J. Daniel Harkins

Patent Litigation

• Lead counsel in obtaining summary judgment dismissing all claims in a legal malpractice, negligence, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty case arising out of the prosecution of a patent, and successfully argued on appeal to the Fifth and Federal Circuits. USPPS, Ltd. v. Avery Dennison Corp., 647 F.3d 274 (5th Cir. 2011) and 676 F.3d 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2012).
• Lead counsel in defending refinery client against allegations of patent infringement relating to a patent directed to particle fluidization in a fluid catalytic cracking unit of the refinery. Case settled very favorably after a successful Markman Hearing. Shell Global Solutions v. RMS Eng’g, 782 F. Supp. 2d 317 (S.D. Tex. 2011).
• Lead counsel in a patent infringement case representing inventor against major electronics manufacturer on patent directed to ergonomically designed wireless headsets.
• Lead counsel for pharmaceutical company in defending patent owner's rights in patent direct to treatment of kidney stones and enjoining introduction of infringing generic drug.
• Lead counsel in defending manufacturer of microwave processing equipment, used to process fly ash from coal burning power plants, in a patent infringement and antitrust lawsuit.
• Defense counsel in various patent infringement litigation brought by non-practicing entities, also referred to as “patent trolls,” including the following:
• Acacia-Paul Ware (N.D. Ga.)
• Blue Spike (E.D. Tx)
• DataTreasury Corp. (E.D. Tx)
• GeoTag, Inc. (E.D. Tx)
• Landmark Technology (E.D. Tx)
• Parts River/Kelora (W.D. Wis. & N.D. Cal.)
• Traffic Information Systems (E.D. Tx)
• Webvention (E.D. Tx)
• Wolf Run (E.D. Tx)

Trademark and Unfair Competition Litigation

• Lead counsel representing national jewelry manufacturer and enforcing trademarks against various infringers throughout the United States, and preventing the importation and distribution of infringing products from China and other foreign countries.
• Lead counsel representing automotive protective film manufacturer enforcing trademarks, obtaining Permanent Injunction and Damages Order against Chinese manufacturers, importers and distributors.
• Lead counsel representing international construction company in an Opposition proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
• Lead counsel of a regional grocery store in connection with a series of Cancellation proceedings against competitor before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
• Lead counsel representing national retail optical company relating to alleged infringement of trademarks on eyeglass frames and accessories.
• Lead counsel representing national professional fundraiser in connection with alleged use of trademarks in Google ad word campaigns.
• Representation of national optical retailer defending against claims of trademark infringement and deceptive advertising resulting from alleged use of trademarks in Google ad word campaigns, and resulting representation of retailer in FTC investigation.
• Lead counsel representing national medical device company in connection with enforcement of trademarks and intellectual property rights against competing medical device distributor.
• Lead counsel representing hospital system enforcing trademarks against infringing institutions using confusingly similar marks.
• Lead counsel representing university enforcing trademarks by obtaining temporary restraining order and permanent injunction against infringing institutions of higher learning and online educational institutions using confusingly similar marks.
• Co-lead counsel representing national performing artists in various trademark infringement matters enforcing trademarks by obtaining temporary restraining and seizure order, enabling US Marshall’s to seize counterfeit merchandise.
• Lead counsel representing national retailer in domain name and trademark infringement lawsuits and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) proceedings, including assertion of claims under the Anti-Cybersquatting Act.

Copyright Litigation

• Lead counsel representing national jewelry manufacturer in numerous copyright infringement matters enforcing copyrights in jewelry designs. In several cases, have obtained temporary restraining and seizure order, enabling U.S. marshalls to seize counterfeit jewelry.
• Co-lead counsel representing the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons against claims of copyright infringement and joint authorship of leading book on training of emergency medical service personnel, obtaining summary judgment dismissing all claims. Clogston v. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 930 F. Supp. 1156 (W.D. Tex 1996).

Trade Secret Litigation

• Lead counsel representing manufacturer of recycling equipment in action for misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of covenants not to compete and tortious interference with contractual relations.

Software Failure Litigation

• Lead counsel representing national retailer against a software developer for breach of contract relating to failure of licensed software.

Franchise and Distributor Litigation

• Lead counsel representing national telecommunications and wireless service provider in various actions by agents alleging breach of agency/distributorship agreements.
• Co-lead counsel representing pneumatic parts manufacturer in action concerning alleged breach of distributorship agreement.

General Commercial Litigation

• Lead counsel representing national retailer in various disputes with regulatory boards.
• Lead counsel representing Mexican mining corporation in breach of contract, tortious interference, fraudulent inducement and breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing relating to a $2.8 million letter of credit and contract on futures market.