Archer’s Intellectual Property Group includes IP Lawyers from the firm’s Business Counseling and Litigation Departments. Members of the Group have experience in a wide range of intellectual property law issues and keep pace with the ongoing development of IP law in the modern era of electronic commerce and the Internet.
Areas of Practice
Patents
Our patent lawyers offer a full array of patent services including the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, including reexamination, reissue and interference cases. These services can include coordinating the filing and prosecution of foreign patent applications. Group members also render opinions regarding patentability, patent infringement and patent validity, perform intellectual property audits, and conduct due diligence investigations.
Trademark Law
Our trademark lawyers offer a full range or services related to trademarks, service marks and Internet domain names. In addition to regularly preparing and prosecuting state and federal trademark and service mark applications (including applications based on actual use, intent-to-use, and foreign applications), they work with a network of firms outside the United States in the handling of foreign trademark and service mark matters, including European Community trademarks. Trademark attorneys also advise clients and render opinions on the availability, use and enforcement of trademarks and service marks.
Copyrights
Our copyright lawyers counsel clients on a variety of copyright matters in such diverse fields as advertising, printed and on-line publications and computer software. They are active in the preparation and filing of copyright registrations, and frequently advise clients on such matters as “work made for hire” issues to ensure that firm clients own the copyrights to works they pay to have created. Group Members are also extensively involved in counseling clients regarding Internet related copyright issues, including those involving framing, linking, and web site development and ownership. Members of the Group also draft company e-mail and Internet usage policies.
Trade Secrets, Know-How and Confidential Information Protection
Intellectual property lawyers provide counsel to clients in ways to protect the confidentiality of their critical business information in the day to day operation of their businesses and in specific transactions, such as hiring employees, contracting with third parties or negotiating the sale of their businesses. Members are commonly involved in drafting and reviewing confidentiality agreements, agreements for the sale of businesses and business assets, employment agreements that contain restrictions on the use and disclosure of trade secrets and confidential information, and covenants against competition.
Licensing and Transfer
As part of the firm’s transactional practice, intellectual property attorneys routinely deal with intellectual property issues (including patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret issues) in the context of both specific intellectual property transactions and larger business transactions. These licensing and transfer lawyers have experience negotiating, drafting and analyzing technology development licensing agreements, security agreements and other transfer agreements. As part of that work, they have specific experience in hardware and software development and licensing agreements, as well as maintenance and support agreements. They also render advice on corporate and tax issues relating to transactions involving intellectual property.
Litigation
Experienced litigators within the Group handle a broad range of intellectual property litigation matters in the state and federal courts and administrative agencies. They handle copyright, patent and trademark infringement cases, as well as U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, including trademark cancellations, oppositions, and appeals. In addition, they frequently litigate trade secret and covenant against competition cases, and Internet domain name disputes including those arising under the Federal Anti-Cybersquatting Act. Finally, Group litigators work with other members of the Group to provide counseling on strategies for preventing litigation.
