John C. Thomas III

Director and Shareholder
412-343-9700

John works closely with business owners to understand their concerns about protecting their major intellectual property assets. He has counseled national and international companies, both established and startup companies, on their issues with a broad range of intellectual property law.

Examples of Litigation Cases

Copyright case for architectural work
Trademark Infringement for word marks in music industry
Trade dress, unfair competition, and trademark in fundraising and commercial retail business
Trade secret in bankruptcy case
Trademark Infringement in restaurant industry
Patent Infringement in construction industry

Examples of Patent Applications

Builder’s hardware, commercial drainage equipment, dental surgical devices, power generation air quality, foam products in foam industry, medical imaging, transportation industry, coal and natural gas, drilling equipment, heart surgical devices, grinding tools, physical therapy devices, nanoparticles, novelty consumer goods, lighting devices, mailboxes, windows and ductwork
Filed both design patents and utility patents
Filed appeals to the Patent Board of Appeals
Filed Patent Cooperation Treaties (PCT )Applications
Filed U.S. National 371 Applications from International PCT Applications.
Filed Request for Reexamination

Trademarks

Filed applications of word marks, design marks, symbols, trade dress product configuration and certification marks
Filed Appeal to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Boards
Filed Petition to Cancel
Filed Notice of Opposition

Copyrights

Worked on applications for and/or registered computer programs, websites, advertisements, books, game books, artwork, music, articles of manufacture.

Miscellaneous

Counseled lawyers and clients with all aspects of intellectual property issues including risk analysis, infringement positions, ownership issues, due diligence investigations and agreements.

Drafted the following types of agreements:

Licenses for Intellectual Property
Assignments of Intellectual Property
Covenants Not to Compete
Non-solicitation Agreements
Settlement Agreements
Ownership Agreements
Likeness Release
Video Production Agreements

Admitted: Pennsylvania Supreme Court, United States District Court for The Western District of Pennsylvania, registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Listed: Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Member: Allegheny County Bar Association, American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association

Education:
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.S. Chemistry
Duquesne University School of Law, J.D. cum laude – Duquesne Law Review, Associate Recent Decisions Editor

Practice Areas: Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Litigation and Licensing