Cranfill Sumner LLP brings a depth of experience, understanding, and resources to the unique and rapidly changing field of intellectual property. We develop and implement strategies to manage and monetize IP portfolios for future profits and growth. We offer a complete range of intellectual property services.
Patent Prosecution and Litigation
Patent litigation is increasingly prevalent in the United States and usually involves issues that can make or break a company. More companies are willing to assert patents against their competition, and more businesses are being sued for infringement. If you or your business is facing patent infringement litigation, our patent attorneys can counsel you on the advantages and disadvantages of moving forward, how best to respond to protect your rights, and potential alternatives to engaging in a full infringement litigation. If you own patent rights and need to protect or enforce those rights against another party, our attorneys can advise you on the best course of action to achieve your goals.
In addition to litigation, we provide a complete range of patent legal services, including acquisition, maintenance, and licensing of patent rights. Our attorneys have obtained patents in numerous fields of art including chemical, mechanical, sports equipment, medical devices, filtration, materials testing, automotive, pharmaceutical, and recreational equipment. We can counsel our clients on whether obtaining a provisional patent is advantageous in a particular situation, or if applying for a utility patent is the most prudent action. We also obtain design patents for our clients when appropriate.
Trademarks and Copyrights
Your trademark is how potential customers distinguish you from the rest of the competition. Your goodwill and brand recognition is one of your most valuable assets, but it takes effort to protect. We can help you understand the full value of your trademark and copyright assets and how best to use and protect them. Our trademark lawyers are well versed in helping clients determine the strength of trademarks or copyrights; clearing, registering, and monitoring trademarks and copyrights; and policing them through various enforcement strategies.
With first-chair trial experience in trademark litigation, our attorneys can explain the advantages and disadvantages of pursuing trademark litigation in court. We also counsel clients and help to protect their trademarks through objections and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Our attorneys are able to provide guidance on how to best protect your brand when you make the decision to take your business abroad. Working closely with our International Law department, we can assist you in protecting your valuable assets from potential infringers located abroad.
Internet and Domain Names
The internet continues to change the way we do business and experience entertainment, and has become a staple in the lives of virtually every person and entity doing business. From social media to company websites your presence on the internet directly affects your bottom line. Protecting your online presence and brand is more important than ever.
Our attorneys assess and anticipate the online issues related to your business and can help you establish a digital presence, protect your existing space, or make your move to mobile or the cloud. Additionally, our attorneys can help you protect your goods or services from unscrupulous infringers who try to hide using the anonymity of the internet.
Trade Secrets and Unfair Competition
Guarding trade secrets has long been an important part of IP protection, and our lawyers have counseled numerous clients on implementing and maintaining strong trade secret protection programs. We can assist you in protecting the trade secrets that you rely on for the success of your business. Our attorneys are well versed in obtaining preliminary injunctions and other remedies to protect your valuable assets from infringement or theft.
Promotions, Marketing, and Advertising
Safe advertising and marketing practices can generate buzz and give voice to your brand. However, unfair advertising practices can doom product launches or, worse, companies. Our attorneys can help you pinpoint strategies that will protect your company’s reputation and promote your brand strategically.
Additionally, our attorneys can guide you and help protect your business from unfair actions by your competitors or other third-parties that set out to unfairly compete. We are well versed in both pursuing and defending actions under the Lanhan Act and can assist you with issues related to advertising injuries and unfair competition caused by competitors.
Privacy and Right of Publicity
We’ve represented and counseled a broad range of prominent individuals and companies in rights of publicity and privacy matters, including litigating, negotiating, and drafting agreements pertaining to these rights.
Our approach combines the significant experience of our Business Law and Business Disputes and Litigation teams with our intellectual property group to provide effective services in business counseling, business transactions, and strategic planning for a variety of intellectual property fields. We help you understand the interplay between your IP assets and your commercial success. Often times a businesses’ intellectual property is its lifeblood, so protecting those valuable assets is crucial.
If disputes arise, whether you are on the receiving end of an accusation of infringement, or whether you are seeking to shut down an infringer, we deliver swift and knowledgeable response strategies, first-tier litigation, and trial services to our clients.
Contact an Attorney about Intellectual Property
The Intellectual Property Practice Group represents clients in intellectual property matters nationwide from its offices in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Wilmington. Our attorneys also represent clients in international disputes and state matters involving intellectual property in North and South Carolina. Contact us today to see how we can assist you in obtaining and protecting your valuable intellectual property.
