Law Practice
I am Ron Coleman, the head of the intellectual property practice at Goetz Fitzpatrick LLP, a law firm with offices in New York and New Jersey which represents clients from around the country and around the world. I am not the only trademark lawyer and copyright lawyer here; a number of my colleagues as well as our support staff have substantial and expert experience in this area.
I was admitted to practice in 1989 after graduating from Northwestern University School of Law, which I attended after receiving a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in economics from Princeton University. An alumnus of several major law firms, I have broad experience in copyright and trademark law, as well commercial litigation and Internet-related law. I also provide my clients with general business representation and counseling.
Go to Avvo.com for a very comprehensive description of my credentials and experience. You can also see a representative sample of my written work, and even some trial transcipts, at the JD Supra website.
Below is an extended description of the services we offer. At the bottom is my contact information in case you want to know more or would like to discuss retaining my firm’s services.
Intellectual Property, Technology and Entertainment
Intellectual property and technology are the currencies of the Information Age, and the IP & Technology Team of Goetz Fitzpatrick LLP stands ready to help your company protect and increase the value of those assets. Our team understands where and how technology intersects with law, and we command a broad understanding of intellectual property and the technologies to which its concepts apply. Our view of the legal treatment of intellectual property is balanced and integrated, keeping in mind that rapidly developing technologies occur amid legal systems steeped in traditions and principles that are often slow to change. Our goal is to help our clients prosper in this exciting and promising field by paving their way with timely, resourceful and critical legal advice and service.
Areas of Intellectual Property Practice
- Contract Negotiation, Development and Litigation: Our attorneys have the experience to review and advise you on any negotiable instruments including all types of contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding and letters of intent related to intellectual property and technology. We can help you develop contractual agreements that protect you and your business. If you find your business in conflict, our contract litigation attorneys are experienced in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and civil procedures, including pre-litigation analysis and investigation.
- Commercial Litigation: Our attorneys have knowledge and experience in trade secret theft, confidentiality violations, IP counterfeiting, non-compete agreements, antitrust litigation and investigation, and other areas. We represent clients in trademark and unfair competition litigation, copyright litigation, trade secret protection and litigation matters involving Federal and International Trade Commission issues.
- Computer and Software Protection: We develop and implement strategies for protecting software through development agreements, licensing, patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks and litigation.
- Communications: We advise clients concerning proprietary rights in material published in newspapers, books or magazines, or broadcast by radio, television or satellite.
- Counterfeiting: We work with our clients in developing and executing anti-counterfeiting programs, from investigation through litigation and final judgment, to protect their valuable intellectual property assets from piracy both off- and online.
- Entertainment: Our team members advise on, draft and negotiate contracts for music recording, music and book publishing, and movie and television production packaging deals.
- Internet and Cyberspace: We advise our clients on negotiating over competing claims for domain names, as well asset protection of proprietary rights to materials published on the Inernet. Our lawyers have gained considerable experience in specific Internet use issues, as well as in the intellectual property and commercial issues that relate to transactions and information using this medium. We manage trademark and advertising issues relating to the Internet and represent private interests in areas of public law that deal with the Internet (e.g. the Communications Decency Act). We also handle enforcement and defense matters impacted by the Digital Millennium Copyrights Act, including anti-circumvention issues and safe harbor provisions for online service providers. Clients rely on us for advice and representations in connection with the use of IP on the Internet — authorized and otherwise — blogging, social networking, application of the doctrine of fair use, website compliance and prophylaxis auditing and review (including terms of use, regulatory compliance and jurisdictional analysis) and litigation relating to online businesses.
- Software Technology: We protect companies’ proprietary software and customized programming, and negotiate software-related contracts such as licenses and maintenance agreements. We represent purchasers of deficient software systems in their efforts for relief from manufacturers, and we litigate software system infringement issues. We also prepare and prosecute patent applications covering software and computer technology, including business method and Internet-related inventions.
- International Protection: We offer assistance to our clients in pursuing all forms of intellectual property protection in foreign countries. We coordinate with foreign specialty firms practicing before foreign tribunals and agencies, and we help companies organize and maximize their multinational intellectual property assets.
- Trademarks: We assist in the selection of trademarks, conduct trademark clearance searches, prosecute trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, maintain and monitor our clients’ trademark registrations and litigate trademark infringement and related actions.
- Trade Secrets: Our attorneys identify and evaluate trade secrets, customize programs for effective protection of company trade secrets, license trade secrets, and litigate misappropriation actions.
After you read the disclaimer on the front page of this blog, you may click here to email me if you would like to discuss any aspect of our intellectual property law practice further.