IP Overview

Financial Services

Attorneys

Related Practices Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate Litigation International Licensing & Licensing Programs Patent Litigation Patent Prosecution & Applications Portfolio Evaluation and Management PTO: Interferences Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Litigation Trademark & Copyright Litigation Trademarks, Copyright, Prosecution, & Licensing Transactional Counseling

Industries Served Biotechnology Chemical Consumer Products & Services Electronics, Computers & Software Financial Services Internet & e-Commerce Materials Science Mechanical Engineering Medical Devices Nanotechnology Pharmaceutical Semiconductor Processing & Devices Telecommunications Transportation

As the financial services industry has become more reliant on proprietary technologies and highly recognizable brands, its need for intellectual property legal guidance has grown considerably. Leading financial services companies depend on the Intellectual Property Group to ensure that their intellectual property is provided the same security and protection as all of their other institutional assets.

For these clients, we prosecute and enforce advanced business method patents; coordinate worldwide trademark and copyright protection; assist in avoiding the intellectual property rights of others; and defend against claims of infringement of intellectual property rights when such claims arise.

Over the past decade, we have been involved in some of the most significant intellectual property cases to face the financial industry, including eSpeed’s high-profile litigation concerning automated futures trading systems, and the historic College Savings Bank litigation over pre-paid college admission programs, which went before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Our experienced team of attorneys has in-depth knowledge of all intellectual property areas applicable to the financial industry, including innovative financial products, electronic and Internet-based trading systems, Internet payment and fund transfer technologies and proprietary financial modeling. The Intellectual Property Group is also a leader in the creation of innovative portfolio development and licensing programs that allow clients to leverage the value of their intellectual property and protect against infringement worldwide.

Representative Experience

• In eSpeed v. NYMEX, and eSpeed v. Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, our client eSpeed obtained highly favorable claim constructions for its "Wagner" patent. The Wagner patent relates to automated futures trading systems in which transactions are completed by a computer matching bids and offers for futures contracts.
• In CertCo v. PayPal, we represented PayPal Corporation, a California provider of online Internet payment services, in patent infringement action defending against patents covering secure electronic payment services. The matter settled favorably to PayPal.
• In Toy v. Ameritrade Holding Corporation, Datek Online Holdings Corp., E-Trade Group, Inc., and Scottrade Financial Services, we represented Datek. This case, regarding a patent related to computerized financial information distribution and alert notification system, settled before trial.
• In Electronic Trading Systems, Inc. v. Cantor Fitzgerald, LLP, The Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and The New York Mercantile Exchange, we represented Cantor regarding a patent related to an automated commodities futures trading system.

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