 2008) · Speaker, "Getting the Data for a Defensible Damages Study Through Discovery and 30(b)(6) Depositions," Calculating and Providing Patent Damages Workshop (October 8, 2004) · Speaker, "The Mobile Employee," Leveraging Trade Secrets Workshop (June 30, 2003) Industries Biotechnology and Life Sciences Pharmaceutical News Sutherland Attorneys, Practices Top Chambers USA 2011 Rankings
April 14, 2011 More than 40 Sutherland Attorneys Recognized as 2011 Georgia Super Lawyers
March 24, 2011 Sutherland Successfully Represents General Protecht Group, Inc. in ITC Appeal
September 1, 2010 Sutherland Earns Top Chambers USA 2010 Rankings
July 7, 2010 Cumulus Strikes Deal In Aldav Web Radio Patent Suit
March 15, 2010 Reprinted with permission Intellectual Property Law360, http://www.law360.com/ Sutherland Attorneys Named 2010 Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
March 1, 2010 Legal Alerts Legal Alert: Patents on Computerized Settlement of Foreign Exchange Transactions Invalid Under Bilski
March 31, 2011 Legal Alert: Any Person Can Sue for False Patent Marking
September 10, 2010 Legal Alert: Patent Term Adjustment Statute Interpreted by the Federal Circuit
January 13, 2010 Legal Alert: Patent Rights Exhausted by Authorized Sales of Products Substantially Embodying the Patent's Claims
June 30, 2008 Legal Alert: "Remote Interface" Limitation in Patented Financial Account Application System Not Satisfied by a User's Home PC
May 27, 2008 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Requires Sufficient Structure for Means-plus-function Claims Relating to Computer-implemented Inventions
April 25, 2008 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Invalidates Grandchild Patent Based on Disclosure in Grandparent Patent
January 4, 2008 Festo XIII: Making the Unforeseeable, Foreseeable
July 18, 2007 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Revisits "Public Use" Under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)
June 18, 2007 Legal Alert: The Federal Circuit's First Post-KSR Decision
May 24, 2007 Legal Alert: Supreme Court Narrowly Construes Patent Infringement Statute As Applied To Exported Software
May 14, 2007 Legal Alert: Supreme Court Mandates More Flexible Approach To Determining Obviousness
May 4, 2007 Legal Alert: Federal Circuit Reasserts Requirement That Full Scope of Patent Claims Must Be Enabled
March 28, 2007 Legal Alert: Recent Federal Circuit Cases May Signal Trend Toward Broader Obviousness Standard
October 20, 2006 Publications Doctrine of Equivalents: Where We Now Stand
December/January 2007 Reprinted with permission, Intellectual Asset Management Events GPhA/FDA Fall Technical Conference
October 3-5, 2011 The 7th Annual Patents and the Financial Services Conference
July 28-29, 2010 IP Institute's 15th Annual Conference on Intellectual Property Law
November 11-15, 2009 Legal Issues for Georgia Professional Engineers Seminar
March 27, 2008 Calculating and Providing Patent Damages Workshop
October 8, 2004 Leveraging Trade Secrets Workshop
June 30, 2003 |