Woodcock Washburn protects and enforces intellectual property rights in the field of computer science. We represent clients in matters involving a wide-range of computing technologies, including operating systems, database systems, compilers, computer graphics, computer security, cryptography, virtual machines, microprocessor design, storage media, network architecture, web servers, digital rights management, tamper-resistant software and hardware and more.

Many of our attorneys have advanced degrees in computer science and worked as engineers and software developers. Our attorneys have served as in-house counsel for Microsoft, Unisys, and Motorola, and have first-hand experience building portfolios in computer-related intellectual property. Woodcock Washburn lawyers are active in technology-specific groups such as the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Electronics and Computer Law Committee, the International Technology Law Association, the Philadelphia Intellectual Property Law Association (PIPLA) Computer Practice Committee and the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) Open Source Software Committee. The breadth of our experience and the depth of our knowledge allow us to comprehend the nuances of any technology quickly and thoroughly.

Our firm prosecutes patents and develops intellectual property portfolios. Building a useful patent portfolio especially in the rapidly-changing computer area begins with identifying a client's business goals and tailoring a patent strategy to fit those goals. Our lawyers analyze the competition, the emerging computing standards and licensing opportunities. Additionally, many computer-related businesses can use trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets to increase the value of their technology. We advise clients on how to develop these assets to ensure the maximum value from their patent portfolio investment.

Our firm's attorneys also assist clients in licensing transactions to monetize their own intellectual property assets as well as to obtain rights from third parties. We evaluate computer-related products and intellectual property portfolios to help clients enter licensing negotiations with a true understanding of their position. Some of the areas we have worked in are digital rights management, operating systems, compilers and Internet-based services.

Woodcock Washburn also frequently enforces and defends intellectual property rights through litigation. Some recent cases include:

• AT&T, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp. (S.D. N.Y.) representing Microsoft in a patent infringement action involving voice encoder-decoder products.
• Civix-DDI, LLC v. Microsoft Corp. et al. (D. Colo.) representing Microsoft Corp., et al. in a patent infringement case involving Internet-based mapping and location systems and methods.
• IPCO v. Elster Electricity LLC, (N.D. Ga.) representing Elster Electricity in a patent infringement action involving wireless mesh networking.
• Visual Technology Applications, Inc. v. Gemstone Educational Management, LLC. (E.D. Pa.) representing Visual Technology Applications in a patent infringement case involving computer-based vision testing and therapy software.
• Weather Central, Inc. v. WSI Corporation (W.D. Wis.) representing WSI Corp. in a patent infringement action involving a weather forecasting presentation system and method.