Experience

Transportation and Logistics

About

From autonomous cars to unmanned aerial vehicles, transportation and logistics industries are gaining traction at a racing speed. For automakers, aerospace companies, and logistics service providers, keeping up with this global pace means innovating with rapidly advancing technologies. This type of innovation can present complex legal challenges for companies looking to stay ahead of the curve. Finnegan has worked alongside visionaries in these industries for decades, helping them define markets and grow company value while they create breakthroughs in automation, safety, and efficiency.

Understanding the law, science, and technology

Our full-service IP attorneys and professionals possess the right match of legal and technical experience to guide companies looking to innovate in the transportation and logistics sector. Combining scientific backgrounds with decades of IP law experience, Finnegan partners closely with clients to provide comprehensive IP legal guidance. We advise on virtually every intellectual property issue, whether it is related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, or trade secrets. Our practice comprises experienced attorneys and professionals who have an in-depth understanding of the complex legal, technical, regulatory, and business issues faced by industries innovating in the transportation and logistics space.

We help with:

Advising on litigation strategies and other dispute resolution options and deploying experienced trial and appellate teams
Conducting post-grant review proceedings, including inter partes review and covered business method post-grant review proceedings
Conducting invention capture sessions that focus on the client’s business and legal needs
Developing and executing prosecution strategies to create strong intellectual property rights
Analyzing competitors’ intellectual property to avoid infringement and identify gaps and weaknesses
Developing licensing programs
Conducting due diligence investigations for merger and acquisitions
Developing portfolio management strategies to increase portfolio value and minimize unnecessary expenses
Counseling on government contracting and export rules as they relate to intellectual property
Providing trademark prosecution and counseling

Comprehensive legal, technical, and strategic experience protecting innovations

Our Transportation and Logistics practice includes attorneys and professionals with degrees in relevant scientific disciplines such as chemistry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics, as well as attorneys with extensive experience in brand management and protection. Many joined Finnegan after holding positions in industry, at universities, or as examiners with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Everyone in this industry

Industries

Aerospace, Aviation, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

With aviation and space technologies integrated as irreplaceable elements of everyday life, waves of extraordinary developments are expected to continue into the near future. Navigating these developments requires a deep understanding of the many complex technologies that enable the advancements

View Aerospace, Aviation, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) present novel challenges for businesses looking to invest in intellectual property. Protecting those investments and understanding the innovation landscape is where Finnegan comes in.

View Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

Automotive and Smart Mobility Tech

Finnegan has a long history of working with automakers and suppliers in the automotive industry building legal strategies designed to help protect, advocate, and leverage their high-value IP assets.

View Automotive and Smart Mobility Tech

Experience

Obtained complete victory against Carrum on appeal of the District of Delaware’s claim construction to the Federal Circuit following Carrum’s stipulation of non-infringement under the claim construction, thereby exonerating BMW’s ACC system, first sold in 2000, against Carrum’s 2004 patents. Invalidated several asserted claims through post-grant efforts before the U.S. Patent Office, including IPRs and EPRs, and pursued claims through proceedings before the Eastern District of Virginia to vindicate BMW’s patent challenges.

1:18-cv-01645, D. Del., Judge Andrews
21-1435, 24-1480, Fed. Cir., Judges Clevenger, Cunningham, Lourie, Moore, Prost, Taranto
IPR2019-00902, -00903, -00904, -00905, -00927, 00928, PTAB, Judges Browne, Scanlon, Tornquist
90/019,010, CRU

Finnegan assists Archer Aviation, a leading urban air mobility company responsible for designing, developing, manufacturing, and operating electric vertical takeoff and landing aircrafts to carry passengers, with matters related to patent application drafting and global prosecution. We also provide patent counseling services.

Obtained a swift, cost-effective walk-away in the Southern District of Texas by showing that Ad Innovations’ infringement theory accused a feature not present in the U.S.

3:25-cv-00179, S.D. Tex., Judge Brown

Secured a covenant-not-to-sue and zero-dollar walkaway for BMW Group in a declaratory judgment action, concluding Arigna’s high-profile patent enforcement campaign involving current amplification technology. This outcome follows a decisive ITC victory, the dismissal of parallel District Court litigation, and multiple concurrent patent office challenges pending at the time of resolution.

1:23-cv-01190, D.D.C., Judge Contreras
2:21-cv-00173, E.D. Tex.
IPR2021-01531, PTAB, Judges Baer, Fenick, Iftikhar
23-1931, Fed. Cir.
90/019,261, USPTO

Finnegan represented Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. in this patent infringement action brought by VDPP, LLC. VDPP’s complaint asserted a patent directed to a 3D display and glasses system, which it alleged was infringed by Volkswagen’s camera systems. We moved to dismiss on several grounds, including VDPP’s failure to allege compliance with the marking statute, 35 U.S.C. § 287(a). The Court agreed with our arguments and dismissed the case with prejudice. Following dismissal, the Court awarded Volkswagen its attorneys’ fees, finding both VDPP and its counsel jointly and severally liable.

4:23-cv-02961, S.D. Tex., Judge Rosenthal

Represented B/E Aerospace in pursuing infringement claims against Safran and defending multiple post-grant challenges by Safran at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, for design of aircraft monuments. Secured favorable settlement of all claims.

2:19-cv-01480, C.D. Cal., Judge Wu