Jackson Walker partner Chris Rourk was quoted extensively in an Asia IP article titled “The Imitation Game,” which focused on non-practicing entities (NPEs) and patent lawsuits.
Published in the magazine’s February 2015 edition, the article discusses the increase in patent infringement lawsuits filed by NPEs. The article states that the 2013 NPE Litigation Report showed that the number of lawsuits filed by NPEs increased each year from 2009 through 2013, rising from 640 to 3,608, a 464% increase.
NPEs are more likely to target companies with significant revenues and/or numerous patents, according to the article.
“The number of patents issued in relation to a type of product (such as computers, cell phones, televisions) also has a bearing on the odds of such patents being asserted by an NPE, as large corporations often sell such patents, which can then be asserted against their competitors or other companies in that technology space,” Chris said.
The article also touched on how certain judicial districts have become popular venues for NPE lawsuits.
“I practice in the Eastern District of Texas, which has a large number of patent cases, both involving NPEs and practicing entities,” Chris says. “In the Eastern District of Texas, the number of patent cases grew from 14 filed in 2003 to well over 1,000 in 2014, and it was only within the past 10 years or so that NPE patent litigation has become more of a risk for the average company.”
Chrisย has extensive experience in helping clients protect their intellectual property in diverse technology fields, including the semiconductor, software and telecom fields. He has prepared and filed more than 600 patent applications, has prosecuted in excess of 300 patents to issuance, and manages client domestic and international patent and trademark portfolios. He has also assisted with numerous intellectual property transactional matters, including licensing, mergers and acquisitions, funding transactions, and joint ventures. Chris’ experience includes preparing and responding to cease and desist letters, preparing non-infringement and invalidity opinions, and assisting with patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation in the software, semiconductor and telecom fields. He received his B.S.E.E., cum laude, from the University of Florida, his M.Eng., from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center.
