Concentration

All areas of intellectual property law, especially patent portfolio development, procurement and litigation

Summary

Chad Walters' practice includes all aspects of intellectual property law, with a particular emphasis on patent litigation, portfolio development and procurement involving a wide variety of applications.

In federal courts in Texas and across the country, Mr. Walters litigates patent disputes relating to a range of technologies, from Internet technologies to complex software and telecommunications applications. He represents both companies seeking to enforce their intellectual property rights and those accused of infringement. Mr. Walters also represents clients in complex disputes involving priority rights in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Mr. Walters helps clients of all sizes identify, develop and protect their intellectual property assets. He has developed patent portfolios in a broad spectrum of technologies, including telecommunications, semiconductors, software, optical networks, oil and gas production, medical equipment, business methods, wireless components and the mechanical arts. He has also prepared and negotiated various licensing and technology transfer agreements for clients seeking to attain value from and leverage their intellectual property portfolio.

Representative Engagements

• Verizon－defense of a patent infringement claim in the Eastern District of Texas related to Internet access technology
• Match.com－defense of a patent infringement claim in the Eastern District of Texas related to personals matching technology; obtained favorable settlement after a claim construction briefing
• Match.com－defense of a patent infringement claim in the Northern District of Illinois related to matching algorithms
• Cisco Systems－defense of various patent assertions, including defenses in multiple lawsuits involving infringement claims against customers related to cable communication technology
• AT&T Mobility –defense of patent infringement claims in the Eastern District of Texas related to wireless location technologies and emergency services
• AT&T Mobility –defense of patent infringement claim in the Northern District of Ohio related to location-based services
• Silicon Graphics –defense of patent infringement claim in the Eastern District of Texas related to computer software security
• Sprint Nextel－defense of a patent infringement claim related to streaming and downloading of media content
• Nero－defense of patent infringement claims in the Eastern District of Texas related to video editing technology; obtained dismissal of all claims by the plaintiff competitor
• eInstruction－assertion of a patent infringement claim against a competitor related to interactive educational systems; obtained favorable settlement, including removal of the product from the market
• eInstruction－defense of a contractual interference claim and assertion of a patent infringement claim in the District of South Carolina against a competitor
• Radio Shack, Toys 'R Us, Linens 'n Things－defenses of patent infringement claims in the Eastern District of Texas related to Web site technology
• Halliburton－representation in a complex dispute regarding ownership of oil and gas drilling technology

Publications, Speeches and Presentations

• "Turning Back the Clock: Federal Circuit Abandons Recent Courtship With Dictionaries," The SciTech Lawyer, Fall 2005