Trademarks & Copyrights

Alston & Bird's Trademark and Copyright Group is dedicated to providing worldwide comprehensive client counseling in all areas of trademark, copyright and unfair competition law, ranging from strategic planning and enforcement issues to portfolio management, including assessing the availability and registrability of trademarks and copyrights on a worldwide basis. Our copyright practice is directed to the protection of computer software, multimedia works, fabric designs, furniture designs, literary and architectural works and all other aspects of copyright protection. We also counsel clients regarding international licensing programs, Internet issues, domain name administration and disputes and infringement opinions.

EXPERIENCE

Trademark Prosecution

We manage one of the nation's largest trademark portfolios on behalf of hundreds of clients, with approximately 24,000 active files in 200 jurisdictions. The May 2010 issue of Intellectual Property Today ranked Alston & Bird 22nd (out of 210) on its list of Top Trademark Firms. Our clients are in diverse fields including banking and finance, sports and entertainment, electronics, computer software/hardware, textile, consumer-oriented goods and numerous other manufacturing and service industries. We help protect some of the most famous brands in the world, including AFLAC, ARBY’S, AUTOZONE, HARRAH’S, HILTON, HOMEGOODS, INVESCO, MARSHALLS, NASCAR, TIMBERLAND, T.J. MAXX and WAFFLE HOUSE.

Trademark/Copyright Litigation

Contested trademark and copyright matters are handled by attorneys in the Trademark and Copyright Group to ensure the seamless and comprehensive protection of our clients’ trademark and copyright portfolios. The attorneys handling enforcement matters are seasoned litigation and trial attorneys with substantial experience at all levels of the enforcement and protection of trademark and copyright matters. We have experience in both jury and bench trials in the federal and state courts of at least 45 states and all federal circuits, including jury verdicts in the last five years of $318 million in a trade secrets case and $64 million in a trademark infringement case.

International

Nearly 50 percent of Alston & Bird’s trademark practice relates to international matters. Alston & Bird has over 80 years of experience and professional relationships with intellectual property law firms around the world. Alston & Bird is also a member of Lex Mundi, one of the world’s leading associations of independent law firms, composed of 160 member firms with 360 offices worldwide in over 150 countries and jurisdictions. This enables us to provide clients with detailed and accurate counseling and protection for trademarks, domain names, copyrights and related intellectual property matters in any jurisdiction in the world. Our relationship with many of these foreign firms is reciprocal, which provides us with the assurance of the most immediate and expert attention available.

BRINGING VALUE TO OUR CLIENTS

Alston & Bird has a team of internationally respected and recognized trademark and copyright lawyers who specialize in counseling and strategic planning for a wide range of clients regarding the protection and enforcement of their valuable intellectual property. We pride ourselves on our proactive and customized approach to each client’s needs, which enables Alston & Bird to integrate our services with our clients’ business models and practices.