Jeffrey Craft  

Jeff Craft has over twenty-five years in practice focusing on intellectual property law.  Previously, a partner at the patent boutique, Pretty and Schroeder, as well as the national general practice firm, Sonnenschein, Nath and Rosenthal, his clients include start-up companies, established and growing small to mid-size companies, as well as Fortune 500 companies.  He advises his clients regarding intellectual property strategies and the development and implementation of intellectual property portfolios, negotiates and drafts license, consulting, research, nondisclosure, and related agreements, prepares patent infringement, patent validity, freedom‑to‑use and due diligence opinions, drafts and prosecutes domestic and foreign patent, trademark, and copyright applications,  and litigates (trial and appellate), patent, trademark, and unfair competition matters.  He works in a variety of technologies including small molecules, biologics, polymers, fibers, performance materials, catalysts, food and agricultural chemicals, waste treatment, medical devices, nanotechnology, solid electrolyte batteries, fuel cells, semiconductors, wireless communications, optical devices, and digital signal processing. 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Mr. Craft has been active as a member of the Licensing Committee of the Intellectual Property Section of the State of California Bar Association and of United States Legislation Analysis, Internet, and Design Protection Subcommittees of the International Trademark Association.  He has lectured on intellectual property at the University of Southern California's Alfred E. Mann Institute of Biomedical Engineering and taught an "Overview of Patent Law – Protecting and Profiting from Intellectual Property," for Lorman Educational Services and "Intellectual Property Issues," for a PLI course on "Acquiring or Selling the Privately Held Company."                        

PUBLICATIONS

Mr. Craft's publications include:

"Court Expands Researchers' Right to Use Patented Drugs," Daily Journal, July 2005 

"Bankruptcy Project Report," coauthor, International Trademark Association, U. S.    Legislation Subcommittee 2002 

"U.S. Supreme Court to Reconsider the Patentability of Living Things; In Particular, the Patentability of Seeds," Daily Journal, April 2001 

"Prejudgment Interest under 35 U.S.C. Section 284," JPOS, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp 266-290, (May 1982)  

SPEECHES

Mr. Craft is also a frequent speaker, panelist and moderator.  His appearances include: 

"Trademark Practice" – moderated International Trademark Law Association Roundtable, October 2007 

"New Patent Office Rules" – Ventura County Bar Association, October 2007 

"Right of Licensees to Enforce Intellectual Property Rights" – California State Bar, IP Section, Licensing Committee, August 2007 

"Intellectual Property in the Product Life Cycle" – PDMASoCal, June 2007 

"The Advice of Counsel Defense:  Who Waives What, When, and to What Extent?" – Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, Spring Seminar, June 2007 

"Nervous Anticipation of the High Court's Ruling on the 'Obviousness Test''" – Southern California Biomedical Council, April 2007 

"Transferring and Securing Rights in Intellectual Property - Requirements of an Exclusive License" - Ventura County Bar Association, December 2006 

"SBIR – IP Issues" OCTANE, February 2006 

"Domain Names:  Who Gives Them, Who Gets Them and What Do They Get," Ventura County Bar Association, February 2005  

"Intellectual Property Primer" Small Business Success Forum, Santa Barbara County Small Business Development Center September 2004 

"Recent Developments in United States Biotech Patent Prosecution," Taiwan National Health Research Institute, July 2002 

OTHER

A patent on a new antimicrobial agent prepared by Mr. Craft was featured in Scientific American and Mr. Craft has been quoted on the patentability of living matter in the New York Times.   

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Mr. Craft received a B.S, with a major in chemistry, while simultaneously completing all the requirements for a major in cellular biology from the University of Michigan.  He then completed three years at Wayne State University’s Graduate School, Department of Organic Chemistry, before obtaining his J.D. from Wayne State University.

BAR MEMBERSHIPS

Mr. Craft has been admitted to practice law in Michigan, Delaware and California.  He is also licensed to practice before the Federal District Courts of Central, Southern, and Northern California, the Federal Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.   He is a registered Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.