Robert L. Kovelman

Partner

• rkovelman@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Century City Office

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

• Intellectual Property Advisory: Effective Timeline for the America Invents Act
  November 4, 2011
• Patent Law Creates a First-to-Disclose System
  September 27, 2011, Daily Journal
• Patent Bill: Only Time Will Tell If Congress Got It Right
  September 9, 2011, Daily Journal
• America Invents Act Revamps US Patent Law
  September 1, 2011
• Doing Business in the United States
  July 14, 2011, Practical Law Company Cross-Border Doing Business in… Handbook

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of California, Patent Standing Committee