Areas of Practice
- Copyright
- Intellectual Property
- IP Due Diligence
- IP Licensing
- IP Litigation
- Patent
- Patent Counseling, Clearance, & Prosecution
- Patent Litigation
- Patent: Electronics & Software
- Patent: Medical Devices
- Trademark
- Trademark Litigation
Education
- Southwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1991, Dean's List, American Jurisprudence Award for Corporations, Reiss Scholarship for Academic Excellence, University Scholarship for Academic Excellence
- University of California - Los Angeles, B.A., 1986, Chancellor's Scholarship
Bar & Court Admissions
- California
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- US District Courts in California; Central, Northern, & Southern Districts
- US Patent and Trademark Office
Robert L. Kovelman
Partner
2121 Avenue of the StarsSuite 2800
Los Angeles CA 90067
TEL: 310.734.3236
FAX: 310.734.3237
Robert L. Kovelman is a partner in the Century City office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he is a member of the Intellectual Property group. Mr. Kovelman’s practice concentrates on domestic and foreign intellectual property issues, including prosecution, litigation, and transactional issues.
Mr. Kovelman's primary experience is in the Internet, multimedia, and computer technologies, but he has also obtained valuable experience in the electrical, mechanical and biomedical arts. In this regard, Mr. Kovelman counsels clients in all aspects of patent law, trademark law, copyright law, trade secret law, and other technology-related matters.
Mr. Kovelman has substantial experience in drafting and negotiating technology agreements and licenses, and he advises clients as to both offensive and defensive strategies relating to their intellectual property portfolios. In addition, Mr. Kovelman has extensive experience in preparing non-infringement, validity and right to use opinions, and he has been involved with several patent, trademark and trade secret litigations.
Mr. Kovelman also is a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Southern California where he teaches a graduate course in the Department of Engineering entitled Strategic Management of Technology. Moreover, Mr. Kovelman frequently lectures to client groups regarding the fundamentals of intellectual property to explain what is intellectual property, how it is protected, and how it is used to provide a competitive business advantage.
Representative Matters
- Sample Digital v. Pix System, LLC (C.D. Cal. 2011) - Representing Sample Digital in a patent infringement action against Pix System, LLC relating to media content collaboration throughout the production process.
- Monster Cable Products, Inc v. Rockford Corp. (N.D. Cal. 2010) - Represented Rockford Corp. in a trademark and copyright infringement action relating to speaker wire components. Successfully negotiated full resolution early in proceedings.
- IGT v. Bally Technologies (D. Nev. 2008) - Represented Bally Technologies, Inc. as opinion counsel in a major victory with IGT, when the Federal Circuit affirmed a summary judgment ruling that IGT’s “Wheel of Fortune” patents were invalid and not infringed by any Bally slot machine products.
- IGT & Action Gaming vs. Alliance Gaming, Inc. (Fed. Crt. Nev.) - Represented Alliance Gaming, Inc. in a patent infringement litigation relating to methods for playing Poker; including testifying as opinion counsel.
- Transtector Systems, Inc. vs. A.C. Data Corporation (Fed. Crt. Idaho) - Represented A.C. Data Corporation in a patent infringement litigation relating to a power surge suppression technology.
Noteworthy
- Daily Journal's Top 25 Intellectual Property Portfolio Managers and Patent Prosecutors in California, 2011
- Southern California Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2005-2010
- Pacific Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation - Certificate of Merit, 1987
Select News & Events
- Law360 Quotes Robert Kovelman on Patent Reform Bill
- Three Steptoe Partners Named Among Top 25 IP Portfolio Managers in California by Daily Journal
- Robert Kovelman Discusses Significance of Bilski Case Decision With Practical eCommerce
- Law 360 Publishes Robert Kovelman's Reaction to Bilski Case
- Robert Kovelman Discusses Bilski Case and its Threat to Internet Patents
- Bloomberg.com Features Robert Kovelman's Bilski Case Interview
- Panelist, "Patently Offguard: Taking Potential Bankruptcy Ramifications Into Account In Intellectual Property Matters", April 30, 2009, (A Steptoe-Sponsored Event)
- Moderator, “Culture Clash: IP Protection v. Free Access Debate” at State Bar of California IP Section’s Intellectual Property in Entertainment & Media, June 25, 2008
- Panelist: Due Diligence In Mergers and Acquisitions - Maximizing the Odds of Success, sponsored by The Wall Street Transcript., Panel - Intellectual Property Concerns.
- Moderator: Intellectual Property Conference - Maximizing Returns on your Intellectual Property Portfolio, sponsored by The Wall Street Transcript, July 2005., Panel - Identifying The Right IP Strategy For Your Business
Selected Publications
- November 4, 2011
- September 27, 2011, Daily Journal
- September 9, 2011, Daily Journal
- September 1, 2011
- July 14, 2011, Practical Law Company Cross-Border Doing Business in… Handbook
Professional Affiliations
- State Bar of California, Patent Standing Committee
















