SOUTHFIELD, Mich., – Brooks Kushman Shareholder Christopher Smith was recently re-appointed as the Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property Owner Association (IPO) IP Licensing Committee for the second year in a row. In this role, he will continue to help lead the efforts of the committee, which includes approximately 50 members from across the country, focusing on intellectual property licensing and related matters and issues. The committee provides members the opportunity for discussion, review and analysis of topics or issues associated with patent, technology/trade secret, software/copyright and trademark licensing; cross and joint licensing; licensing for income or other business value; industry and market trends; best practices; agreements and agreement provisions; impact or relevance of bankruptcy, anti-trust, standards, and compulsory licensing. Smith was appointed as Vice Chair by the IPO board, and the committee also works with other IPO committees on issue pertaining to standards, anti-trust, and other areas of mutual interest.
As Vice Chair, Smith will help prepare and promote programming offered by the committee. During his last term, he presented on case law related to licensing terms and facilitated the committee meetings, as he will do again this year. Smith has been a member of the IP Licensing Committee for 4 years and has also held the role of Secretary in the committee.
Smith concentrates his practice on intellectual property litigation, with a primary emphasis on patent litigation. In addition to litigation, Smith is involved with the preparation of invalidity and infringement opinions and licensing disputes. He is experienced in a wide range of technologies including: (1) automotive, including infotainment; (2) medical devices; (3) internet, including content deliver networks; and (4) telecommunications, including fiber optics.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan and a law degree from UCLA.
The IPO is a trade association for owners of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. IPO is the only association in the U.S. that serves all intellectual property owners in all industries and all fields of technology. Established in 1972, the organization is composed of about 200 companies and more than 12,000 individuals.
About Brooks Kushman P.C.
Brooks Kushman P.C. is a leading intellectual property (IP) and technology law firm, and represents clients nationally and internationally with respect to protection, enforcement and monetization of IP, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. The firm has more than 90 intellectual property professionals specializing in various technical disciplines, and has a reputation for providing leading IP counseling with a focus on the business objectives of their clients.
Brooks Kushman counts a number of Fortune 100 companies across a variety of industries among its clients. The firm is also recognized by leading legal publications and rankings, including Corporate Counsel magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Law360, Intellectual Asset Management, Managing Intellectual Property, and Intellectual Property Today. For more information, please visit www.BrooksKushman.com.
