An effective intellectual property program begins with the acquisition of property rights. The IP Group routinely investigates the patentability of inventions, determines the availability and registrability of trademarks, and prepares and prosecutes patent, trademark, and copyright applications. The close proximity of the firm s Washington and Alexandria offices to the Patent and Trademark Office, and to the Copyright Office, facilitates the handling of these matters. Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Intellectual property rights are of little value unless they are properly enforced. The IP Group aggressively pursues infringers of the intellectual property rights of the firm s clients.
Every effort is made to settle disputes by negotiation to avoid the high cost of litigation.
But when litigation is required, the IP Group s seasoned trial attorneys, working together with the firm s Litigation Group, provide effective resolution of clients litigation matters. The firm s trial attorneys appear regularly in the courts and before administrative tribunals, not only to assert clients intellectual property rights against infringers, but also to defend clients against charges of infringement. The IP Group s trial attorneys have broad experience in all aspects of litigation, including patent interference and protest proceedings, and trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings. The Alexandria office serves as litigation counsel in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, known throughout the country as the Rocket Docket. Cases that would have taken four and one-half years to resolve in other venues are being tried or settled in eight months.