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James A. Collins

Practice Summary

Mr. Collins has litigation experience involving a variety of Internet related issues.

His non-litigation experience includes counseling clients in patent clearance issues, licensing matters, and internet site launches. He prosecutes patents in the computer, electrical, and mechanical arts.

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE
Prior to joining Brinks, Mr. Collins worked for Delco Electronics Corporation from 1985 to 1991 and served the company in many capacities. Starting as a remanufacturing engineer, he trained and evaluated service vendors, tracked production and monitored quality control practices in computer control modules, body control modules, and cathode ray tube controllers for General Motors. He also developed design modifications to manual and automated power-train equipment, oversaw implementation, assured hardware and software and developed training programs. As a manager, he implemented quality control programs, and resolved consumer, dealer, and vendor issues, supported six district and five name plate General Motors' divisional offices. He also trained technical diagnostics and audited electronic and electro-mechanical audio and cluster components through five states and Quebec, Canada. As a project engineer, he resolved electronic and electro-mechanical product failures through release engineering and independent vendors, throughout the United States and Canada, and supported dealer, vendor and consumer technical inquiries.

As service engineer at DEC, he assisted dealer, vendor and regional managers in system analysis, approved line driver and steady state power supplies, interfaced programmable controllers, imported and exported electronic records, and developed on site diagnostics.

Honors/Distinctions
  • Editor, Wisconsin State Bar Association: Intellectual Property Newsletter, Marquette University Law School, 1996
  • Director, Marquette University Intellectual Property Law Review, Marquette University Law School, 1996
Representative Matters
  • Charles E. Hill & Associates, Inc. v. Amazon.com, et al.,Case No. 1:03-CV-0263 2002 (E.D. Texas). Subject: Complaint alleging that defendants' Internet based product offerings infringe plaintiff's patents concerning electronic catalogs. Resolution: Case settled on confidential terms.
  • eSpeed, Inc., et al. v. Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, et al.,No. 3:99-CV-1016-M 2002 (N.D. Texas). Subject: Patent infringement action asserted against defendants' electronic trading systems. Resolution: Case settled before trial through process of voluntary mediation.
  • Tec Air, Inc. v. Denso Manufacturing Michigan and Denso Corporation, 1992-1999 (Northern District of Illinois, Chicago; Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit). Subject Patent infringement action asserted against Denso Corp. and Denso Mfg. Resolution: Jury verdict for $25.2 million in favor of Tec Air that was increased to more than $40 million with prejudgment interest.
Publications
  • James A. Collins, Crafting A License in China, A.B.A. China Law Rep. VIII (1999) (describes the reality of negotiating a license in China)
  • James A. Collins, China's Patent Law Paradox, Law & Tech. J. (Spring, 1997) (a practical analysis of the substantive procedures for prosecuting and protecting patent rights)
  • James A. Collins & Kenneth L. Port, Grand Dilution or Confusion, Wis. St. B. J. Intell. Prop. Newsl. (Spring, 1996) (a review of opposing views surrounding the federal dilution cause of action)
Presentations
  • “Patent Claim Construction New Developments and Practical Tips for Successful Patent Litigation,” Law Seminars International, February 15, 2008
  • “Things to Avoid When Prosecuting Computer Related Applications,” Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione Seminar, Chicago, July 2006
  • “Claim Drafting,” Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione Seminar, Chicago, May 2005
Memberships & Affiliations
  • American Bar Association
    Intellectual Property Law Section
    Litigation Section
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Intellectual Property Owners Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers