|
Trademark and copyright properties are some of the most important assets of many companies and often represent major sources of revenue. Mr. Garhart�s practice centers on the processes that maximize the value of these properties,from registering trademarks and copyrights to negotiating licenses. Trademark - In the area of trademarks, Mr. Garhart assists clients in the selection and protection of brands. He advises companies on their overall branding strategies and manages their worldwide trademark portfolios. Mr. Garhart prosecutes trademark applications and represents clients before the US Patent and Trademark Office and the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board. Mr. Garhart manages the trademark portfolios of clients in a wide array of industries: Food and beverage Consumer products Online travel Publishing Software
Similarly, in the copyright arena, Mr. Garhart assists his clients in auditing their inventory of protected works and maximizing the value of such properties by focusing on licensing and protection of the works through registration and enforcement. Mr. Garhart has registered copyrights for computer software, video games, artwork, and books. He has worked with his clients in connection with the licensing of various properties, including music, photography and other visual materials, and written works. Typical projects include:
Creating a copyright registration strategy for a complex collection of software.
Obtaining licenses for use of music in client products and on client Internet sites.
Licensing art and photography for use in written works and Internet sites.
Negotiating publishing agreements on behalf of authors.
Advertising
Additionally, Mr. Garhart reviews his clients� advertising to guide them through the regulatory landscape and limit any liability risks present, including, for example, the specific issues inherent in comparative advertising, advertising to children, claim substantiation, trademark use, rights of publicity and privacy, and copyright concerns. His experience in the area includes working with consumer products, health products, software, toy, and food and beverage companies.
Intellectual Property Litigation
Mr. Garhart also has significant experience with trademark, copyright, patent, and other business litigation. Such experience proves invaluable in giving clients a clear picture of what is involved when they need to enforce their rights or defend against the claims of others.
Professional Activities
Mr. Garhart is a member of the California and New York State Bars and the American Bar Association, and served as Chair of the Intellectual Property Section of the Barristers Club for the San Francisco Bar Association. He is also a member of the International Trademark Association.
Mr. Garhart is a frequent speaker on trademark and copyright issues, and has recently presented on the use of the Internet for trademark disputes at an ABA seminar on trademark litigation in Washington D.C., and on trademark protection and open source licensing issues for nonprofits at Nonprofit Roundtable seminars in San Francisco.
Education
Mr. Garhart graduated, with honors, from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in English Literature in 1993. He graduated, cum laude, from Duke University School of Law in 1996 where he was a Research Editor for the Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law.
| 