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William H. Honaker

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    Overview

    Bill helps businesses protect their brands, inventions and copyrights to build business and avoid being sued. With more than 30 years’ experience, Bill has extensive knowledge in all aspects of patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright matters including litigation in a broad range of industries. He evaluates patents, trademarks, and copyrights along with advising clients on the protection of inventions, trademarks, and copyrightable subject matter. Bill is a highly sought-after IP attorney in part due to his proprietary client communication, and project management system, The Harmony System®.

     

    Bill’s representation includes Fortune 500 clients, small to mid-size privately held companies, and startups. He approaches each client matter from the perspective of the business – whether it’s IP rights, IP infringement, or litigation. Bill listens and asks questions to fully understand what’s critical to his client’s business. Unlike many IP attorneys, Bill understands that just having a patent is not important, that protecting the invention and providing value to the client is the true goal.

     

    Bill has the unique ability to help clients avoid unnecessary litigation. He has represented numerous clients in resolving Intellectual Property litigation in the early stages, and often well before the lawsuit is even filed. Through extensive research of technologies throughout the world, he can typically find proof that the [competitor’s] patent is not valid or substantially limited in scope. He helps clients understand the costs of litigation, both financial and personal, and the many alternatives that are available. In the event litigation is unavoidable, Bill uses a team approach, putting the right person at the right cost doing the right job. With more than 70 IP specialists at various rates, he can provide superior value at extremely reasonable rates.

     

    Bill has developed the Harmony System® to address the typical frustrations that clients have with their IP counsel. The Harmony System® is a three-step process that covers critical ongoing information to keep clients informed and ensure there are no surprises. Bill provides regular presentations and training seminars for his clients and their employees on Intellectual Property issues of importance to their business. He also investigates his clients’ businesses to better understand their business and provide relevant information to them.

     

    His book, The Business Owner’s Guide to Intellectual Property – Turn Your Ideas Into Gold, was recently published by Written In Detroit Publishing Company. It provides an easy-to-understand guide to IP, the importance of IP to every business, and an overview of the Harmony® System. Bill has also co-authored Intellectual Property Deskbook for the Business Lawyer, published by the American Bar Association, and The Entrepreneur’s Guide to The Michigan Medical Marijuana Laws.

     

    Visit IPGuy.com for more information on Bill’s speaking engagements, published works, and updates on the law.

    Experience

    • Secured a Section 337 patent infringement victory before the International Trade Commission, obtaining a General Exclusion Order covering multi-panel folding pickup truck bed cover products imported into the United States.
    • Allmark Doors, Inc.
      • Represented Allmark in a patent infringement and unfair competition action brought by a competitor. The plaintiff dismissed the case with prejudice near the close of discovery.
    • Great Lakes Air
      • Represented Great Lakes Air in patent infringement actions against several parties involving commercial air filters. All matters resulted in settlements favorable to Great Lakes Air.
    • Affinity Tool Inc.
      • Represented Affinity Tool Works, L.L.C. in a patent infringement case involving clamp fixtures in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The case settled after one of the patents at issue was invalidated in reexamination.
    • RPB Safety
      • Represented RPB Safety in litigation against a competitor involving claims of federal trademark infringement, trademark dilution, unfair competition, false designation of origin, Texas statutory and common-law trademark infringement, misappropriation, and unjust enrichment. The case settled favorably for the client.
    • Affinity Tool Works v. Sunzi
      • Represented Affinity Tool Works in a matter involving infringement of several design patents. Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, the infringer agreed to pay damages and stop selling the accused products.
    • Qualitas Manufacturing Inc. v. Pentagon Manufacturing Corporation
      • Represented Pentagon Manufacturing Corporation in a patent infringement lawsuit involving a utility patent. The plaintiff dismissed the lawsuit shortly after evidence was located through an international search.
    • Osmundson v. Wearparts
      • Represented the defendant in a lawsuit involving a utility patent. The case settled for a nominal amount before an answer was filed.
    • Extensive experience handling patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright matters, including litigation involving:
      • Surgical and medical apparatus
      • Food processing equipment
      • Welding equipment and processes
      • Metal-cutting tools
      • Marine products
      • Hydrostatic drives
      • Fastener assemblies and manufacturing processes
      • Tool-holding assemblies
      • Gas spring assemblies
      • Farm and garden equipment
      • ABS brake systems
      • Seat assemblies
      • Die assemblies
      • Mold assemblies and controls
      • Computer hardware and software
      • Heating and air-conditioning systems
      • Filter systems
      • Woodworking equipment
      • Cement-cutting equipment

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