William E.Devitt (Bill)

Partner

Chicago + 1.312.269.4240

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Bill Devitt is a first-chair trial lawyer who focuses on technology-related litigation, primarily patent and trade secret matters. Litigating cases for more than 25 years, Bill has successfully led teams in district courts throughout the country as well as at the International Trade Commission (ITC). He has handled cases covering a variety of technical matters, including wireless communications, semiconductors, data storage, power equipment, gaming machines, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Bill also has significant experience representing and advising clients in connection with patent assertions, license negotiations, including standard essential patents and FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) issues, trade secret misappropriate claims, and other strategic transactions involving technology and intellectual property rights. At the start of his career Bill worked for seven years as a telecommunications engineer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where he gained extensive experience in a broad range of communication systems, including satellite and radio systems, fiber optics, microwave, network and switching systems, and encryption technology.

Bill is a member of the Richard Linn Inn of Court, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. He has served as a guest lecturer on patent litigation topics at the University of Notre Dame Law School and has participated in numerous technology law seminars, both in the United States and abroad.

Experience

  • R.J. Reynolds successfully enforces patents in ITC trial against Philip Morris in dispute over cigarette alternativeJones Day's client Reynolds achieved a precedent-setting victory before the International Trade Commission (ITC) against its main competitors Philip Morris Products S.A. ("Philip Morris") and Altria Client Services LLC ("Altria") in a patent infringement dispute involving tobacco heating and vaping products.
  • Epson counter-files DJ action of non-infringement in Central District of California against NPEJones Day is representing Epson America, Inc. (a subsidiary of Seiko Epson Corp.) in a declaratory judgment action filed in the Central District of California seeking a declaration of non-infringement of four patents owned by American Patents LLC, a non-practicing entity (NPE).
  • Seiko Epson defends patent infringement allegations involving Wi-Fi capable consumer electronicsJones Day is representing Seiko Epson Corporation and its subsidiary, Epson Precision Philippines, Inc., in defense of a patent infringement action brought by American Patents LLC.
  • Cohesity disposes of six-patent litigation brought by adverse competitor CommvaultJones Day successfully represented Cohesity Inc. ("Cohesity") and obtained dismissal in a six-patent, competitor suit filed by Commvault Systems in April 21, 2020.
  • Ability Opto-Electronics resolves patent infringement dispute relating to computer camera lensesJones Day defended Taiwan-based Ability Opto-Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. in a patent infringement lawsuit filed by its competitor Largan Precision Co., Ltd., in a case relating to optical lens systems for cameras and computers.
  • Qualcomm successfully defends patentability challenges in five IPR casesJones Day successfully defended challenges to Qualcomm Incorporated's U.S. Pat. No. 9,154,356 ("Low noise amplifiers for carrier aggregation") in five inter partes review ("IPR") proceedings filed by Intel Corporation.
  • Qualcomm defends Apple's patent infringement claims relating to processor power saving techniquesJones Day defended Qualcomm Incorporated against Apple, Inc.'s allegations that Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors – CPU/GPU/Baseband Modem System on Chip – infringe a number of Apple's patents directed to power saving techniques for use in processors.
  • Qualcomm achieves global settlement with AppleJones Day represented Qualcomm Incorporated against Apple Inc. and four contract manufacturers of Apple devices in a lawsuit involving claims for breach of contract and violations of federal antitrust laws and the California Unfair Competition Law.
  • Qualcomm pursues patent infringement claims against Apple relating to non-standard-essential patents for mobile electronic devicesJones Day represented Qualcomm Incorporated against Apple Inc. in a patent infringement lawsuit regarding non-standard-essential patents for mobile electronic devices.
  • Qualcomm sues Apple for patent infringement on inventions for power saving techniques for mobile devicesJones Day represented Qualcomm Incorporated against Apple Inc. in a patent infringement lawsuit relating to power saving techniques for mobile devices.
  • Qualcomm sues Apple for patent infringement over pioneering smartphone technologyJones Day represented Qualcomm Incorporated against Apple Inc. in a patent infringement lawsuit relating to breakthrough smartphone technologies.
  • Xilinx defends against patent claims by Japanese sovereign patent fund IP BridgeJones Day represented Xilinx Inc., the industry leader in field programmable gate arrays, in its patent dispute with Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 ("IP Bridge"), a Japanese sovereign patent fund that holds approximately 800 patents and attempts to generate revenues by enforcing patents against U.S. operating companies.
  • Mando resolves multipatent infringement suit filed by Robert Bosch GmbHJones Day represented Mando Corporation and Mando America (collectively "Mando") in the defense of a multipatent infringement suit filed by Robert Bosch GmbH in September 2016 relating to antilock braking systems.
  • Qualcomm enforces patents against Chinese phone manufacturer and distributorJones Day represented Qualcomm Incorporated in the litigation of 17 cases in the Beijing and Shanghai Intellectual Property Courts against a Chinese phone manufacturer and distributor asserting patents concerning radio frequency transceivers, device structures, and other mobile phone technology.
  • Qualcomm resolves worldwide Chinese litigationJones Day represented Qualcomm Incorporated as complainant in an ITC action against a Chinese phone manufacturer and several distributors asserting five patents concerning radio frequency transceivers, device structures, packaging, structures, and camera phone operation.
  • Mando resolves patent infringement suit related to brake systems brought by Jaguar Land RoverJones Day represented Mando Corporation and Mando America (collectively "Mando") in the defense of a patent infringement suit filed by Jaguar Land Rover in April 2016 relating to traction control systems, antilock braking systems, and downhill brake control systems.
  • Baird Capital acquires R2i HoldingsJones Day represented Baird Capital in connection with the acquisition and related financing of R2i Holdings, LLC, a leading independent agency which delivers technology driven multi-channel digital marketing solutions primarily to clients in the United States.
  • Micron defends against flash memory file system patent claimJones Day defended Micron Technology, Inc. in a patent infringement action against non-practicing entity e.Digital Corporation.
  • W. R. Grace & Co. defends patent infringement claimsJones Day represented W. R. Grace & Co. – Conn. in a patent case pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
  • High Road Capital completes sale of Handi Quilter to Blue Point CapitalJones Day represented High Road Capital Partners in connection with its sale of Handi Quilter, Inc., a leading provider of longarm quilting machines and computerized quilting systems, to Blue Point Capital Partners.

    • The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.

    Represented Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in a patent infringement lawsuit at the ITC relating to semiconductor design and manufacturing patents.

    Represented Aker BioMarine in a patent infringement lawsuit at the ITC relating to the composition of krill oil extracts as a source of omega-3 phospholipids.

    Represented Advance Auto Parts and Hanesbrands in patent infringement lawsuits in the Eastern District of Texas relating to store locator technology.

    Represented Seiko Epson in a patent infringement lawsuit at the ITC relating to flash memory card adapter technology.

    Represented IBM in a patent infringement case in the Northern District of Illinois relating to database management system technology.

    Represented NEC Corp. in a patent infringement case in the Eastern District of Texas relating to content-addressable storage systems.

    Represented Fritsch GmbH in a patent infringement case in the District of Minnesota relating to dough cutting technology.

    Represented Infineon in a patent infringement case in the District of Delaware relating to microcontrollers and integrated circuit technologies.

    Represented Elpida, Infineon, and IBM in a patent license/bankruptcy dispute in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

    Represented Trustwave in a patent infringement case in Eastern District of Texas relating to word check software system.

    Represented Seiko Epson Corp. and its subsidiary in a patent infringement case in the Northern District of California involving wireless functionality and the 802.11 standard.

    Represented IBM in a patent  infringement lawsuit at the ITC relating to automated tape storage libraries.

    Represented B. Braun in a patent infringement case in the District of Delaware relating to safety IV catheters.

    Represented Research In Motion (RIM) in a patent infringement case in the Northern District of Illinois relating to 3G wireless technology.

    Represented Hitachi and its subsidiaries in patent infringement case in the Northern District of California relating computer architecture and internal communication.

    Represented Research In Motion (RIM) in a patent infringement case in the Eastern District of Texas relating to mobile "push" email systems.

    Represented ITW and Miller in a patent infringement case in the Northern District of Ohio relating to welding power supplies.

    Represented Rohm in a patent infringement case in the Eastern District of Texas relating to inverter controller circuits as used in LCD panels.

    Represented Illinois Tool Works and its subsidiary Miller Electric in a patent infringement case in the Eastern District of Wisconsin relating to power suppliers for welding and plasma cutting equipment.

    Represented Agere Systems in patent infringement cases in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania: relating to semiconductor process and semiconductor packaging technology and another involving analog integrated circuit patents and wireless LAN technology.

    Represented International Game Technology (IGT) and Action Gaming in a patent infringement case in the District of Nevada relating to video poker game play patents.

    Represented Computer Motion in a patent infringement case in the Central District of California relating to surgical robotics.

    Represented International Game Technology in a patent infringement, trademark/trade dress infringement, and trade secret misappropriation case in the District of Nevada.

    Represented Lucent Technologies in a patent infringement case in the District of Delaware involving Wide Area Network (WAN) technology, in particular congestion control issues related to Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM).

    Represented Motorola in a patent infringement case in the District of Nebraska relating to battery saving techniques used in pagers.

    Represented Hughes Electronics in a patent infringement case in the Central District of California relating to satellite telecommunications technology.

    Represented Motorola in a patent infringement case in the District of Delaware relating to TDMA digital cellular telephony.

    View All

    February 2024 Blog

    PRECEDENTIAL – Patent Appendix That Was Referenced, But Not Incorporated, Is Not Prior Art, PTAB Litigation Blog

    April 2023 Commentary

    Commerce Publishes Proposed Rule Setting Conditions for Use of CHIPS Funding

    August 2020 White Paper

    Chinese Supreme Court IP Tribunal Plugs Loophole in Patent Infringement Litigation

    February 2017 Commentary

    ITC Opinion Leaves Domestic Industry Questions Unanswered

    Additional Publications

    • Augugst 2019
      Financier Worldwide. Resolving Patent Disputes Roundtable

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • Decembe 6, 2017
      Shenzhen Patent Association U.S. Patent Law Seminar: Patent Exhaustion - Impression Products v. Lexmark; Inter Partes Review - SAS and Oil States; Patent Venue - TC Heartland
    • December 4, 2017
      Hangzhou High-tech Zone (Riverside) Intellectual Property Training Base, Internet of Things Industry Intellectual Property Alliance, and the National Intellectual Property Training (Zhejiang) Base - U.S. Patent Law Seminar: Patent Exhaustion - Impression Products v. Lexmark; Inter Partes Review - SAS and Oil States; Patent Venue - TC Heartland
    • April 22, 2016
      International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property of Japan (AIPPI - Japan) - Lexmark and the Future of Patent Exhaustion
    • September 8, 2015
      Japanese Patent Attorney Association (JPAA) Seminar Topic: The Current Anti-Patent Climate in the United States
    • June 11, 2015
      Jones Day University Topic: Hot Topics in Patent Law: Reverse Patent Trolls

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