Overview
Joseph Ecker is an experienced litigator and trial attorney focusing on intellectual property and technology disputes in federal district and appellate courts and before administrative tribunals. Joseph is a staunch advocate in all phases of litigation, while prioritizing his clients' global business goals. Notably, Joseph has obtained significant verdicts in multiple jury trials. Joseph also advises clients on intellectual property licensing, due diligence, and compliance.
Joseph leverages his diverse engineering background and experience as a patent examiner in high-stakes patent and trade secrets disputes in district courts across the country and at the Federal Circuit, International Trade Commission, and Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Joseph has represented large companies and startups as plaintiffs and defendants in disputes related to automotive, wireless device, medical device, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, renewable energy, consumer goods, blockchain, and fintech technologies.
Joseph also represents rightsholders and brands in the music, entertainment, fashion, and publishing industries in copyright and trademark disputes, including those intersecting with technology, in district courts and tribunals such as the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In addition, Joseph advises clients on anti-piracy, anti-counterfeiting, and monetization matters.
Joseph is actively involved in the intellectual property legal community and trade organizations and serves on the firm's Hiring Committee.
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- New York
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- US District Court, District of Delaware
- US District Court, District of Maryland
- US Patent & Trademark Office
- J.D., University of Maryland School of Law, 2018
- M.Eng., University of Maryland, 2022, Bioengineering
- B.S., University of Maryland, 2015, Bioengineering
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
Patents and Trade Secrets
- Coda Development S.R.O., et al. v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., et al., No. 5:15-1572 (N.D. Ohio.), No. 23-1880 (Fed. Cir.) Trial and appellate counsel for plaintiff in misappropriation of trade secrets and correction of patent inventorship litigation related to self-inflating tires. Obtained $64 million jury verdict for willful and malicious misappropriation, recognized as a Top 100 Verdict of 2022 by The National Law Journal.
- Arvinas Operations, Inc., et al. v. Yimin Qian and Accutar Biotechnology, Inc., No. 3:22-cv-717 (D. Conn.) Representing clinical-stage biotechnology company as plaintiff in misappropriation of trade secrets litigation related to PROTAC protein degrader therapies.
- Atlas Global Technologies LLC v. Sercomm Corporation, No. 6:21-cv-818 (W.D. Tex.) Represented device manufacturer as defendant in patent infringement litigation related to standard essential patents covering Wi-Fi 6 technology. Achieved favorable settlement following expert discovery.
- Represented global pharmaceutical company in pre-litigation patent counseling.
- Novel Drug Solutions, LLC, et al. v. Harrow Health, Inc., No 1:18-cv-539 (D. Del.) Trial counsel for inventors of proprietary ophthalmic formulations in breach of contract and trade secrets litigation against drug manufacturer. Obtained $2.75 million jury verdict. Prior firm representation.
Copyrights and Trademarks
- BMG Rights Management (US) LLC, et al., v. Altice USA, Inc., et al., No. 2:22-cv-471 (E.D. Tex.) Represented major music publisher and record companies in copyright litigation against large internet service provider for infringement of thousands of iconic musical compositions and sound recordings. Achieved favorable settlement following expert discovery.
- Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A.S. v. Contour 5151 ONH, LLC, et al., No. 1:23-cv-2818 (N.D. Ga.) Representing major French luxury fashion brand in trademark infringement and counterfeiting litigation.
- Greek National Tourism Organization v. Türkiye Turizm Tanitim ve Gelistirme Ajansi, No. 91281241 (TTAB) Representing the Republic of Greece in proceeding opposing registration of proposed "TurkAegean" mark.
Pro Bono
- Represented international nonprofit humanitarian organization in copyright infringement dispute.
News & Publications
Publications
FRAND Litigation in an Evolving Technological and Global Political Environment
ABA Landslide Magazine
July 11, 2024
By: Katherine D. Cappaert, Christopher Suarez, Joseph F. Ecker
Client Alerts
June 13, 2023
Client Alerts
May 26, 2023
Press Releases
September 20, 2022
Previous Employment
- Judicial Extern, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, The Honorable Marvin J. Garbis
- Patent Examiner, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Professional Affiliations
- Intellectual Property Owners Association
- Trade Secrets Committee
- ABA, Intellectual Property Law Section
- Patent Litigation Subcommittee
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- IP Litigation Damages Committee