Registered Patent Attorneys in Tampa, Florida

United States Registered Patent Attorneys

Smith & Hopen represents clients world-wide in a practice limited exclusively to intellectual property law including patents, trademarks and related litigation. The firm is one of the largest IP practices in the State of Florida and represents clients ranging from independent inventors to Fortune 100 institutions. All attorneys at Smith & Hopen are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Anton Hopen

Board Certified, AV-Rated

Nicholas Pfeifer and Andriy Lytvyn

Ahead of oral arguments at the U.S. Federal Circuit on an IPR appeal.

Andriy Lytvyn

Interviewed by NBC on trademark law

Nilay Choksi

Presenting a lecture on patents to UCF

BioFlorida

Kari McDermott, Robert Varkonyi and Michele Lawson

Michael McGaw

Biotechnology patent attorney, Denver-based

News & Updates

Using Sovereign Immunity of Public Universities to Avoid IPR Proceedings?

Paul Murty, Smith & Hopen, PA ( 9/20/2017) As many patent owners are already aware, issued patents often face challenges to validity, even after examination by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In the past, such challenges were filed exclusively in the federal court system. However, the passage of the America Inv... read full article

Patent Office Denies Staggered IPR Proceedings

Paul Murty, Smith & Hopen, PA ( 9/15/2017) On September 6, 2017, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) issued an opinion denying the institution of subsequent sets of inter partes reviews (IPRs) filed after the denial of an initial set of IPRs. See General Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. V. Canon Kubushiki Kaisha, Case IPR2016-01357 ... read full article

Apple versus Microsoft - Trademarking Retail Store

Nilay Choksi, Smith & Hopen, PA ( 9/7/2017) Recently, Apple was issued a trademark for the design and layout of their popular Apple retail stores, located around the world within malls or as standalone buildings (trademark file). This is generally known as a trade dress, which generally refers to the physical appearance of a product, product... read full article

Applicants Pay the Patent Office’s Attorneys Even When Patent Office Loses Case

Nicholas Pfeifer, Smith & Hopen, PA ( 9/1/2017) Under 35 U.S.C. § 2, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is responsible for granting and issuing patent rights to inventors. Section 101 clarifies that “[w]hoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful i... read full article

Patent Office Admits to Stacking Judges to Manipulate IPR Decisions

Nicholas Pfeifer, Smith & Hopen, PA ( 8/29/2017) The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has admitted, through Solicitors for the USPTO, that in several different instances the Director of the USPTO has intentionally manipulated the composition of the Patent Trademark Trail and Appeal Board (PTAB) during rehearings to reverse a panel’... read full article

President Trump Vows to Protect Intellectual Property

Nicholas Pfeifer, Smith & Hopen, PA ( 8/16/2017) On August 14, 2017, President Trump signed a memorandum addressing a need to protect American citizens and businesses from intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices. Trump acknowledged the fact that U.S. intellectual property holders are repeatedly victims of forced-transfers and in... read full article

More News

Inter Partes Review

February 22, 2017: Smith & Hopen as counsel for Petitioner filed its Reply in a Federal Circuit Appeal against Apple Computer on two decisions by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Petitioner argues that the PTAB found that prior art rendered Petitioner's patent invalid when even opposing counsel conceded a missing limitation was not met. Both sides are currently awaiting the schedule for oral arguments in Washington, D.C. to be set.
August 4, 2016: The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) denied institution of a trial (IPR2016-00539 ) against patent number 7,748,325 for all claims asserted. Smith & Hopen prosecuted the original patent before the USPTO and defended the patent before the PTAB. The same patent was also found valid and infringed by the U.S. Court of Claims which awarded a verdict amounting to approximately $70 million over the life of the patent. This is the largest known patent award in Court of Claims history. The non-institution decision is final and non-appealable.
October 6, 2015: The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) denied institution of a trial (IPR201500569 ) against patent number RE44748 for all claims asserted in a related litigation. Smith & Hopen wrote, prosecuted and defended the patent before the PTAB. The same patent was also found valid and infringed the same month by a jury in Tampa, Florida that awarded a multi-million dollar verdict.
March 4, 2015: The PTAB denied institution of a trial (IPR201401414 ) against patent number RE43904. Smith & Hopen both wrote the subject patent and represented the patent owner before the PTAB, opposing counsel: Kilpatrick Towsend & Stockton LLP.

First Ever CMB Denial

February 18, 2014: Defended US Patent RE43904 against a Covered Business Method Review before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Obtained the first ever non-institution decision in history (CBM2013-00047)

Largest Court of Claims Patent Award

December 19, 2014: the U.S. Court of Federal Claims found that the United States Army infringed on U.S. Pat. 7,748,325 (written by Smith & Hopen) for a Firearms Projectile that replaces lead-based ammunition.
The court initially awarded the patent owner $15,617,533.68 in damages as of April 30, 2013.
With interest, that judgment should be in the $25m range by the end of 2015 and approximately $70,000,000 over the life of the patent (Court's Order).

Representative Clients

Recently Awarded Patents

Patent	Granted	Client	Invention
9,755,354	9/5/2017	Brian M. Aumiller	a cord management device
9,756,413	9/5/2017	University of South Florida	a cabled device storage organizer
9,750,727	9/5/2017	Joint Stock Company "Pharmasyntez"	a tuberculosis drug based on 4-thioureido-iminomethylpyridinium perchlorate: method of preparation and treatment
9,750,753	9/5/2017	University of South Florida	a method of treating diseases associated with LRRK2 mutation using hexachlorophene
9,752,763	9/5/2017	American Lighting, Inc.	a weatherproof light string
9,743,823	8/29/2017	University of South Florida	a minimally invasive networked surgical system and method
9,748,863	8/29/2017	The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.	a system and method for leakage current suppression in a low switching frequency photovoltaic cascaded multilevel inverter
9,744,104	8/29/2017	University of South Florida	a multi-lobed cooled teething device
9,749,904	8/29/2017	Syniverse Communications, Inc.	a circuit switch voice roaming to LTE network
9,744,189	8/29/2017	University of South Florida	a composition of lithium salts and methods of use
9,749,316	8/29/2017	Syniverse Communications, Inc.	a method for data access using a dynamic SIM credential
9,749,086	8/29/2017	University of South Florida	a physical layer security for wireless implantable medical devices

View more patents.

Recently Issued Trademarks

Registration	Granted	Mark	Goods	Registrant
5,290,219	9/19/2017	SEMINOLE 100	providing recognition and incentives by the way of awards to demonstrate excellence in the field of business	Florida State University.
5,286,228	9/12/2017	WE GET YOU TO THE SOLD SIGN SOONER	real estate sales management	McBride Kelly & Associates, LLC.
5,287,405	9/12/2017	IT'S GAIN DAY	compression garment for athletic or other non-medical use, namely, compression socks, stockings, leggings, jerseys, vests, trousers, shorts, and sleeves, each of the foregoing having removable thermal elements that are sold as a component with the garments	Snapbac, LLC.
5,287,460	9/12/2017	BASIC ELEMENTS NUTRITION	nutritional supplements	IQ Formulations, LLC.
5,267,606	8/15/2017	Butterfly Silhouette	counseling in the field of developing, strengthening and sustaining well-balanced families and family relationships; foster care; providing emotional counseling and emotional support services for troubled and at-risk youth and their families	The Children's Home, Inc..
5,265,425	8/15/2017	WEST FLORIDA FLAMES	sports training services in the field of soccer	West Florida Premier Soccer Club, Inc..
5,256,841	8/1/2017	FARM STAR	fresh fruit and vegetables	Naiz Trading House, LLC.
5,245,371	7/18/2017	Stylized Letter S	healthcare	The Pelvic Floor Institute, LLC.
5,244,854	7/18/2017	Shield Design	charitable services, namely, training service dogs for veterans	K9 Partners for Patriots, Inc..
5,244,852	7/18/2017	Ring Design	charitable services, namely, training service dogs for veterans	K9 Partners for Patriots, Inc..
5,244,851	7/18/2017	K-9 PARTNERS FOR PATRIOTS	charitable services, namely, training service dogs for veterans	K9 Partners for Patriots, Inc..
5,246,072	7/18/2017	EZ-DERM	nutritional supplements for pets; nutritional supplements in the nature of nutritionally fortified soft chews for pets	Stratford Pharmaceuticals, LLC.
5,242,114	7/11/2017	SIMPLY JULIE CAJUN GIRL	seasonings and spices	Simply Julie, LLC.

More trademarks issued through Smith & Hopen