Since obtaining the basic patent on the videotape recorder and enforcing it industry-wide more than 50 years ago, Fitch Even has been at the forefront of securing and defending patent rights in the electronics industry.
Our Intellectual Property (IP) work with electrical and electronic technologies covers the full spectrum, from fundamental components to complex integrated applications and more:
- advanced defense systems
- automotive and aircraft control systems
- biomedical engineering
- encryption
- inventory control systems
- medical diagnostic and treatment equipment
- point-of-sale systems
- robotic control systems
- satellite communication technology
- switches and integrated circuits
- telecommunications
- wireline/wireless voice and data networks
The Right Technical and Legal Expertise
No matter what the application, we have the electronic technology background to understand the engineering and science behind a product innovation. Our lawyers have worked as engineers at companies involved in automotive and appliance electronics, industrial automation, electrical design and engineering, and similar applications. Our team also has technical backgrounds in chemical, computer, and materials science technologies, giving us the foundation for multidisciplinary IP counsel in electronics applications. As a result, clients have confidence in us to help develop and leverage their electronics innovations in a variety of product applications and to enforce the resulting IP against infringers.
Case Studies
Client: A patent licensing entity
Problem: Our client holds two patents on systems and methods for conducting transactions and managing accounts associated with stored value cards such as gift cards, debit cards, phone cards, and medical savings account cards. It was determined that numerous national providers of stored-value card programs have infringed these patents. Several lawsuits were filed, but the passive litigation strategy pursued was largely ineffective in the face of an ever-expanding scope of infringement.
Solution: Fitch Even took over as lead litigation counsel in several pending lawsuits and filed a new suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against several providers of retail-branded gift cards. In a span of 18 months, we tried three separate cases to jury verdict and conducted one bench trial for the client.
Result: We secured a final judgment of more than $10 million against an NYSE-listed telecom and information technology company, reflecting a jury finding of infringement and award of damages; a jury verdict of $18 million against a provider of general purpose reloadable cards resulting in a $24 million settlement; and a substantial license fee from a leading national health insurance company.
