Experience

Internet of Things (IoT)

About

Internet of Things (IoT) is part of our work in AI, Electronics, and Information Technology, and Communications.

Connecting the world

With the prospect of collecting data from every conceivable object on the planet, IoT has revolutionized how people do business. Whether it be in the field of IoT-enabled homes, cars, industrial manufacturing, supply chains, medical electronics, personal devices, or agriculture, IoT is limited only by the designer’s imagination in creating new applications and adding value. It increases profits for existing products by improving their performance and reducing their manufacturing and maintenance costs. It provides additional revenue streams for businesses selling data collected from new IoT devices. And it allows developers to access and analyze information in different ways to create unique services at a level never before seen. These innovations come with intellectual property challenges for both innovators and users.

At its core, IoT is a network of “things,” or physical objects, each embedded with electronics, sensors, and network capability that enable them to report data about themselves to anyone over the Internet. Our attorneys understand how IoT uses new technologies across many different areas—such as sensors, networks, big data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and security—to provide innovative solutions for an ever-growing smart and connected world. Finnegan has helped companies patent, license, and litigate IP in these areas for decades.

Understanding the law, science, and technology

Finnegan fully appreciates the global consumer demands and business environment that our clients face delivering IoT products in the age of connectivity. Our deep bench of professionals includes many with advanced technical degrees—disciplines include computer science, security informatics, electrical and computer engineering, information science and systems, telecommunications, and physics—as well as decades of experience practicing IP law. We have experience with both network devices and Internet technologies, extending from single devices, such as personal consumer electronics, to complex systems spanning across the globe.

We help IoT innovators develop sophisticated, comprehensive, and tailored IP strategies to meet their individual needs by:

Defending clients from infringement claims in U.S. district courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Asserting patents in litigation to protect our clients’ intellectual property
Developing a strong and comprehensive patent portfolio by obtaining patents in the United States and abroad
Challenging and defending patents in administrative proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including reexamination, inter partes review (IPR), and post grant review (PGR) proceedings
Analyzing the competitive landscape in specific markets and advising clients on areas in which they have freedom to develop new products without running afoul of others’ intellectual property
Negotiating license agreements that provide the freedom to get products to market and keep them on the market
Monetizing patent portfolios to generate additional revenue streams
Performing sophisticated damages analyses both within and outside of the context of fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing requirements
Providing trademark, copyright, and advertising services

Everyone in this industry

Experience

Finnegan advises Alibaba on patent drafting and prosecution across a broad spectrum of advanced technologies, including cloud computing, quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), video processing, and blockchain. The firm’s work includes securing patent protection for innovations such as multi-pipeline architectures with special number detection, heterogeneous frequency operation and task scheduling for central processing units (CPUs), and centralized-distributed memory systems for neural network processing.

Finnegan represents BrainCo, a developer of brain-machine interface (BMI) wearables that combine electroencephalography (EEG) signal processing with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to enable users to control electronic devices using brain signals. The firm works with BrainCo to develop and implement its intellectual property strategy, including drafting and prosecuting utility and design patent applications, in support of the company’s efforts to build a robust patent portfolio covering innovations and designs related to BMI technologies used in toys, smart home appliances, and robotic devices.

Representing a multinational technology company in developing its artificial intelligence (AI) and neural processing units (NPUs) portfolio, including preparing new patent applications and prosecuting before the patent office.

Secured an early dismissal for Amdocs, Inc. in a patent suit without any settlement and without the need for motion practice.

2:25-cv-00031, E.D. Tex., Judge Gilstrap

Successfully defended CyberArk Software, Inc. in a patent suit, securing an early dismissal without any monetary payment to PacSec3, LLC and without the need for any motion to dismiss or answer.

4:24-cv-05008, S.D. Tex., Judge Rosenthal

Represented respondent MediaTek in ITC investigation related to wireless local area network (WLAN) technology and the IEEE 802.11 standard, resulting in settlement.

337-TA-1287, ITC, Judge McNamara