Intellectual Property Litigation
Stites & Harbison’s IPT Group has extensive experience litigating intellectual property matters before federal and state courts throughout the nation. This experience also extends to all levels of appeals, including the United States Supreme Court. Our firm's litigators aggressively protect the intellectual property assets of our clients, and defend those who have been wrongfully accused of infringing others’ intellectual property rights. The firm has handled a number of significant and well-known intellectual property disputes and has served as lead counsel in intellectual property litigation in more than 30 states. Below are examples of the firm's experience:
Patent Infringement Litigation
- Representing a manufacturer of coolant compounds in a patent infringement litigation against a competitor that resulted in a $40 million royalty payment to our client by the defendant
- Representing a patent holder in the lighting industry in a patent infringement trial that resulted in a multi-million-dollar jury verdict
- Defending a developer of financial software and systems in a patent infringement trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which resulted in a judgment as a matter of law in favor of our client
- Defending a toner cartridge manufacturer in an action brought by one of the world's largest printer manufacturers
- Defending a supplier of accelerometers in suit brought by patent holding company against several large automotive manufacturers
- Defending a national manufacturer of athletic pads in an infringement action brought by a competitor. Litigation was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and eventually resulted in an award of attorneys' fees to our client.
- Representing a manufacturer of nacho cheese dispensers in multiple actions against infringers of its patents
- Defending a manufacturer of cable reels in an infringement action brought by a competitor
Trademark Infringement/Unfair Competition Litigation
- Defending a local automobile service company against a national oil company's claim of infringement of the INSTANT OIL CHANGE mark
- Defending a financial company offering variable annuities under the MARQUEE mark that was accused of infringing a bank's MARQUIS mark used for mutual funds
- Defending a new pizza franchisor accused by a major national franchisor of trade dress infringement
- Representing a cabinet retailer who owned the SCHEIRICH mark in an infringement action against a homebuilder and its related cabinet company using the SCHIERICH mark with kitchen cabinets
- Defending a local, family-owned auto parts business using the ADVANCE AUTO mark in an action brought by a major regional chain using the same mark
Copyright Infringement Litigation
- Representing Microsoft Corporation in several infringement actions against companies who have loaded pirated software onto computers for resale, and against resellers distributing counterfeit software
- Representing a marketing company in several infringement actions throughout the nation against car dealerships and billboard advertisers who misappropriated a distinctive advertising campaign
- Defending a credit information agency accused of infringement by a former software provider
- Representing a dissolved partnership that created and marketed electronic data interface software
- Representing an architect who was dismissed from a project and whose plans were then misappropriated in creating the final plan for the project
- Representing an electronics training company whose advertising materials were copied by a competitor
- Representing a doctor whose scholarly work was infringed in the creation of a monograph for distribution to surgeons
The Evolution of "Hybrid": Post-COVID Collaborative Working
Stephen Weyer takes a look at what the word "hybrid" means in today's world in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
What 70% of Americans Don’t Understand About Intellectual Property
Mandy Decker takes a look at the different types of intellectual property in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) 2023 Manufacturers Summit
Knicely Conference Center, 2355 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101
IP attorney Mandy Decker will be a speaker at this year's 2023 KAM Manufacturers Summit in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Nov. 1-3, 2023.
Managing IP Honors James Hayne and Nick Stewart on 2023 "Rising Stars" List
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Managing Intellectual Property (Managing IP) magazine has named Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys James Hayne and Nick Stewart to its 2023 “Rising Stars” list.
The Supreme Court Helps Copyright Owners by Limiting Fair Use in Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith
In May, the Supreme Court issued a narrow decision on the issue of fair use in copyright infringement cases. The case, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith, strengthened the position of potential plaintiffs – a little.
Beat the Heat with These Five Patented Ideas
Patent attorney James Hayne take a look at five patents to help beat the heat!
Managing IP Honors Stites & Harbison Attorneys on "IP Stars" 2023 list
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Managing Intellectual Property (Managing IP) magazine has named nine Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys to the 2023 “IP Stars” list. Managing IP recognizes the most highly regarded intellectual property attorneys in the U.S.
Supreme Court “Chews” VIP Products LLC’s Position, Unanimously Siding with Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc.
Intellectual Property attorneys Alex MacKay and Mari-Elise Paul take a look at the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC case in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Identifying Inventors is a Critical Step in Pursuing Patent Protection
Patent attorney David Nagle takes a look at patent protection for inventors in this Stites & Harbison client alert.
The Enablement Challenge for Genus Claims Under U.S. Patent Law: How Much Disclosure Is Enough After Amgen v. Sanofi?
Patent attorney Nick Stewart takes a look at the enablement challenge for genus claims under U.S. Patent Law in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Trademark Law Developments in the Metaverse
The Metaverse (or “Web 3.0”) provides varying levels of access to three-dimensional environments for various decentralized activities such as gaming, commerce, social media, dissemination of authenticated digital assets such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency, and others. Participants can engage in any number of virtual reality activities and transactions with others at any conceivable virtual location, whether based in reality or in fantasy. Not surprisingly, trademark law has now reached the Metaverse.
Stites & Harbison Named to 2023 Top 10 Patent Firms in North America - South List
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —The Patent Lawyer Magazine has named Stites & Harbison, PLLC to the 2023 Top 10 Patent Firms and IP Practices in North America – South list. This is the firm’s second year being honored.
IP vs. PR: Lessons From the Dungeons and Dragons Open Game License Controversy
Wizards of the Coast, LLC (“WOTC” or “Wizards”) and its parent company Hasbro, Inc. (“Hasbro”) recently found themselves facing unexpected backlash from their attempt to modify an existing license agreement which they had in place with content creators, the Open Game License (OGL), which allowed those creators to use game mechanics and other elements from the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) table-top role playing game. IP attorney TJ Mihill takes a look at what's going on.
56th Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA) Annual Meeting
The Breakers, One South County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480
Don't miss the 56th GDLA Annual Meeting at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida from June 15-18. Earn CLE hours* and network with your friends and colleagues at various social events. Atlanta office attorney Jennifer Guerra will be a speaker at the event.
Scot Duvall Joins Stites & Harbison’s Louisville Office
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC welcomes attorney Scot A. Duvall to the firm’s Louisville, Ky., office. He joins the firm as a Member (Partner) in the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group.
Stites & Harbison Promotes Seven Attorneys
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC announced today that seven attorneys have been promoted: five to Member (Partner) and two to Counsel. The promotions are effective January 2023.