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Overview

Calfee’s Intellectual Property litigators work with clients to protect their investments in ideas. Serving a broad spectrum of public and privately held companies, our attorneys represent plaintiffs and defendants with respect to patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade dress, product configuration, unfair competition, and licensing claims.

Our intellectual property attorneys focus on all major scientific disciplines including mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering; chemistry; biotechnology; computer hardware, software, and circuit design; semiconductors; and architecture.

The litigators in our Intellectual Property group have gained extensive and valuable intellectual property litigation experience dating back to the 1980s when the group was formed. At any time, Calfee has 20+ attorneys devoting all or a substantial amount of their time to intellectual property litigation. Calfee’s IP litigators also are supported by and can draw upon the sophisticated case management technology and personnel of Calfee’s extensive general litigation practice if needed.

Our Intellectual Property litigators have represented clients in matters before the USPTO, federal and state courts in many of the 50 states, as well as matters involving the U.S. Customs Office, International Trade Commission, and Federal Trade Commission. Our intellectual property litigation lawyers have briefed and argued cases to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and other appellate courts. Many of these matters were for clients whose patent or trademark portfolio also is maintained by Calfee. 

Additionally, understanding that intellectual property litigation can be very expensive, the litigators in our Intellectual Property group advise our clients as to the full range of alternatives for resolving intellectual property disputes including licensing, cross-licensing or joint venture negotiations, specialized proceedings in the USPTO called “IPRs,” alternative dispute resolution proceedings, and litigation in federal and state courts.

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 (2023) and in Litigation: General Commercial in Band 3 in Ohio (2023).

Clients provided the following 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. Calfee offers excellent value for its services. The team is dedicated and provides sophisticated IP legal services at an attractive cost. Calfee's IP attorneys are highly regarded; they are true experts, and they do excellent work for their clients. This is a power bench; the team works well together and supports each other well. Each individual is responsive and knowledgeable in their expertise and experience. This is definitely one of my favorite firms to work with."

Chambers USA researchers found Calfee's IP team to be held in "very high regard by fellow practitioners who note Calfee's extensive experience representing clients in wider patent and trademark matters, IP litigation matters, appellate work, and advising companies on managing IP assets in China."

Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings

Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2024 "Best Law Firms" rankings in the following areas:

  • Copyright Law (Regional Tier 2 Cleveland)
  • Litigation – Intellectual Property (National Tier 3, Regional Tier 1 Cleveland)
  • Patent Law (Regional Tier 1 Cleveland)

Benchmark Litigation Rankings

Calfee was selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation 2024 as a Highly Recommended Law Firm in Dispute Resolution in Ohio. Additionally, 14 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

Experience

Experience

Our attorneys have prosecuted and defended litigation involving, for example, the following subjects:

  • Agrigenetics
  • Alternative fuels
  • Automotive assemblies
  • Batteries
  • Business methods/websites
  • Chemical compositions
  • Computer software
  • Consumer products
  • Firearms
  • Homecare health aids
  • Locks and security devices
  • Medical devices
  • Mobile communications
  • MPEG video codes
  • Optical analyzers
  • Paint removal products
  • Personal computers and printers
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Plumbing fixtures
  • Polymers
  • Polymer circuit protection devices
  • Semiconductors
  • Tires
  • Welders
  • Wheelchairs
  • Wireless communications devices and applications

Representative Matters

  • Handling IP matters for a publicly traded, Fortune 1000, global manufacturer, including drafting and prosecuting dozens of patent applications directed to technology of strategic importance to the client. Calfee also represents the company in significant IP litigation matters when they occur. Calfee routinely manages and assists with matters related to patent prosecution and IP strategy, management and strategy of patent and trademark portfolios, and advice on IP strategy and litigation. Calfee also is handling "take-down" disputes related to infringers of the client's patents on the Amazon.com website.
  • Serving as primary IP counsel for a publicly traded manufacturer and its operating companies with responsibility for more than 125 active patent and trademark matters for this client. With regard to clearance, we provide right-to-use and non-infringement analyses and opinions. With regard to procurement, we provide patentability and registrability analyses and opinions. Calfee also prepares, files, and prosecutes patent and trademark applications, and we represent the company in IP-related disputes.
  • Representing a publicly traded, Fortune Global 500 company on certain sensitive and highly confidential IP and litigation matters important to the client’s business. Calfee also counsels the client on software and IT-related agreements.
  • Managing a publicly traded, Fortune 1000 multinational manufacturer's global trademark portfolio, including filing and prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, and disputes. Calfee advises the client in patent preparation and prosecution matters, including strategy and filings. Calfee advises on patent enforcement matters, which are currently in pre-litigation investigation, including developing infringement analysis to stop infringement in markets with high-revenue product lines. Calfee also assists the client with a variety of other intellectual property counseling matters, including patent opinions, IP-related terms in agreements, cross-border enforcement, IP licensing, IP acquisition (particularly in China), and advising on best practices for protecting and harvesting intellectual property.
  • Serving as litigation counsel for a global company serving the healthcare industry, most notably in its recent lawsuits in the Midwest. Calfee IP attorneys have handled significant portions of a multi-million-dollar lawsuit.
  • Representing a publicly traded, Fortune 1000 company and its operating entities spanning several continents in its complex intellectual property litigation and transactional matters. These matters range from complex IP deals (purchases, licensing, government contract issues) to infringement and theft of trade secret disputes, including multiple multi-million-dollar patent enforcement matters, an IP Option and Evaluation agreement to acquire a large IP portfolio and to assume government contracts, and an arbitration/litigation matter to resolve trade secret and contract claims relating to military and civilian systems.
  • Assisting an Asian manufacturing company with its U.S. patent and trademark filings while overseeing its entire global patent and trademark portfolios. Relatedly, Calfee represented the client in two separate International Trade Commission (ITC) investigations. At stake was whether the ITC would block the importation of several of the company’s products. Calfee obtained successful results for the client in both matters. Calfee also successfully defended the company on patent infringement allegations.
  • Serving as global Intellectual Property Lead Counsel for an Asia-based manufacturer, representing the client in district court litigation matters and prosecuting patent applications. The patent work for this client includes patent infringement matters filed in district courts in two states and the Federal Circuit as well as in six inter partes reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. These actions are being heard in a variety of forums in four countries.

Services

Services

  • Patent, trademark and copyright infringement
  • Patent interferences, reexamination and reissue proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings
  • Trade secret misappropriation
  • Unfair competition violations
  • International Trade Commission proceedings
  • U.S. Customs conflicts
  • Temporary restraining orders, preliminary and permanent injunctions, seize orders

Client Feedback

Client Feedback

  • "The team is responsive, practical, and extremely knowledgeable." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2023
  • "The team handles very complex patent work for us and has proven to be very professional and knowledgeable." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2022
  • "They manage situations so they can be handled cost-effectively, they're great at communicating and make strong, practical recommendations, rather than just legal assessments." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2022
  • "Calfee does phenomenal work and has become our go-to firm for IP services." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2022
  • "They have a really good spectrum of talent across sectors and expertise, particularly in the technology space." – Client quote, Chambers USA 2022
  • "We have worked with Calfee's IP team for a number of years and really trust them. The team provides sound legal advice and has the ability to handle tough cases with high exposure." – Calfee client quote, U.S. News – Best Lawyers in “Best Law Firms” report
  • "Calfee, Halter & Griswold has an experienced team of IP Litigation professionals who have delivered excellent results." – Calfee client quote, U.S. News – Best Lawyers in “Best Law Firms” report
  • "Calfee, Halter & Griswold makes IP and patent work easy. They have become an essential part of our IP team." – Calfee client quote, U.S. News – Best Lawyers in “Best Law Firms” report

News & Events

News

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Practice Contact

"Calfee's IP group is esteemed for its handling of IP litigation and portfolio management on behalf of large clients in Ohio, the Midwest, and across the USA. They are highly experienced in the engineering, chemical, and biological sectors, with notable abilities in handling matters for consumer products and manufacturing clients."

Researcher comment, Chambers USA

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