From startups to the most prominent Fortune 100 companies, intellectual property owners trust Howard Michael to protect their most valuable assets. Boards of directors, CEOs, General Counsels and other key business stakeholders depend on Howard’s assistance to navigate trademark concerns around the world.
Howard Michael is a co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Technology and Brand Protection Group. With nearly 25 years of counseling and litigation experience in the fields of trademarks, unfair competition, false advertising, copyrights and trade secrets, Howard represents many of the world’s largest companies and supports several of the world’s most famous brands. His client’s range from startups to those in the Fortune 100.
Howard has particular expertise in protecting trade dress, acquired distinctiveness and genericness issues. He represents clients in a wide range of industries, including social media, data security and privacy, alternative energy solutions, waste disposal, apparel, banking and finance, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, electrical devices, food and beverage, and home and consumer goods.
As a litigator, Howard represents clients in district court litigation, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) oppositions and cancellation actions, arbitration proceedings, and domain name disputes under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy. Howard also has significant experience leading international disputes across a number of jurisdictions. Among his other areas of practice, Howard has a particular focus on critical trademark counterfeiting matters. He works closely with the courts, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Marshals Service to stop counterfeit goods from entering the country, obtains injunctive relief, and coordinates the ex parte seizures of counterfeit goods.
Howard is also regularly asked to speak on topical trademark issues. Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Howard was a shareholder at Brinks Gilson & Lione.
Recognition
- World Trademark Review 1000, Illinois
Silver Band, Prosecution & Strategy, 2020–2021
Silver Band, Enforcement & Litigation, 2020–2021
Bronze Band, Prosecution & Strategy, 2018–2019
Bronze Band, Enforcement & Litigation, 2017–2019
- Managing Intellectual Property Magazine: IP Star, 2020
- National Law Review: Go To Thought Leader, 2019
- Leading Lawyers Network: Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer, 2010–2016
Affiliations
Professional Activities and Memberships
- International Trademark Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association
Representative Matters
- Represented a famous baking company in trademark infringement litigation involving the national launch of a product line and issues including fair use and geographic rights.
- Coordinated the seizure of illegally imported counterfeit goods into the United States; obtained temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, ex parte seizure orders, and final judgments against several defendants.
- Coordinated several worldwide trademark clearance projects in the alternative energy fields.
- Secured federal trademark protection in connection with iconic athletic footwear.
- Coordinated foreign trademark litigation directed to counterfeit cargo goods.
- Assisted a not-for-profit client in developing and licensing a groundbreaking online course for Chicago public school students.
Speeches & Presentations
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"Protecting Your Brand: Advertising Challenges, Trademark Strategies for E-Commerce, and Cyber Blind Spots," Crowell & Moring, Webinar.
(November 4, 2021).
Speakers: Lauren B. Aronson, Emily Kappers, Alexander Urbelis, and Howard Michael.
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"2021 Year of the Knockoff - Apparel & Footwear Roundtable," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(October 26, 2021).
Speakers: Preetha Chakrabarti, Joshua Pond, and Howard Michael.
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“Boardroom: Trademark Challenges and Opportunities in the Pharmaceutical Industry,” WTR Connect
(October 13, 2020).
Speakers: Virginia Marino, Howard Michael.
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“Patent Promenade: Intellectual Property Roundtable,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Chicago Chapter, Chicago, IL
(November 19, 2019).
Speaker: Howard Michael.
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“Trademark Policing and Enforcement ” Association of Corporate Counsel, Chicago Chapter, Chicago, IL
(September 5, 2019).
Speaker: Howard Michael.
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“Trademarks & Social Media: Ambush Marketing and Other Current Promotional Trends,”
(October 3, 2018).
Speaker: Howard Michael.
Publications
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"Third Circuit Adopts Nominative Fair Use Defense," The National Law Journal
(January 23, 2006).
Authors: David S. Fleming and Howard Michael
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"Unprecedented ‘Meta’ Domain Name Registrations,"
(November 2, 2021).
Contacts: Howard Michael, Alexander Urbelis
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"Allen v. Cooper: Supreme Court Holds States Immune from Copyright Suit,"
IP Insights
(April 2, 2020).
Contact: Howard Michael
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"Iancu v. Brunetti: Supreme Court Strikes Down "Scandalous Marks" Ban,"
IP Insights
(July 8, 2019).
Contact: Howard Michael
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"Iancu v. Brunetti: Supreme Court Grants Cert to "Scandalous Marks" Case,"
IP Insights
(January 10, 2019).
Contact: Howard Michael
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"Cutting the Dead Wood: The USPTO's Post-Registration Trademark Use Audit Program,"
IP Insights
(November 16, 2018).
Contacts: Howard Michael, Emily Kappers
Press Coverage
Firm News & Announcements