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Intellectual Property

Overview

Given the speed of innovation, shortened product lifecycles, and the push and pull of global competition, today’s enterprises must act quickly and judiciously to identify, protect, acquire, and monetize intellectual property.

Crowell’s internationally recognized IP team offers a complete range of services that enable clients to navigate complex patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret issues across the spectrum of business operations. We see IP—and all of the work required to protect it—as a means to greater ends. As a result, our counsel is tied directly to each client’s overall mission and business strategies.

Powerhouse, global team

Our team includes more than 100 lawyers, patent agents and scientific advisors in Chicago, Washington, DC, New York, California, and Brussels. A significant portion of our lawyers have earned advanced degrees in key scientific and technological disciplines, including molecular biology, chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, life sciences, and pharmaceutical science.

Our lawyers have held senior leadership positions in leading multinational corporations and served at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Our European attorneys are registered to practice before the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Several of our key partners also have served as trailblazers in the development of legislation, regulation, and oversight bodies, including the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB), that define and govern IP prosecution, protection, and dispute-resolution processes.

Our litigators practice before courts worldwide, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and virtually all other federal appellate and district courts, as well as the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), PTAB, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), the Benelux Intellectual Property Office, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the Brussels Court of Appeals.

Collaborative, cross-disciplinary guidance

We draw on our knowledge, experience and global reach to help clients realize the full value of their intellectual property, providing counsel in the following:

IP Strategy, Prosecution, and Portfolio Management

Intellectual Property Litigation

European IP Law

Insights

Event | 03.09.24

Cup of Capital presented by Crowell & Moring

New to Austin? New to Startups? New to Tech?

Join Crowell as we present Cup of Capital at the 2024 SXSW in Austin, TX

Come meet with Crowell's ECVC lawyers and see how we can help propel your business to the forefront of innovation. 

Bring your energy, your questions, your ideas...let's share what we're working on and help each other out at the INDUSTRY'S biggest event. 

Representative Matters

Intellectual Property Litigation

  • Represented an iconic outdoor equipment brand as complainant in an ITC Section 337 trademark and design patent investigation related to water bottle knockoff imports from China, where our strategy resulted in an early consent order against an international fashion brand respondent.
  • Obtained complete victory in four petitions for IPRs filed on two patents for a thermal imaging company, navigating a procedurally complex IPR and prevailing when the PTAB held unpatentable each of the 76 claims of the two patents challenged by our client.
  • Obtaining ruling from the Federal Circuit in favor of defendants–appellees, confirming that claims of a patent for an automotive diagnostic tester were invalid as indefinite.
  • Secured a $919 million jury verdict for one of the largest chemical companies in a theft of trade secrets case related to KEVLAR® fiber technology—the largest-ever contested verdict in a trade secrets case, and the largest verdict ever in Virginia.
    • Executed the largest counterfeit seizure within the Benelux area on behalf
      of a producer of animal feed additives, upholding the client’s patent and trade secret rights in proceedings on the merits.
    • Represented a medical device manufacturer in a patent infringement action concerning endovascular stent-grafts for treating aortic aneurysms in which the district court granted a rare summary judgment of invalidity in our client’s favor, resulting in dismissal of the action in a judgment which was affirmed on appeal by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
    • Defended a biotech company in trademark litigation challenging our client’s long-standing use of its marks in connection with antimicrobial products that have been shown to be effective in fighting pathogens and viruses, such as COVID-19.

IP Strategy, Prosecution and Portfolio Management

  • Managed a patent portfolio, including filing, enforcement, strategy, development, and execution, of over 200 matters for a diversified, global aerospace, industrial, defense, and electronics company.
  • Engaged by multinational footwear company for patent prosecution, preparing patent application filings related to apparel and footwear.
  • Represented leading manufacturer of furniture for offices, hospitals, and classrooms in obtaining design and utility patent protection for their innovative desks, workspace systems, and chairs.
  • Serving as primary outside counsel for a large not-for-profit organization with respect to drafting and reviewing complex, multi-party IP collaboration agreements with entities in the public and private sectors, including government agencies, industry, academia, foundations, associations, and the philanthropic community.
  • Managed the prosecution and enforcement of a large baking company’s U.S. portfolio, including overseeing 600 active U.S. registrations and applications.

Technology and Brand Protection

  • Defended U.S. Soccer, a national sports federation, in a trademark lawsuit brought by the U.S. Soccer Foundation.
  • Represent Ikea in copyright and trademark infringement case involving unauthorized use of copyrighted photographs and trademarks for an advertising campaign in Belgium.
  • Defended Molson Coors in trademark infringement action brought to challenge launch of new hard seltzer product, Vizzy. Denial of preliminary injunction upheld on appeal to the 5th Circuit.
  • Representing American Airlines and British Airways in a copyright infringement lawsuit involving hotel photographs appearing in vacation travel booking sites.
  • Represented Novartis in actions against competitor Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. for damages caused by false representations regarding their competing psoriasis medications.
  • Represent leading brands with counsel and negotiation of agreements regarding copyright clearance for use of content in advertising, development of documentary films, television shows and related entertainment properties, and novel fair use issues related to digital content and assets.

Insights

Event | 03.09.24

Cup of Capital presented by Crowell & Moring

New to Austin? New to Startups? New to Tech?

Join Crowell as we present Cup of Capital at the 2024 SXSW in Austin, TX

Come meet with Crowell's ECVC lawyers and see how we can help propel your business to the forefront of innovation. 

Bring your energy, your questions, your ideas...let's share what we're working on and help each other out at the INDUSTRY'S biggest event. 

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Professionals

Insights

Event | 03.09.24

Cup of Capital presented by Crowell & Moring

New to Austin? New to Startups? New to Tech?

Join Crowell as we present Cup of Capital at the 2024 SXSW in Austin, TX

Come meet with Crowell's ECVC lawyers and see how we can help propel your business to the forefront of innovation. 

Bring your energy, your questions, your ideas...let's share what we're working on and help each other out at the INDUSTRY'S biggest event.