Garner, Melvin

Melvin Garner’s practice includes all phases of patent, trademark and copyright litigation and procurement involving various technologies.  The technologies include laser applications, video circuits, telecommunications (particularly cellular phones), optics (including lenses for photolithographic equipment), sintered materials, office products, medical devices, and computer hardware and software (including gaming systems).

Mr. Garner also counsels a wide variety of clients.  This often involves providing or supervising the preparation and prosecution of patent applications.  He also frequently provides infringement opinions for potential plaintiffs, non-infringement opinions for potential defendants and validity opinions for both litigants and inventors.

Mel has been lead counsel in over 30 litigations.  These litigations have included patent and trade dress infringement.  He has also handled cases involving copyright in computer databases and user interfaces. He has appeared as an expert witness in trials throughout the country, and has served as a mediator in a patent litigation.

His approach is to find out the business goal of the client and its present position.  Then he seeks to utilize the client’s assets and available prosecution, litigation and negotiation strategies to help the client reach its business goal.

Mel is the author of Chapter 13, “Intellectual Property Protection of E-Commerce” and Chapter 58, “Trade Secret Causes of Action and Defenses, Including Sample Pleadings,” Intellectual Property Counseling and Litigation, Matthew Bender (2010).  In addition, he is a frequent lecturer at AIPLA and PLI events.

Mel is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He is listed in Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Patent Law Experts, Who’s Who Legal – Patents, and New York Super Lawyers.