John M. Williamson

Partner

John Williamson's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, with particular emphasis on patent infringement and trade secret actions in the U.S. district courts. Mr. Williamson has participated in every aspect of district court litigation, including briefing and arguing claim construction and summary judgment motions, taking witness testimony at trial, deposing fact and expert witnesses, managing discovery, and drafting and arguing a variety of motions concerning discovery and evidentiary issues. His cases have spanned a wide range of technical and business subject matter areas, including software, business methods, telecommunications, data communications, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, recreational equipment, and home appliances.

In addition to his litigation experience, Mr. Williamson also engages in client counseling and opinion work related to data communications and Internet business models, including analysis in the evolving areas of digital rights management (DRM), Internet-related copyright and trademark issues, computer fraud and abuse act claims, and state law computer trespass claims.

Highlights

• Law clerk to the Honorable Liam O'Grady, E. D. of Virginia, 2003-2004.
• Adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law (Patent Litigation and Dispute Resolution).

Professional Activities

• District of Columbia Bar (vice-chair and chair of Trade Secrets Committee, Intellectual Property Section, 2000-2006)
• Intellectual Property Owners Association (member, Standards Setting Committee, Antitrust & Competition Law Division)

Select Publications

• "Asserting a Claim for Misappropriation of Negative Know-How," IP Litigator, March/April 2009.
• "Considerations When Seeking Future Lost Profits as a Remedy in a Trade Secret Misappropriation Case," IP Litigator, Jan./Feb. 2009.
• "UTSA Preemption and the Importance of Protecting Confidential Information Through Contract," IP Litigator, Nov./Dec. 2008.
• Coauthor. "Defining the Trade Secret: Establishing that Information is "Not Readily Ascertainable by Proper Means"," IP Litigator, Sept./Oct. 2008.
• Coauthor. "The Independent Development Defense: Practical Implications for a Document Preservation Policy," IP Litigator, July/Aug. 2008.
• "Rights Management in Digital Media Content: A Case for FCC Intervention in the Standardization Process," Journal on Telecommunications and High Technology Law, 2005.
• "Innovation Policy in Telecommunications: Revisiting the Successes of Guglielmo Marconi," Federal Communications Law Journal, March 2005.
• Coauthor. "New Challenges When Using the Employment Contract to Protect Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, and Competitive Advantage," IP Litigator, April 2001.