Bill Long, a member of Sutherland’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, focuses his litigation practice on handling complex commercial matters involving patents, trade secrets, copyright, and other intellectual property and technology-related disputes. Bill has tried and arbitrated numerous cases involving a wide range of technology and intellectual property issues. A significant amount of his experience includes dealing with disputes regarding computer systems, software, hardware and related technology. He also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical litigation and related chemical matters.
Bill counsels clients on a variety of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret issues, including intellectual property strategy, portfolio management, and licensing issues.
Prior to law school, Bill worked as a design engineer in the fields of process automation, instrumentation and control. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Georgia and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Equifax, Inc. v. Verid, Inc. (N.D. Ga.), representing Equifax in asserting patents directed to Internet/online authentication technology. The matter settled after Markman briefing.
- Depomed, Inc. v. Ivax Pharmaceuticals (N.D. Cal.), representing a major pharmaceutical company (Ivax) in a case relating to polymer controlled release delivery systems. The case settled through mediation on the eve of trial.
- Freebairn v. Finazzle Corporation (N.D. Ga.), winning summary judgment in a copyright action involving television advertising.
- Softcard v. Target & Visa (N.D.Ga.), representing Softcard in asserting its smart card technology patents in a case that settled through mediation.
- CryoLife v. Tenaxis (N.D. Cal.), representing CryoLife, a surgical adhesive manufacturer in a patent related action under 28 U.S.C. § 1492.
- Coleman, Inc. v. Essential Gear (N.D. Ga.), enforcement of patents and trademarks related to camping equipment against a large chain of retail stores and related companies.
- FHS Acquisition Company, LLC. v. EMS Technologies, Inc. (D. Mass.), representing FHS, a manufacturer of computer related equipment in a patent infringement action. We obtained a seven-figure settlement prior to trial.
- Automed Technologies, Inc. v. Knapp Logistik Automation, GmbH (N.D. Ga.), obtained summary judgment for Knapp, a logistics integration company in a patent infringement action involving automated prescription drug filling software and related equipment.
- Palmtop Productions, Inc. v. Lo-Q PLC and Six Flags (N.D. Ga.), in a patent infringement action representing Lo-Q, a developer of software and related wireless technology used by Six Flags amusement parks to eliminate the need for patrons to wait in line.
- ActNow Media, Inc., representation of a consumer goods manufacturer against multiple suits of patent infringement. Settled favorably.
- The Homebingo Network, Inc. v. Cadillac Jack, Inc., (S.D. Ala.), representation of a manufacturer and designer of casino electronic gaming equipment in a patent infringement action. Case settled favorably following related arbitration evidentiary hearing.
- Ser Solutions, Inc. v. Noble Systems Corporation (S.D.N.Y.), representation of Noble, a developer of call center software and related technology in a patent infringement action.
- TTS v. Winko-Matic, et al. (Texas state court) Representing traffic equipment manufacturer in obtaining jury verdict for defendants in 5 week trial involving alleged theft of trade secrets and breach of non-competition covenants.
- Representing DirecTV in hundreds of user piracy cases in the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia.
PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of litigation – intellectual property and litigation – patent (2012)
- Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of intellectual property and patent law (2008–2011)
- Selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers® (2009-2012)
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Member, American Intellectual Property Association
- Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- Member, Intellectual Property, Technology and Trial Practice Sections, State Bar of Georgia
RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Author, “Doctrine of Equivalents: Where We Now Stand,” Intellectual Asset Management (December/January 2007)
- Speaker, “Legal Issues Impacting the Industry,” GPhA/FDA Fall Technical Conference (October 3-5, 2011)
- Speaker, “Legal Cost Prenuptials: Your Money or Theirs,” 22nd Annual North American Entertainment, Sports and Intellectual Property Law Conference (November 4-8, 2010)
- Speaker, "Containing Fees Associated with Employing Outside Counsel in a Period of Economic Instability," 7th Annual Patents and the Financial Services Conference (July 2010)
- Moderator, “Expert Issues in IP Litigations,” 15th Annual Intellectual Property Law Institute (November 2009)
- Speaker, “Intellectual Property Essentials for Engineers: Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Trade Secrets,” Legal Issues for Georgia Professional Engineers Seminar (March 27, 2008)
- Speaker, “Getting the Data for a Defensible Damages Study Through Discovery and 30(b)(6) Depositions,” Calculating and Providing Patent Damages Workshop (October 8, 2004)
- Speaker, “The Mobile Employee,” Leveraging Trade Secrets Workshop (June 30, 2003)
© 2012 Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
