Marc E. Hankin - Los Angeles, CA

Marc E. Hankin, Esq. founded Hankin Patent Law, A Professional Corporation, in 2004 to advise clients on protecting their technology and other creative works, through patent prosecution, copyright registration, trademark registration, licensing agreements, and related means. Previously as a Partner at several major law firms, and now continuing in the firm that he leads, Mr. Hankin has long counseled clients in the Home Theater industry, including numerous manufacturers and dealers, and is quite knowledgeable about a wide variety of issues in the audio and video industries.

Marc Hankin is a registered patent attorney who has had extensive involvement in all aspects of licensing and litigation, and he litigates in all areas of intellectual property law, including patent, trademark, and copyright infringements, as well as domain name disputes, thefts of trade secrets, and other forms of unfair competition. He has been the lead lawyer on a wide variety of business litigation and intellectual property disputes for companies ranging in size from start-ups through the top of the Fortune 500, and everything in between.

Mr. Hankin received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 from Boston University; obtained a Master of Science degree in 1987 from Iona College; taught physics and chemistry for three years at public high school before attending The Law School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught Legal Research and Writing before graduating in 1992; after which he spent a year Clerking for then-Chief Judge Brieant of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; since which time he has practiced law full-time.

Marc Hankin is admitted to the State and Federal Bars of California and New Jersey as well as several Federal District and Appellate Courts around the U.S.A. He can be reached, most times of day or night by E-mail on his BlackBerry at: marc@hankinpatentlaw.com.

Marc E. Hankin's Representative Cases:

Successfully represented a major Japanese computer printer manufacturer in prosecuting a patent and trademark infringement action against a maker of knock-off replacement cartridges; obtained a preliminary injunction and more than $1 million in contempt sanctions for violation thereof; put the Defendant into bankruptcy.

Successfully represented the leading manufacturer of electroluminescent phosphors in a patent infringement litigation against the world's largest light bulb manufacturer; convinced the court to throw out the other side's patents on summary judgments of non-infringement while defeating summary judgment for our client's patents (jury awarded our client $50 million dollars at the close of the trial).

Successfully defended a patent infringement claim by one computer mouse manufacturer against another computer mouse manufacturer; won on summary judgment of non-infringement and awarded our attorneys' fees for the defense.

Successfully defended a utility patent infringement case regarding skateboard ramps; negotiated a settlement wherein the plaintiff paid money and attorneys' fees to our client.

Successfully defended a healthcare products manufacturer against claims of patent infringement and trademark infringement; settled the case by exchanging our client's domain name for money.

Successfully defended the manufacturer of a mass-produced pen against claims of patent and trade dress infringement brought by the manufacturer of a super-premium pen manufacturer.

Successfully defended a major watch company against a claim of patent infringement brought by an extremely litigious flashlight company regarding a "gift with purchase" promotion.

Successfully defended several different eyewear manufacturers against claims of utility patent, design patent, trade dress and trademark infringement brought by an extremely litigious high-end sunglass manufacturer.

Successfully defended a patent infringement case brought against our British client by a U.S. company over flame retardant materials; settled by purchasing the patent for less than the costs of procuring it.

Successfully defended the manufacturer of a dietary supplement against charges of patent infringement brought by an extremely aggressive plaintiff; negotiated a settlement and a license agreement very favorable to our client.

Successfully defended a company that makes t-shirts for Disney and Warner Brothers against a charge of patent infringement on a new technique for making silk-screen t-shirt appliques.

Prosecuted a claim of patent infringement involving dental whitening products.

Represented several trading companies accused of infringing utility patents and design patents of a major New York fashion company; negotiated favorable license agreements in settlement.

Negotiated a multi-country license for trademark rights and franchises; termination clauses were so favorable to our client that when the licensee breached, it ended up purchasing our client-licensor.

Negotiated the intellectual property rights on behalf of an artist for a major public work of art, including the rights to manufacture gift shop items for sale in the gift shop of the large private organization that commissioned the work from the artist.

Successfully represented an agency of the United Nations in enforcing its acronym against a commercial entity that attempted to misappropriate the acronym as its commercial trademark.

Represent a nationally-famous motorcycle racer in a trademark and domain name dispute with his former business partner/brother.

Successfully defended a Lanham Act case in which my client was accused of false representation for claiming ownership in a portfolio of patents by a former joint venture partner who misappropriated the portfolio patents for its own account; the settlement entailed assigning the patents in exchange for a stream of royalty payments.

Successfully defended the owner of the most popular Pokemon website from a claim of trademark and domain name infringement.

Successfully prosecuted a trademark and copyright infringement case against a competitor in the coffee industry.

Successfully represented the largest conglomerate in Korea against several infringers throughout the United States over their copyrighted textile patterns.

Defended a Korean company against a charge of trademark and copyright infringement by the largest zipper manufacturer in the world.

Prosecuted and defended numerous copyright and trademark infringement actions concerning designs embodied in jewelry and/or clothing.

Successfully defended the owner of a famous trademark against the gentleman who produced a television series that utilized the trademark, thus causing him to claim rights thereto.

Successfully prosecuted trade dress and trademark infringement action on behalf of the largest manufacturer of soy sauce against several manufacturers and retail outlets here in the United States.

Successfully defended a false advertising case on behalf of a small appliance manufacturer; defeated a temporary restraining order and motion for preliminary injunction; settled for a dismissal with prejudice.

Defended the manufacturer of a home medical product against a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, motion for reconsideration, and appeal of the denial of the preliminary injunction, and had the claims thrown out no summary judgment (plaintiff managed to win on second patent which it purchased during the course of our litigation and about which our client was not aware until the filing of the amended complaint).

Successfully defended the U.S. distributor of a famous "top shelf" Polish vodka against claims of trademark infringement brought here in the United States by a different Polish company.

Successfully prosecuted a claim for domain name infringement and cybersquatting against a Canadian company who used the same name as my client.

Successfully represented the America Automobile Association as Southern California counsel to police its trademark ("AAA") against infringers, including taxi cab companies, etc.

Defended a major supermarket chain accused of infringing the catchphrase of a major hardware chain.

Successfully prosecuted a claim of trademark infringement and domain name cybersquatting against a small entity on behalf of a major California soap manufacturer.