Intellectual Property

We represent clients in high-stakes trade secret matters in state and federal court, as well as in arbitration. Our attorneys have litigated competitor-on-competitor cases for clients in industries ranging from two-way radios to CAD software; helped secure a nearly $1 billion verdict after a three-month jury trial; and obtained one of the first injunctions under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act.

We also provide strategic advice to help clients protect their human capital, business relationships, confidential information, and trade secrets. Our team works closely with the firm’s Employment Group to navigate complex employee mobility disputes; draft confidentiality agreements and other employment policies aimed at securing confidential information; and investigate possible trade secret theft.

Our team has extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent disputes and has represented clients against competitors and NPEs in federal district courts (including in California, Texas, and Delaware) as well as before the US Patent Trial & Appeals Board, the International Trade Commission, and the Federal Circuit. Attorneys now at Coblentz have represented many of the world’s leading technology companies in their most important matters, including representing a leading smartphone manufacturer in trials that led to four jury verdicts totaling over $1 billion; invalidating patents before the PTAB and at claim construction; and securing favorable settlements early in litigation.

Our clients turn to Coblentz to protect and promote their core brand identity through trademark registration, portfolio management, and enforcement. We serve a wide range of companies—from individuals and small family-owned wineries to international companies with large, complex portfolios—across a broad range of industries, including technology, finance, consumer goods, fashion, food and beverage, wineries, entertainment, education, museums, and others. For our clients in international markets, we work with a network of experienced foreign counsel to facilitate trademark protection and enforcement worldwide.

Our trademark litigation capabilities span offensive and defensive matters before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), including successfully trying opposition and cancellation proceedings to final decisions on the merits; trademark infringement, counterfeit, gray market, and unfair competition claims in federal court; and domain name actions against cyber squatters before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).  While we are always prepared to litigate claims through trial, we routinely negotiate favorable resolutions (e.g. coexistence agreements) for clients.

We provide advice on all aspects of copyright protection, including clearances, registration, and enforcement; exploitation of copyrighted works through licensing and other transactions; and defense of copyright infringement claims. Our team understands the full lifecycle of copyright enforcement and defense as we help client navigate digital rights management, work for hire, and fair use issues.

We work with clients of various sizes across industries—from high tech companies with copyrighted source code to authors and media companies with copyrighted books and broadcasts.  We are particularly renowned for our experience assisting clients with issues arising from music and performing artist copyrights and have litigated copyright issues relating to AI model training and outputs.

Almost every business transaction includes an intellectual property component. And whether it is evaluating the intellectual property in an acquisition transaction, leveraging it in financing, or exploiting it with a license or joint venture arrangement, our attorneys can help maximize and protect the value of the intellectual property involved.

Our attorneys have deep experience in a variety of intellectual property issues related to advertising, including brand selection and clearance issues, rights clearances for use of third-party content, rights of publicity and privacy, licensing agreements for music and other content, disclaimers, sponsorship agreements, talent and celebrity endorsements. We also work with clients on a range of Internet-related advertising issues, including website terms and conditions, privacy policies, claims and disclaimers, contest and sweepstakes rules and requirements, and use of trademarks in sponsored advertising.