Patent Law
Patent Law involves two general areas: patent drafting/prosecution and litigation. Our firm focuses on patent drafting and prosecution; however, we are well tuned to developments that occur through litigation. We take great pride in understanding both the law and technology. Understanding the law enables competent legal representation; understanding technology alleviates the burden on your engineering staff.
Please visit the following links to see representative patents procured by our firm:
#6,141,303 Quadrature signal generator using an adaptive length dual arm correlator for optical storage devices.
#6,115,198 PR4 sampled amplitude read channel for detecting user data and embedded servo data.
#6,111,710 Asynchronous/synchronous gain control for interpolated timing recovery in a sampled amplitude read channel.
#6,108,151Sampled amplitude read channel for reading user data and embedded servo data from a magnetic medium.
#6,098,192 Cost reduced finite field processor for error correction in computer storage devices.
#6,052,815 ECC system for generating a CRC syndrome over randomized data in a computer storage device.
#6,052,248 Parity channel code for enhancing the operation of a remod/demod sequence detector in a d=1 sampled amplitude read channel.
#6,048,090 Error correction and concurrent verification of a product code.
#6,047,395 Error correction processor for correcting a multi-dimensional code by generating an erasure polynomial over one dimension for correcting multiple codewords in another dimension.
#6,032,284 Trellis coding system for disc storage systems.
#6,028,728 Sampled amplitude read/write channel employing a sub-baud rate write clock.
#6,023,386 Fault tolerant sync mark detector for synchronizing a time varying sequence detector in a sampled amplitude read channel.
#6,021,011 Synchronous read channel employing a digital center frequency setting for a variable frequency oscillator in discrete time timing recovery.
#6,009,549 Disk storage system employing error detection and correction of channel coded data, interpolated timing recovery, and retroactive/split-segment symbol synchronization.
#6,005,731 Channel quality circuit employing a test pattern generator in a sampled amplitude read channel for calibration.
#6,005,727 Servo decoder for decoding an error correcting servo code recorded on a disc storage medium.
#5,999,355 Gain and phase constrained adaptive equalizing filter in a sampled amplitude read channel for magnetic recording.
#5,996,105 ECC system employing a data buffer for storing codeword data and a syndrome buffer for storing error syndromes.
#5,991,911 Concurrent generation of ECC error syndromes and CRC validation syndromes in a DVD storage device.
#5,991,107 Sychronous read channel.

Internet Law
The Internet can involve many complicated legal issues. Because the Internet is implemented using computer technology, almost everything associated with the Internet can be patented. For example, Amazon.com was issued a patent covering "One Button Shopping" as well as a patent covering "Affiliate Programs." Patenting an Internet business model has several advantages, particularly the ability to exclude others from a market niche.

Another major development in Internet Law is the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA). This law was enacted to address the growing concern of "cybersquaters" registering domain names that infringe on valid trademarks. The ACPA cannot prevent someone from registering a domain name, including a domain name which infringes on a valid trademark. However, if you own a trademark the ACPA can assist in recovering a domain name registered by a cybersquater.

Trademark Law
Trademark law governs the use of a device (including a word, phrase, symbol, product shape, or logo) by a manufacturer or merchant to identify its goods and to distinguish those goods from those made or sold by another. Service marks, which are used on services rather than goods, are also governed by "Trademark law." In the United States, certain common law trademark rights stem merely from the use of a mark. However, to obtain the greatest protection for a mark, it is almost always advisable to register the mark, either with the federal government, if possible, or with a state government. A mark which is registered with federal government should be marked with the Æ symbol. Unregistered trademarks should be marked with a "tm", while unregistered service marks should be marked with a "sm".

A mark is infringed under U.S. trademark law when another person uses a device (a mark) so as to cause confusion as to the source or sponsorship of the goods or services involved. Multiple parties may use the same mark only where the goods of the parties are not so similar as to cause confusion among consumers. Where a mark is protected only under common law trademark rights, the same marks can be used where there is no geographic overlap in the use of the marks. Federally registered marks have a nation-wide geographic scope, and hence are protected throughout the United States.

We can assist you in procuring federally registered trademarks in your company and product names. In addition, we can assist you in recovering a domain name from an infringing cybersquater under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA).