Intellectual Property & Technology
As a full-service group whose practice spans the globe, Stites & Harbison’s Intellectual Property and Technology (IPT) Group counsels and represents both domestic and international clients across the full range of intellectual property including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and licensing.
All businesses have intrinsic value in the creativity, invention, and innovation that makes them unique. In order to reach full commercial potential, however, an idea, product, or service must be properly protected. What distinguishes Stites & Harbison is our commitment to fully understanding not only our clients’ intellectual property but also their business and the markets in which they compete. This allows us to provide the greatest return on our clients’ intellectual property assets.
Our intellectual property lawyers provide effective and efficient counsel from the creation and registration of intellectual property assets through the management and enforcement of intellectual property rights both in the United States as well as internationally.
Members of the IPT group possess technical experience and hold advanced degrees across a wide variety of fields including engineering, biology and life sciences, chemistry, and computer science. Through our office in Alexandria, VA, our intellectual property attorneys can easily visit the United States Patent & Trademark Office to advocate for our clients in person.
Transactional Services
In addition to securing patents, trademarks, and copyrights at the state, national, or international level, Stites & Harbison’s IPT Group also assists in developing and implementing intellectual property protection plans which are tailored for each client, whether an independent inventor, start-up, well-established business, or university. We work to maximize the value of our clients’ intellectual property through licensing agreements, sponsorship agreements, and other relationships with third parties. We draft and negotiate the appropriate terms related to the intellectual property, whether they are central to or incidental to a larger transaction. When needed, we also issue validity, infringement, and right-to-use opinions regarding our clients’ or a third-party’s intellectual property.
Litigation Services
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. Examples of our IPT group’s work can be found here.
Stites & Harbison have given us timely and insightful advice on a range of litigation/IP matters in the USA in recent years.
I have worked with a number of patent law firms in the past, and ... Stites & Harbison far exceed any other firm in their responsiveness, knowledge of the pharmaceutical / biotechnology field, flexibility and commitment. They work closely with you to make sure the applications are accurate, strong and well presented. In addition, they not only manage the entire process, but provide strategic input and are impeccable in their follow-up. They have a global network, and draw upon resources as required to address the needs of their clients.
Stites & Harbison has displayed an in-depth knowledge of patent law and has been very helpful in navigating us through the process.
Data Security and Privacy Symposium
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
State Bar of Georgia Conference Center, 104 Marietta Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Attorneys Shannon Sprinkle and Matt Gass will be moderating and participating on a panel focused on Litigation Trends in Privacy and Data Protection on April 17, 2024 presented by the Atlanta Bar Association.
Navigating Artificial Intelligence in PR and Communications
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Flash Cube Building, 9300 Shelbyville Road, 2nd Floor Community Room, Louisville, KY
The March PRSA Program entitled "Navigating Artificial Intelligence in PR and Communications," is a panel discussion surrounding the utilization of AI in communications and will feature Stites & Harbison IP attorney, Nick Stewart, who is a Registered Patent Attorney.
2024 WTR 1000 Recognizes Stites & Harbison’s Trademark Practice
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—World Trademark Review (WTR) has recognized Stites & Harbison, PLLC and four attorneys in the 2024 edition of WTR 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals.
Is That Tattoo Infringing? The Complicated Copyright Questions Surrounding Tattoos
Tattoos have been at the core of several copyright cases over the last few years. One of the earliest well-known examples was a suit by Mike Tyson’s tattoo artist over the use of Tyson’s face tattoo design in the movie The Hangover Part II, which settled out of court in 2011. However, several more recently undecided cases have raised issues tied to tattoos and copyright infringement. TJ Mihill takes a look at this issue in the latest Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Stites & Harbison Welcomes Donovan D. Gibbs II to the Louisville Office
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC welcomes attorney Donovan D. Gibbs II to the firm based in the Louisville, Ky., office. He joins the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group.
2024 INTA North America Roundtable; Annual Case Law Review (Nashville, TN)
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
401 Commerce Street, Suite 800, Nashville, TN 37219
IP attorney Alex MacKay will co-host this roundtable in the firm's Nashville office on January 31, 2024.
USPTO Issues Enablement Guidelines Following Amgen v. Sanofi
On January 10, 2024, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released Guidelines for Assessing Enablement in Utility Applications and Patents in View of the Supreme Court Decision in Amgen Inc. et al. v. Sanofi et al. The Guidelines are intended to inform U.S. patent examiners and the public about the process to be followed when assessing whether a claim satisfies the enablement requirement under 35 U.S.C. 112(a), after the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding in Amgen v. Sanofi. IP attorney Patrick Torre takes a look at the guidelines in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers® recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers® list and 14 attorneys to the Rising Stars® list.
Gifts from the USPTO for Prospective Patentees Heading into the New Year
Irrespective of the Naughty and Nice List, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has rolled out a series of programs over the course of 2023 that may serve to make the spirits of the inventors in your lives merrier and brighter heading into the new year. IP attorney Nick Stewart takes a look at those programs in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Monetizing Intellectual Property: The Basics and Benefits of Licensing
Owners of intellectual property (“IP”) rights associated with inventions and creative works have discovered that “licensing” is an effective way to monetize their IP. IP attorney Scot Duval takes a look at the ways to do that in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
The Basics of Trademark Law and the Benefits of Federal Registration
A trademark is any word, phrase, symbol, logo, or design – or any combination – used to identify and distinguish the source of the goods or services of one party from those of others. A trademark may be a word or words (APPLE or POLO), logos or designs (the Nike swoosh or Adidas’ three stripes), phrases (IT’S FINGER LICKIN’ GOOD or I’M LOVIN’ IT), shapes of containers or other trade dress (the BLANTON’S bourbon bottle shape), or even a color (HOME DEPOT orange) or sound (NBC chimes). IP attorney Trevor Graves takes a look at the benefits of registration in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Ten Stites & Harbison Attorneys Honored by 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The 2023 edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers recently honored 10 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys. Seven attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers list and three were named to the Rising Stars list.
Delta State University Inducts Richard Myers into Alumni Hall of Fame
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Delta State University’s Alumni Association recently inducted Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Richard S. Myers, Jr., into the university’s Alumni Hall of Fame.
President Issues Landmark Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence and Directives for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
On October 30, 2023, President Joe Biden issued a landmark executive order (the Order) directed to promoting use and managing risks of artificial intelligence (AI). The order recognizes the vast potential of AI and directs sweeping actions to protect against the risks of AI. Attorney John Teresinski takes at look at the order in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
Kentucky Now Allows Persons Age 70 and Over To Opt Out of Jury Service
In March 2023, Kentucky enacted KRS 29A.080, a new law that allows persons 70 and older to voluntarily opt out of jury service. Attorneys Ashley Ward and Kyle Schroader take a look at that new law in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.
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.
Stites & Harbison Earns 88 Rankings in 2024 Best Law Firms®
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC has been ranked in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms®. The firm’s National Tier 1 rankings include: Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, and Trademark Law.
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.