"The entire team provides outstanding legal services."
Client quote from Chambers USA
Overview
Calfee’s IT Litigation Lawyers: Resolving Complex IT Disputes
Today’s business disputes frequently involve, directly or indirectly, computer software and information technology. These disputes routinely turn on the performance of computer hardware and/or software, online transactions, traditional proprietary rights (including domain names and trademarks), and emerging rights in data.
Understanding the technology in IT and the environments in which it is developed, deployed, and exploited can be critical to resolving such disputes successfully. Calfee’s experienced litigation, IT, intellectual property, and commercial lawyers assist clients with their IT disputes throughout the mediation, arbitration, or litigation process in state or federal courts.
Our IT Litigation Services
Our seasoned IT litigation team provides robust legal counsel for businesses facing complex technology-related conflicts, resolving disputes over IT performance, protecting valuable intellectual property, and navigating the legal challenges of the digital world.
IT Performance and Contractual Disputes
Hardware failures, software performance problems, and unsatisfactory online services can be disastrous for both customers and providers. We assist clients with disputes regarding all types of IT products and services, including:
- Software and Systems: We handle conflicts related to software development, licensing issues, implementation, maintenance, and support.
- Service Engagements: Our experience covers disputes involving website design and hosting, IT consulting, and large-scale Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system engagements.
- Cloud and SaaS: We manage disagreements arising from Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), cloud subscriptions, and Application Service Provider (ASP) relationships.
Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement for IT Assets
In the fast-paced technology sector, vigorous intellectual property protection is essential. Our dedicated IT litigators bring years of intellectual property experience to disputes involving patent, copyright, and trade secret protection, helping clients achieve cost-effective, business-savvy outcomes.
- Proprietary Rights: We assert and defend our clients' interests in disputes over IT assets, including hardware, software, business methods, microchips, and content.
- Domain Name Disputes: We have a strong track record of achieving favorable results for clients in domain name disputes under both ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA).
Navigating Internet, Cloud, and Data-Related Disputes
As commerce and data processing shift to the cloud, new legal challenges emerge. Our team helps clients resolve and proactively avoid disputes related to online operations.
- Online Business Practices: We provide counsel on issues such as digital linking, online defamation, and compliance with regulations for unsolicited commercial e-mail (spam).
- Data Breach Resolution and Privacy: We guide clients through the complexities of data breach resolution and advise on critical privacy-related conflicts to protect their reputation and legal standing.
Noteworthy
Chambers USA Leading Law Firm Rankings
Since 2004, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Intellectual Property by Chambers USA, most recently in Band 1 in Ohio (2024).
Clients provided feedback to Chambers USA researchers, "Calfee is esteemed for its handling of IP litigation and portfolio management on behalf of large clients in Ohio and the Midwest and across the USA. The IP team is highly experienced in the engineering, chemical, and biological sectors, with notable abilities in handling matters for consumer products and manufacturing clients. The team is responsive, practical, and extremely knowledgeable."
Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings
Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2026 "Best Law Firms" rankings in Information Technology Law (National Tier 3, Regional Tier 1 Cleveland) and numerous Litigation practice areas.
Benchmark Litigation Rankings
Calfee was selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation 2026 as a Highly Recommended Law Firm in Dispute Resolution in Ohio. Additionally, 15 of Calfee's Litigation partners have been ranked by Benchmark Litigation as "Litigation Stars" in the U.S. (National), Midwest, and Ohio and as “40 & Under" and "Future Stars" Honorees.
Professionals
Professionals
Experience
Experience
- Represented a software vendor in the construction sector against patent infringement claims, successfully invalidating a patent in federal district court and prevailing on appeal in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
- Represented a public agency in action against a software vendor in the voting technology arena, resulting in a multi-million-dollar settlement.
- Represented a major software vendor in the real estate management industry in successfully enforcing rights in software against a former licensee.
- Represented a software vendor in the clinical trial industry in cross-disputes over proprietary rights in multiple federal district court actions.
- Represented numerous businesses in connection with software license compliance audits by the Business Software Alliance, Software Information Industry Association, and individual vendors (e.g., Microsoft).
- Representing an artist/creator against a violation of proprietary rights in the content of a major video game.
- Represented a developer of MPEG II video codecs in litigation over proprietary rights with multinational telecommunications enterprises; resolved dispute through settlement agreement (including cross‑licenses).
- Represented a public agency in federal court over the failure of a vendor to meet performance requirements in the development and delivery of a large, integrated data collection, management, and reporting system, involving hardware, software, system design, and integration services.
- Represented a major financial services enterprise in the arbitration of a dispute over performance and proprietary rights in custom software for processing and tracking consumer financial information.
- Assisted a large online service provider with responses to a subpoena seeking information concerning the identity of anonymous posters.
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