Intellectual Property Litigation

Patent - Trademark - Trade secrets

We have handled intellectual property, patent, trademark and trade secret dispute litigation and trials for over 25 years, and we are thoroughly familiar with the substantive and procedural issues involved in such litigation. As a result, substantial clients, including Fortune 500 companies, hire us to pursue their positions in intellectual property, patent, trademark and trade secret litigation.

The following are examples of our experience:

• The Firm represented a major corporation in a six week jury trial of claims of trade secret misappropriation and unfair business practices.
• The Firm represented a regional distributor of electronic parts in claims by an international corporation based on alleged "cybersquatting".
• The Firm represented a San Diego-based computer newsletter company in a lawsuit against a national computer information company in a case alleging trademark infringement. The defendant had used the same title for an internet publication as that used by the plaintiff. Although the title was not registered at the time, plaintiff’s claim was based on common law trademark infringement. Defendant argued that the trademark was merely descriptive and not protectable, that it had only secured 12 paid subscriptions, that there was no evidence of confusion and that our client had not been damaged. The Firm secured a $1 million settlement before trial.
• The Firm represented a large retailer accused of selling counterfeit goods. After the Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction was denied, the matter was favorably resolved for the client.
• The Firm represented a regional trucking company in Lanham Act and trade secret litigation with a competitor.
• The Firm represents a major national clothing retailer in a trademark infringement lawsuit.
• The Firm represented a major high-end skin care products company defending Lanham Act and common law trade disparagement claims in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.
• The Firm represented money managers in an unfair competition and misappropriation of trade secrets dispute with another money management company.
• The Firm represented a national defense contractor in a dispute with a former employee and competitor over misappropriation of trade secrets.
• The Firm represented a manufacturer of retaining wall blocks used primarily for large scale construction projects, including retaining walls used to support California's roadways. Our client had spent a significant amount of its resources to engineer and market its product. We successfully pursued trademark infringement cases against the defendants who had purposely used our client's trademark to market and sell inferior products that were manufactured to resemble our client's product. We negotiated a permanent injunction to stop further infringement and a cash settlement.  We also collected liquidated damages and attorneys fees on behalf of our client when the permanent injunction was subsequently violated by the defendants.