Practice Areas
Intellectual Property
The Intellectual Property Section of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel represents a growing number of clients doing business in a wide variety of industries. Our practice includes matters of domestic and foreign patent procurement, trademark and copyright registration, trade dress and trade secret protection, licensing, employment/invention, nondisclosure agreements, and related litigation. Our attorneys serve the intellectual property needs of clients locally in Tennessee, nationally and abroad.
Copyrights. Our attorneys counsel clients regarding the protection and use of copyrighted materials in both the United States and abroad. We assist clients with the preparation and filing of copyright registration applications in the United States Copyright Office. We negotiate and prepare copyright licensing agreements on behalf of our clients. In addition, we represent clients in litigation relating to the scope and infringement of copyrights.
Patents. Our patent attorneys counsel clients on all matters relating to the preparation and prosecution of patent applications and patent-related litigation in the United States and abroad. We prepare and prosecute patent applications in the business method, chemical, electrical and mechanical arts. We assist clients in developing strategies for obtaining and protecting valuable intellectual property assets. Among the services provided by our patent attorneys are the following:
- Initial investigation of potential patentability of inventions
- Preparing and prosecuting both national and international patent applications, including provisional, utility, design, and PCT applications
- Client counseling and preparation of opinion letters regarding infringement and validity of patents and patentability of inventions
- Litigation involving patent infringement, validity, licensing, and related matters
- Negotiation and preparation of licensing, nondisclosure, employment/invention, and other related agreements.
Our patent attorneys counsel our U.S. and international clients on matters involving the interplay between foreign and domestic standards for patentability and other issues such as when, where, and how to file a patent application.
Trademarks. Our trademark attorneys counsel clients on the selection and protection of their valuable trademarks, service marks, and trade names. We conduct searches to determine a mark's availability for use and registration and prepare and prosecute applications for registration of trademarks and service marks in the United States and abroad. Our attorneys assist clients with the monitoring and maintenance of their valuable marks and names. We regularly handle cancellation and opposition proceedings before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Our litigators also handle a wide variety of matters ranging from enforcement actions to infringement claims.
Technology Transfer & Licensing. Our intellectual property attorneys structure transactions to allocate the risks and responsibilities for the development, protection, licensing, and distribution of a wide variety of intellectual property. We advise clients on issues such as corporate structure, capital acquisition, and general business matters. During the due diligence process, we assist clients with review of materials, and we prepare the appropriate business documents. We provide assistance and counsel with respect to:
- Data sharing transactions
- Distribution agreements
- Franchise agreements
- Joint marketing agreements
- Patent, trademark and copyright licensing agreements
- Procurement contracts
- Research and development agreements
- Software licensing agreements
- Trade secret agreements
- Web site development and maintenance contracts.
- IP Litigation.
Intellectual Property Litigation. Our attorneys provide litigation services relating to intellectual property matters. As examples, we have tried numerous patent infringement cases and trade secret cases to verdict, successfully resolved copyright claims through motion practice and on appeal, and prevailed in cases argued before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Please visit our IP Information Center for more information on copyright, patent and trademark law.