Experience

Manufacturing

About

Manufacturing is part of our work in Chemical, Industrial, and Materials.

Protecting innovation and manufacturing change

Manufacturing powers the world’s economy and is a large, diverse, and highly innovative sector. From farm machinery to chemicals to telecommunications and everything in between, manufacturing plays a crucial role in producing goods across all aspects of the economy. Manufacturers constantly develop new products, enhance supply chains, improve inventory control, and face increased competition. To expand market share, increase profitability, and remain competitive, innovations need solid protection and practical enforcement strategies. Finnegan has a long history of working with manufacturers of all sizes. Like our clients, we never stop working.

Understanding the law, science, and technology

Finnegan professionals work on a wide range of projects for manufacturing companies, including Fortune 100 and Global 1000 companies. Our work includes building portfolios to protect innovations that better measure machine workflow; patent mapping and mining alternative energy landscapes; negotiating and drafting worldwide manufacturing licenses; developing comprehensive IP protection for aftermarket parts; analyzing government contracts in the aeronautical field; counseling clients on export controls for computer equipment; and litigating before the U.S. International Trade Commission.

We handle matters for clients in virtually every sector:

Alternative energy technologies
Automobiles
Construction
Electric lighting and wiring
Electrical transmission and distribution
Engine systems
Fabricated metals
Farm and garden machinery
Iron and steel foundries
Lumber and wood products
Metalworking machinery and equipment
Nonferrous foundries
Oil and drilling
Pumps and valves
Robotics
Search, detection, navigation, and guidance systems
Textiles

We help by:

Enforcing IP against infringers and monetizing portfolios
Capturing innovations, drafting applications, and building portfolios
Conducing freedom to operate studies and providing ongoing counseling for new and evolving technologies
Conducting due diligence investigations
Counseling on government contracts and export regulations
Counseling in all areas of IP protection, including trade secrets, design patents, trademarks, copyright, and advertising services

Contacts

Everyone in this industry

Experience

Successfully convinced the Federal Circuit to vacate and remand an adverse PTAB decision, with the Federal Circuit finding the patent owner was not entitled to any presumption that the patented invention (related to bicycle chainring technology) was responsible for the alleged secondary considerations.

18-2024, -2025, Fed. Cir., Judges Prost, Wallach, Hughes

Represented patent owner Caterpillar at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), where Wirtgen America and several related entities were found liable for infringing Caterpillar’s patent. In a final determination, the ITC affirmed Administrative Law Judge Lord’s ruling that Caterpillar’s patent was infringed. The commission issued limited exclusion and cease-and-desist orders barring Wirtgen from importing infringing products for sale in the United States.

337-TA-1088, ITC, Judge Lord

Representing defendant and counterclaim plaintiff Novembal USA in a design litigation involving closures for plastic bottles.

1:19-cv-03944, S.D. Ind., Judge Magnus-Stinson

Represented Tenneco in suit involving various trade secrets, tort, and breach of contract claims relating to damping technology for vehicle shock absorbers.

1:17-cv-05369, N.D. Ill., Judge Kennelly

Representing Nissei ASB in a patent infringement, breach of contract, tortious interference with business relations, and trade secret misappropriation litigation related to blow mold machines used to manufacture containers for consumer product packaging.

4:19-cv-00042, W.D. Mo., Judge Kays

Successfully secured Federal Circuit affirmance of patent owner Engineered Corrosion Solutions’ win in an inter partes review proceeding on its innovative corrosion-prevention technology for fire protection systems. Serving as counsel in an additional Federal Circuit appeal and multiple inter partes reviews.

18-1685, 17-2297, Fed. Cir., Judges Dyk, Hughes, O'Malley
IPR2018-00991, IPR2016-00136, PTAB, Judges Grossman, Plenzler, Saindon

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