Michael J. Turton concentrates his practice in intellectual property law, with a primary focus on patent litigation and intellectual property strategy and licensing. Fields of technology in which he has experience include computer hardware and software, computer security, telecommunications, computer networking, film and digital projection technologies, financial services item processing, fiber optic networks, Internet search and services, electronic commerce, semiconductor and integrated circuit technology, and electro-mechanical devices.
Mr. Turton has represented companies in patent litigation actions in California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, and the International Trade Commission. Additionally, he regularly assists companies with a variety of intellectual property matters, including pre-suit matters, such as analyzing patents held by competitors, conducting freedom to practice analysis, and providing written opinions.
Before joining the firm, Mr. Turton practiced with a Houston, Texas, intellectual property firm. Mr. Turton has been recognized as a 2012 and 2013 Georgia “Super Lawyer” and 2009 Georgia “Rising Star” in Intellectual Property Law by Super Lawyers magazine. He is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell.*
*CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedure’s standards and policies.
Experience:
- Representing Respondent ARRIS in patent infringement and importation investigation brought by Rovi, related to on-screen programing guide technology, with related actions in S.D. of New York and New York State Court. In re Digital Video Receivers, U.S. ITC Investigation No. 337-TA-1001.
- Represented Respondent ARRIS in a patent infringement and importation investigation brought by Nagravision SA et al., related to digital content and voice command technology. Case settled. In re Certain Digital Television Set-Top Boxes, U.S. ITC Investigation No. 337-TA-1041.
- Represented Comcast in a patent infringement action related to set-top box technology brought by Nagravision SA et al. Case settled. Nagravision SA et al. v. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Case no. 2:16-cv-1362 (EDTX filed December 5, 2016).
- Represented Cox Communications in an inter partes review proceeding involving cable system networking technology. PTAB decision finding claims at issue not patentable was upheld by the Federal Circuit. IPR2015-01796. Also representing Cox in a related patent infringement action brought by C-Cation. C-Cation Technologies, LLC v. Atlantic Broadband Group LLC et al., Case no. 1:15-cv-00295 (D. Del. filed April 7, 2016).
Represented Alfresco Software in a lawsuit involving allegations of patent infringement related to content management systems. The lawsuit involved nine patents from two distinct families of patents, each covering different subject matter. After successfully transferring the case from the Eastern District of Virginia to the Northern District of California, Alfresco invalidated two of the asserted patents at the 12(b)(6) stage under the Supreme Court’s Alice standard for patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101. The remainder of the case was settled shortly thereafter on confidential terms. Open Text SA v. Alfresco Software Ltd., et al., 13-cv-04843 JD (N.D. Cal., filed October 18, 2013). - Represented AT&T in a patent litigation in the District of Delaware. The plaintiff asserted a patent relating to DSL against AT&T and several other defendants. Plaintiff dismissed the case with prejudice after we proved AT&T’s accused products and services did not operate as the plaintiff alleged. Driden v. AT&T, Inc. et al., Civ. No. 12-cv-1469 (D. Del. filed November 14, 2012).
- Representing IMAX Corporation in its patent licensing dispute against Three-Dimensional Media Group, Ltd. Arbitration via the International Centre of Dispute Resolution. Case pending.
- Represented AirWatch LLC in a patent and trade secret litigation relating to mobile device management and security software. Case settled. AirWatch LLC v. Mobile Iron, Inc., Civ. No. 12-cv-03571 (N.D. Ga. filed October 16, 2012).
- Represented CoxCom, Inc. and Cox Communications, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. BT filed a patent infringement action against Cox accusing certain aspects of its telecommunications and television network of infringing eight different patents. The case settled a week before the scheduled trial. (Judge Robinson). British Telecommunications, PLC v. Coxcom Inc., No. 1:10-cv-00658 (D. Del. filed Aug. 5, 2010).
- Represented Cox Communications, Inc. in a patent infringement suit filed by Bear Creek Technologies, Inc. in the Eastern District of Virginia. Obtained successful transfer out of the E.D. of Virginia to the N.D. Georgia. The action was consolidated for pre-trial proceedings with other suits brought by Bear Creek against various other defendants in the District of Delaware, with Judge Sleet presiding over discovery and other pre-trial matters. The plaintiff alleged that providing voice-over-IP technology infringes its patented technology and has brought suit across multiple industries for infringement of this patent. Case was dismissed after reexamination proceeding successfully invalidated the patent. (Judge Sleet). Bear Creek Technologies, Inc. v. Cox Communications, Inc. et al., No. 1:2012cv00565 (D. Del. filed May 4, 2012).
- Represented Manhattan Associates in a patent infringement litigation in the District of Massachusetts. The plaintiff asserted a patent related to supply chain software against Manhattan Associates and several other defendants. Case settled. (Judge Young). Sky Technologies LLC v. Microsoft Corp., et al., No. 1:11-cv-10833 (D. Mass. filed May 11, 2011).
- Represented Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in a patent infringement litigation in the Eastern District of Texas. The plaintiff asserted patents related to secure online transactions against Delta, United, and several other defendants. Case settled. (Judge Gilstrap). Stambler v. Atmos Energy Corp., et al., No. 10-594 (E.D. Tex. filed Dec. 28, 2010).
- Representing Cisco in a patent infringement litigation in the Eastern District of Virginia. The plaintiff asserted 11 patents related to encryption and network hardware technology against Cisco and several other defendants. In connection with defending Cisco, we performed significant analysis on the network hardware at issue. The court stayed the case for all defendants except for IBM, which was successful in getting summary judgment of non-infringement and on appeal. Case is currently proceeding against another defendant, while the remaining defendants are stayed. (Judge Brinkema). TecSec, Inc. v. IBM Corp., et al., No. 1:10-cv-115 (E.D. Va. filed Feb. 5, 2010).
Education:
- Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D. (1995)
- North Carolina State University, B.S., Electrical Engineering (1992)
Admissions:
- Georgia (1999)
- Texas (1995)
Court Admissions:
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (2010)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2001)
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (1999)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (1996)
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (1996)
Cost
Rate : $$$