Press Release 02.29.24
Paul Thomas is a special counsel in Pillsbury’s Intellectual Property practice and is located in the Silicon Valley office.
Paul focuses on two practice areas: technology transactions and intellectual property asset protection. Paul has extensive experience in drafting complicated technology license agreements for clients in the high tech sector, and equally extensive experience in brand development and copyright and trademark asset protection for clients in a broad range of industries, including software and technology, e-discovery and data management, feature film and television production, book and media publishing, wine and spirits, beauty and cosmetics, advertising, and the transportation industry. Paul helps clients build and manage global trademark portfolios, and he assists them in monetizing their IP assets through strategic licensing. Paul also assists clients in the enforcement of their trademark and copyright assets, both through strategic negotiation and through litigation before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in federal courts.
Representative Experience
- Assisted Committee Films Inc. in negotiating new documentary projects for cable network broadcast.
- Assisted United States Distilled Products Company with brand development and enforcement.
- Assisted Movidius Limited in amending licensing agreements during acquisition by Intel Corporation.
Professional Highlights
Publications
- Chapter on developments in Ninth Circuit libel law affecting media defendants, all published by Media Defense Resource Center in annual volume entitled MDRC 50-State Survey: Media Libel Law: 2003 – 2004.
- Chapters on developments in Ninth Circuit privacy law affecting media defendants, all published by Libel Defense Resource Center in annual volumes entitled LDRC 50-State Survey: Media Privacy Law: 2003 – 2004, 2002 – 2003, 2001 – 2002.
- “Victoria’s Secret Case Illuminates Confusion Over Dilution Definition,” San Francisco Daily Journal, March 17, 2003.
- “Stare Decisis for Copyright Terms: The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act Survives the Constitutional Challenge of Eldred v. Ashcroft,” www.pillsburylaw.com, February 24, 2003.
- “Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998,” Pillsbury Winthrop Bulletin No. 02-09, March 29, 2002.
- “Digital Millennium Copyright Act Survives Challenge,” Pillsbury Winthrop Bulletin No. 02-04, January 24, 2002.
- “The First Amendment v. Trade Secret Protection: Score One for Free Speech,” Pillsbury Winthrop Bulletin No. 01-31, December 4, 2001.
- “Copyright Lessons for a Digital World from Tasini and Random House,” San Francisco Daily Journal Supplement, September 25, 2001.
- “U.S. Supreme Court Rules against Big Media Publishers in Landmark Copyright Case,” www.pillsburylaw.com, July 26, 2001.
- “French Fracas – Case Involving Nazi Memorabilia Raises Jurisdictional Issues,” San Francisco Daily Journal, February 5, 2001.
Education
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J.D., Hamline University School of Law, 1997
Dean's Scholarship StudentM.A., English Literature, University of Chicago, 1985
B.A., English Literature, University of Chicago, 1984
Admissions
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California
Minnesota
Courts
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U.S. District Court for the Central District of California