An acknowledged leader in the profession, Carl Kukkonen has more than 20 years of experience in strategic intellectual property counseling, technology transactions, and litigation. Specifically, Carl advises clients on patent infringement and validity, preparation and prosecution of patent applications, prelitigation case assessment, active patent litigation, licensing and partnering agreements, IP due diligence, and brand protection matters.
Carl has represented clients in a wide range of industries including SAP, Dräger, Cylance, Qualcomm, Sempra Energy, Aerospace Corporation, CareFusion, Fair Isaac Corporation, First Data Corporation, Fox Interactive Media, Tencent, and many others.
Carl has prosecuted, analyzed, and litigated patents across various technologies including high-technology/software, medical devices, and energy technology. His experience in the high-tech arena includes database technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, ridesharing/carpooling, robotics, enterprise software, cloud computing, big data, blockchains, mobile phone software and hardware, telecommunications, Internet of Things (IoT), semiconductors, nanotechnology, optical devices, computer and microchip architecture, virtual and augmented reality, and signal and image processing.
In the area of medical devices he has handled matters related to medication delivery devices, wireless health care, digital health, bedside patient monitors, breathing apparatus including respirators, incubators, infusion pumps, physiological sensors including cardiac monitors and blood pressure devices, ophthalmic technologies, and bone fixation plates and systems.
His energy technology experience includes process and atmospheric sensors, solar panels and control systems, utility-scale energy distribution systems, energy efficiency technologies, water and wind turbines, fuel cells, and water purification systems.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Represented CareFusion in expanding their global patent portfolio directed to software and hardware aspects of infusion systems as well as related disposables.
Represented Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) in the strategic development of a portfolio directed to advanced techniques for credit scoring, decisioning, and transaction fraud technologies using machine learning models and analytics.
Represented Endress+Hauser in establishing a global patent portfolio directed to advanced spectrometers for use in industrial processing including oil and gas.
Represented Intel Corporation in establishing a diverse global patent portfolio directed to microprocessors, data processing, and data transmission.
Represented Ericsson in further developing their patent portfolio directed to mobile communications protocols and networking hardware.
Represented public medical technology company in establishing a patent portfolio directed to bone fixation plates and elements.
Additional Publications
- January 2019
Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) - 35 USC 101 Subject Matter Eligibility Cases Involving Software-Related Inventions - October 11, 2018
An Introduction to the Risks of AI for General Counsel, Corporate Counsel - June 2018
Protecting Artificial Intelligence Innovations Through Patents, IP Litigator - November 21, 2015
Indefiniteness: Are You Reasonably Certain? - 2014
USPTO Issues Interim Guidance on Patent Eligibility Under §101 - 2011
The Law That Protects the Appearance of Your Website - 2010
USPTO Expands Green Technology Pilot Program to Cover More Inventions, Energy & Clean Technology - 2008
A Look at the Changing Landscape of Patent Prosecution, San Diego Business Journal - 2007
More Companies Seek Patents in Unconventional Areas, Boston Business Journal - 2007
Emerging Patent Issues in Cleantech, IP Law 360 / Energy Law 360 - 2007
Expanding Preconceptions of Patentable Matter, bizSanDiego - 2007
When in Doubt, Spell It Out: Complying with a Patentee's Duty of Disclosure, San Diego Daily Transcript
Speaking Engagements
- December 2020
Strategies for Protecting AI and other Software-based Technologies in High Tech / Biotech - August 21, 2020
Biopharma AI Patent Portfolio Development Strategies - July 2, 2020
Claim Drafting for U.S. Patent Applications in Electrical, Software, and Mechanical Technologies - June 25, 2020
Healthcare on the Other Side: Telehealth: Evolving to the Virtual Care of Tomorrow - June 8, 2020
AI Innovations: To Patent or Not to Patent? - May 11, 2020
The Allure of Trade Secrets: KnowIt - March 26, 2020
Protection of Digital Health Innovations - February 2020
Life & Medical Science AI Patent Protection Trends - January 23 2020
Addressing Bias in Artificial Intelligence Systems - November 12, 2019
AIPLA Artificial Intelligence and IP Workshop Road Show: Protection of Machine Learning Training Data - August 1, 2019
Strategies for Protecting AI Innovations - June 2019
IP Protection Trends in Artificial Intelligence, Bulgaria - June 2019
IP Protection Trends in Artificial Intelligence, Germany - June 2019
IP Protection Trends in Artificial Intelligence - June 2019
Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Issues and Strategic IP Protection - September 20, 2018
IP Protection for Artificial intelligence and Big Data Innovations in the Life Sciences, Boston Bar Association Life Sciences Conference - September 2018
Patent Strategies for Medical Technologies Utilizing Artificial Intelligence - July 2018
Artificial Intelligence Deployed in Medical Devices: Patent Strategies and Challenges - April 2018
Patent Claim Drafting for Software / Artificial Intelligence Technologies (University of California, San Diego) - January 23, 2018
Protecting Your AI-Related Innovations: Trade Secrets or Patents? - June 2017
Big Data and Cloud Computing: Strategies for Patent and Trade Secret Protection - January 2017
Strategic Patent Protection of Software and AI-Based Innovations - November 2016
Litigation-Focused Patent Prosecution - October 2016
Update On Patentability Of Computer Implemented Inventions - May 2016
Update on U.S. Protection of Computer Implemented Inventions - January 20, 2016
Recent Developments in IP Law and Their Implications - November 17, 2015
IP ConfEx: Becoming a Better IP professional and Legal Advisor: Soft Skills for Navigating a Contentious, Globalized Environment
- The George Washington University (J.D. with honors 1998); Harvey Mudd College (B.S. in Engineering 1995)
- California and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Legal extern to Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary (Fall 1996)
Top 50 Attorneys in San Diego (2017-2020), San Diego Super Lawyers
Southern California Super Lawyers (2015-2020)
Twice named among Top 25 Portfolio Managers/Patent Prosecutors in California by the Daily Journal
Best Lawyers in America: Intellectual Property Litigation (2018-2021)
Named Top Attorney eight times by the San Diego Daily Transcript
San Diego Business Journal: "Best of the Bar" (2015)
San Diego Metropolitan: 40 Under 40 (2009)
- Legal extern to Judge Randall R. Rader, U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit (Fall 1997)