Ronald F. Lopez

What do you focus on?

I focus my practice on intellectual property and commercial litigation in the areas of patents, trade secrets and licensing disputes as well as other complex commercial litigation.

Prior to practicing law, I received my B.S. in mechanical engineering and worked for Boeing in an advanced technology group developing non-destructive testing systems for the AWAX (early airborne warning defense system), as well as other advanced defense projects.

Representative Matters

• Wi-Lan v. Sierra Wireless, et al., USDC, Eastern District of Texas. Defended client on patent claims arising from OFDM (LTE) and multi-code CDMA technology in patent litigation before Judge Gilstrap. Result: Days prior to trial, USPTO granted reexamination on multi-code CDMA patent and key prior art on OFDM patent ruled admissible resulting in very favorable settlement.
• SPH v. Sierra Wireless, et al., USDC, Southern District of California. Defended, Sierra Wireless, GD Itronix and Fujitsu in case on patents relating to dual channel CDMA modulators, Spreading Factor selectors and MAC layer collision avoidance. Result: Successfully transferred case to S. District of California and case settled on highly favorable terms shortly before trial.
• DNT LLC, v. Sprint Spectrum, LP, et al., USDC, Eastern District of Virginia. Defended Sprint in patent claims for $200 million relating to the original wireless data cards used in laptops. Result: In two week trial before Judge Spencer, obtained jury verdict of non-infringement and invalidity against non-practicing entity claiming hundreds of millions in damages relating to service revenues.
• GPNE v. Sierra Wireless, et al., USDC Northern District of California.  Defended client on GPRS (2.5G) patent claims. Result: Successfully transferred case from District of Hawaii to Northern District of California. Case settled on highly favorable terms.
• NanoEntek v. Bio-Rad, USDC, Northern District of California. Represented Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. on patent claims relating to microfluidic devices used in cell counting. Result: Successfully transferred case from Eastern District of Virginia to Northern District of California and, following very favorable Markman ruling, case settled on very favorable terms.
• TQP Development LLC v. Allianz Life Ins Co., et al., USDC Eastern District of Texas.  Represented State Street Bank involving on patent claims relating to encryption for secure internet transactions. Result: Case settled on highly favorable terms.
• OutlookSoft v. Hyperion Solutions Corporation, USDC, Eastern District of Texas. Defended Hyperion, industry leader in Business Performance Software, in patent litigation over two software patents relating to network caching invention. Result: Prevailed on summary judgment of non-infringement on eve of trial.
• HyperRoll v. Hyperion Solutions Corporation, USDC, Northern District of California. Defended Hyperion, industry leader in Business Performance Software, in patent litigation over patents relating to multidimensional databases. Obtained transfer of case from the Eastern District of Texas to the Northern District of California and Markman order. Result: Case resolved on favorable terms.
• Elan Microelectronics v. Pixcir Microelectroincs, USDC, Nevada.  Represented Pixcir Microelectronics in defense of patent claims on touch screen technology. Result: Following claim construction order, case settled on favorable terms.
• PB Farradyne, Inc. v. Thomas D. Peterson, USDC, Northern District of California. Defended PB Farradyne in patent infringement litigation over claims that 511 traffic system in Bay Area infringes patents. Result: Following summary judgment motion on inequitable conduct for failure to disclose prior patent litigation to patent office, case settled on favorable terms.
• Golden Road Presents et. al. v. Flywheel, et al., San Francisco County Superior Court. Represented Flywheel Communications and its executives in jury trial over alleged misappropriation of trade secrets relating to internet security technology. Result: Complete defense verdict on all causes of action.
• Vestas-American Wind Technology v. Beaird Co., Ltd., et al., USDC, Oregon.  Represented declaratory judgment plaintiff Vestas in action to declare patent on wind turbine tower patents. Avoided patent case filing in Louisiana and prevailed on jurisdiction dispute to maintain jurisdiction in Oregon. Result: Following jurisdictional dispute, case settled on favorable terms.
• The Duncan Group v. 1-800 Bar None, et al., Santa Clara County Superior Court. Represented software development company, the Duncan Group, in lawsuit over the development of business process automation software for national sub-prime auto lending business. Result: Lawsuit settled on first day of trial on terms favorable to client.
• Kforce.com v. Galgon Industries, USDC, Northern District California. Represented software implementation contractor in lawsuit with customer over failed Oracle 11i implementation project. Case focused roll-outs of 11i software and customer’s responsibilities. Result: Case settled on favorable terms to client following mediation and discovery.
• Represented Canadian fiber optics company in trade secret lawsuit arising from failed purchase and merger of California company.

Presentations/Speeches

• “Ethics in IP Law,” Nixon Peabody Annual MCLE Seminar, San Francisco, January 2019
• “Patent Litigation,” West Legalworks, Austin Texas, October 22, 2008.
• “5th Patent Strategies Conference,” Patent Reform Act, San Francisco, March 27, 2008.
• “Association of Corporate Counsel,” Patent Litigation in the Eastern District of Texas, San Francisco & Palo Alto, 2008.
• “Patent Claim Construction 2007,” West Legalworks, Palo Alto, Washington D.C. &  Austin, TX.
• “Computer Security/Threat Management,” San Francisco, CA. December 2001.
• Conference Chair, “Doing Business Online,” Law Seminars International, San Francisco, CA., March 23-24, 2000.
• “Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment,” IQPC, Scottsdale, AZ, February 22-23, 2000.
• General Counsel Forum, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, Internet Complaint Sites, Santa Clara, CA, January 18, 2000.
• “Doing Business On Line,” Law Seminars International, Seattle WA., October 14 and 15, 1999.