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Michael P. Chu

Practice Summary

Mr. Chu’s practice includes all aspects of patent law relating to mechanical, digital electronics and electro-mechanical arts, including litigation, opinions and prosecution.

Within his litigation practice, Mr. Chu handles patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright matters, including briefings, Markman hearings, all aspects of discovery and settlement negotiations. His litigation experience also includes complex patent cases, design patent cases, ITC proceedings, multidistrict litigation, TRO and preliminary injunction proceedings and a strong appellate practice before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

His opinion work includes rendering written and oral opinions regarding the infringement and validity of design and utility patents in the mechanical, electro-mechanical and electrical arts.

Mr. Chu has prepared and prosecuted design and utility patent applications in the mechanical arts, including medical devices, household electrical appliances, water filters, water delivery devices, tools, and packaging; electrical arts, including TDMA receiving/demodulating devices and methods, cellular deployment plans, and satellite transmission devices; and e-commerce and business methods, including protection of website design and functionality, e-commerce web security protocols, medical insurance procedures and telephone network interface methods.

Additionally, Mr. Chu drafts and negotiates license agreements and oversees corporate patent licensing programs.

Mr. Chu served as chair of the Associates Committee and currently sits on the firm’s Diversity Committee.

Honors/Distinctions
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  • Advocate for Diversity Award, Diversity Scholarship Foundation, 2011
  • Vanguard Award, Chicago Bar Association, 2010
  • Filipino Community Service Award, Asian American Coalition of Chicago, 2009
  • Illinois Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property Litigation, 2005-2012
  • Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network, Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2007, 2009-2011
  • 2006 Fellow, Leadership Greater Chicago
  • Named to Law Bulletin's "Forty Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" for 2005
  • NAPABA's 2002 "Best Lawyers Under 40" List
  • Articles Editor, William and Mary Law Review, 1991-1992
Representative Matters
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  • Certain Electric Fireplaces, Components Thereof, Manuals for Same, Certain Processes for Manufacturing or Relating to Same, and Certain Products Containing Same, ITC No. 337-TA-791. Representing complainants Twin-Star International, Inc. and TS Investment Holding Corp. in the pending ITC investigation.
  • Heat Surge, LLC et. al. v. Twin-Star International, Inc. et. al., Civ. Action No. 5:10-cv-01074-JRA (N.D. Ohio 2010). Represented defendant in trademark infringement and false advertising suit. Settled.
  • Aero Products, Inc. v. Intex Recreation, et al., Civ. Action No. 02-CV-2590 (N.D. Ill., 2002-2004). Represented plaintiff in patent and trademark infringement case involving inflatable air mattresses. Trial in February 2004. Won jury verdict of willful patent infringement and trademark infringement, totaling $12.9 million in damages. Argued the appeal of the case before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 2006, winning affirmance of the patent infringement award and over $12.9 million in total damages.
  • Integrated Cards, LLC v. McKillip Industries, Inc. d/b/a USA/Docufinish, Civ. Action No. 06 C 2071 (N.D. Ill., 2006-2007). Patent infringement case relating to integrated labels and cards. Case pending before Judge Kendall.
  • Pliant Corporation v. MSC Marketing & Technology, Inc. and Atlantis Plastics, Inc., Civ. Action No. 04-CV-3509 (N.D. Ill., 2004-2007). Patent infringement case relating to pre-stretched plastic film. Successfully moved for dismissal of client for noninfringement after claim construction hearing. Case is pending before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (No. 2006-1616).
  • Freni Brembo S.p.A. et al. v. Alcon Components, Ltd., et al., Civ. Action No. 04-CV-5217 (N.D. Ill., 2004-2005). Patent infringement case relating to consumer automobile and Formula 1/NASCAR disk brake systems. Case settled successfully.
  • World Kitchen (GHC), LLC and OXO International, Inc., et al. v. Zyliss Haushaltwaren et. Al., Civ. Action No. 04-CV-2999 (N.D. Ill., 2004-2005). Patent infringement case relating to salad spinner appliance. Successfully defended against preliminary injunction motion filed by plaintiff. Affirmed on appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
  • Intelligent Products Inc. of Illinois v. BFT, Inc. d/b/a Great American Business Products, Civ. Action No. C-1-02-426 (S.D. Ohio, 2002 - 2003). Patent Infringement case relating to waste disposal bags. Case settled successfully.
  • TruCook, Inc. v. The Helman Group, et al., Civ. Action No. 00-CV-4865 (N.D. Ill., 2000 - 2002) . Design patent and trade dress infringement case relating to temperature-sensing barbeque forks; argued very rare Markman hearing relating to design patent claim interpretation. Case settled successfully.
  • Aquatic Access, Inc. v. Spectrum Distributors, Inc., Civ. Action No. 3:99-CV-272-C (W.D. Ky., 2000 - 2001). Patent infringement and unfair competition case relating to automated pool lifts for the handicapped. Argued to court and prevailed on summary judgment on all patent counts. Remainder of case settled successfully.
  • Mega Manufacturing Systems v. Haco-Atlantic, Inc., Civ. Action No. 00-C-2318 (N.D. Ill., 2000 - 2001). Patent infringement and trade dress case relating to ironworker machinery. Case settled successfully.
  • Teradyne, Inc. v. AMP, Inc., 98-CV-468-SD (D. N.H., 1998 - 2000). Managed extremely voluminous discovery and key strategic points for multi-patent litigation. Case settled.
  • The Rival Company v. Sunbeam Corporation, et al., Civ. Action No. 95-1179-CV-W-5 (W.D. Mo. 1995 - 1999). Patent infringement case relating to food steamers. Adverse claim interpretation confirmed on appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
  • The Rival Company v. TPI Corporation., Civ. Action No. 1:96-CV-277-WBH (N.D. Ga., 1996 - 1997). Copyright infringement, theft of trade secrets, and patent infringement relating to industrial fan company's unauthorized use of Rival's business materials and information. Settled successfully after Consent Order obtained for defendant to cease all infringing activity.
  • The Rival Company v. High Performance Appliances., Civ. Action No. 94-39-CV-W-1 (W.D. Mo., 1994 - 1995). Patent infringement suit relating to kitchen food steamers. Case settled successfully and license under patent taken by defendant.
  • The Rival Company v. Black & Decker, Inc., Civ. Action No. 93-16-CV-W-1 (W.D. Mo., 1993 - 1995). Patent infringement suit relating to kitchen food steamers. Validity of patent confirmed on reexamination. Case settled successfully and license under patent taken by defendant.
  • BF Goodrich Flightsystems, Inc. v. Insight Instruments Corp., Civ. Action No. C-2-91-0800, Federal Circuit Appeal No. 92-1540 (N.D. Ohio, 1992 - 1993). Patent infringement suit. Preliminary injunction obtained in District Court against defendant and injunction fully upheld in appeal to the Federal Circuit.
Publications
Presentations
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  • "USITC Section 337 Investigations and Responses: Budgeting and Managing the Costs of an ITC Action," speaker, Beijing and Shenzhen, China, April 2009
  • Speaker, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Central Ohio Inaugural Gala, Columbus, Ohio, 2007
  • "So, You Want To Be Our Outside Counsel?" Program Chair, American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, Spring Meeting, Stamford, Connecticut, 2007
  • "Doing Business on the Internet – Patent Considerations," Panelist, Update on Intellectual Property Law and the Internet, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, 2006
  • "Indemnification Agreements in IP Licenses," speaker, Minority Corporate Counsel Association Annual Meeting, 2004
  • Keynote speaker, DePaul University College of Law, Asian Law Students Association Annual Dinner, Chicago, Illinois, 2003
  • "Hot Topics in Patent Law," speaker, National Asian Pacific Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2003
  • "Technology Licensing Negotiations," speaker, Licensing Executives Society Annual Meeting, 2002
  • "What Every In-house Counsel Should Know About Technology Licensing," American Corporate Counsel Association Annual Meeting, 2001
  • "Licensing Negotiations," speaker, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2001
  • Other presentations on intellectual property issues to clients, associations, groups and students, as a speaker and guest lecturer.
Memberships & Affiliations
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  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
    President, 2004-2005
    President-Elect, 2003-2004
    Vice President-Finance, 2001-2003
    Board of Directors, 2001-2003
  • NAPABA Law Foundation
    President, 2006-Present
    Board of Directors, 2001-Present
  • Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area
    President, 2011
    Board of Directors, 2003-Present
  • Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms
    Mentorship Academy Mentor, 2011
    Board of Directors, 2009
    LegalTrek Program Volunteer
  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association
    Program Advisory Board
  • Asian American Institute, an affiliate of the Asian American Justice Center
    Board of Directors, 2006-Present
  • Illini Leadership Council Steering Committee, 2006-Present
  • Chicago Barrister's Big Band of the Chicago Bar Association
    First-Chair Alto Saxophone
  • Esquire Saxophone Quartet
  • Photographer, www.MikesRightBrain.com
Legal Experience
  • Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, Chicago, Illinois
    Shareholder, 1998-Present
    Associate, 1992-1998
Press Releases