William F. Long

William F. Long’s practice focuses on patent, copyright, trade secret and other intellectual property and technology-related disputes. Bill has tried and arbitrated numerous cases involving a wide range of technology and intellectual property issues. In patent disputes, he has served as lead counsel in matters involving a wide range of intellectual property and technology issues, including, for example, patent and trade secret disputes involving computer software and hardware, pharmaceutical products (including Hatch-Waxman cases), chemicals, medical devices, industrial machines, and consumer products.

Bill also represents clients as lead counsel in complex commercial litigation not involving intellectual property issues, in both federal and state courts.

Additionally, Bill counsels clients on a variety of patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark issues, including intellectual property strategy, portfolio management, and licensing issues.

William's Practice

Representative Matters

• Design Mart vs. Matthews International (M.D. Ga.): Represented a family-owned licensor of designs for gravestones asserting claims of copyright infringement against Fortune 500 company. After lengthy discovery, won summary judgment that defendant infringed 200 of client’s copyrighted designs.  Case settled before trial.  
• Johnson Controls Tech. Co. v. Price Industries (N.D. Ga.): Represented industrial/commercial HVAC equipment and controls manufacturer against competitor’s claims of infringement involving five patents. Case settled following discovery and claim construction ruling.
• Bombardier v. Killick Aerospace Ltd. (Texas and Kansas state courts): Represented a leading aftermarket parts and engine supplier for commercial jets. Claims involved alleged theft of trade secrets asserted by Bombardier, filed in both Texas and Kansas. Entire dispute settled after winning dismissal of Texas case.
• Veritiv Operating Co. v. Berman (N.D. Ga.): Represented executive against claims filed by former employer based on alleged misappropriation of trade secret, breach of confidentiality agreement, computer fraud and abuse act, and related claims. Case settled following discovery and after winning major claims on summary judgment.
• Maxim Integrated Products v. BBVA Compass Bank (W.D. Tex.): Represented bank against claims of patent infringement involving encrypted mobile financial transactions (e.g., money transfer, bill pay, remote deposit), mobile device hardware/software, and supporting server infrastructure. Case resolved favorably after our early summary judgment motion was fully briefed and ready for decision.
• Maxim Integrated Products v. U.S. Bank, Bank of the West, and Comerica Bank (E.D.Tex. and MDL in W.D.Pa): Represented banks against claims of patent infringement involving encrypted mobile financial transactions (e.g., money transfer, bill pay, remote deposit), mobile device hardware/software, and supporting server infrastructure. Cases resolved favorably at the end of fact discovery.
• Global Sessions v. TD Bank and Comerica Bank (W.D. Tex.): Represented banks against claims of patent infringement related to web system management and web sessions. Cases resolved favorably after filing inter partes review petitions and Markman decision construing many terms in our clients’ favor.
• General Protecht Group v. Leviton (D.N.M., N.D.Cal., ITC, and Fed. Cir.): Represented a manufacturer of electric outlet protection devices (GFCIs) in a declaratory judgment action in New Mexico and in related actions before the International Trade Commission (ITC), in district court in California and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Obtained a preliminary injunction requiring patent owner to dismiss patent claims due to a prior settlement between patent owner and our client; the Federal Circuit affirmed, resulting in complete dismissal of all claims with prejudice.
• Pass & Seymour v. General Protecht Group (N.D.N.Y, ITC, and Fed. Cir.): Represented a manufacturer of electric outlet protection devices (GFCIs). We took over as counsel after an administrative law judge (ALJ) at the International Trade Commission (ITC) entered an adverse infringement ruling against our client and obtained full reversal of all findings of patent infringement before the full ITC and Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, resulting in ultimate dismissal of all infringement claims in district court.
• DirecTV cases: Represented DirecTV in hundreds of user copyright piracy cases in the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia.