Kirk D. Houser is a Member and is Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property Department.Mr. Houser's practice includes the full spectrum of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, as well as intellectual property litigation. Mr. Houser regularly assists clients with the preparation and prosecution of patent, trademark and copyright applications, the litigation and resolution of intellectual property and technology related disputes, domain name disputes, and the drafting and negotiation of agreements for the licensing of intellectual property and technological assets. Mr. Houser also provides counsel with respect to patentability, infringement, and right-to-use studies, and also assists clients in designing around patents. Mr. Houser has handled matters in a wide variety of technologies including, for example, business methods, consumer products, computer hardware and software, electronics, electromechanical devices, energy conservation, Internet web sites, medical devices, telecommunications, and wireless communications and computer networking devices and systems.
Mr. Houser has worked closely with in-house general attorneys as well as in-house intellectual property specialists. He has represented major corporations, universities, small business concerns and individuals. Mr. Houser also works in all phases of trademark law, including the registration of trademarks, trademark oppositions, and the analysis of trademark infringement and right-to-use. Mr. Houser’s trademark law clients include and have included diverse fields, such as for example, cosmetics and hair care preparations, electrical and scientific apparatus, luggage, and beverages.
Mr. Houser previously held the positions of senior engineer and strategic development section manager at Westinghouse, where he gained extensive practical experience in electronics, distributed process control and data acquisition systems, communications and computer software technology. He has also consulted for AEG in the field of distributed microprocessor control for rolling mill applications. He is the inventor of three patented devices related to optical and process control communication networks.
J.D., Duquesne University School of Law, 1993 (Magna Cum Laude)
M.B.A., University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business, 1983
B.S., Lehigh University, 1976
Pennsylvania; U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court
Allegheny County Bar Association; Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association
