Michael R. Franzinger

Mike’s practice focuses on patent and trade secret litigation in the ITC and federal courts, as well as inter partes reviews and other contested proceedings before the PTAB. He has represented and advised clients in nearly 30 Section 337 investigations, as well as arbitrations and mediations, district court lawsuits, patent reexaminations and reviews, license negotiations and merger due diligence. These matters have spanned a variety of different technologies, including networked storage, mobile communication, digital radio, solar cells, audio processing, touchscreen interfaces, digital rights management, electronic securities trading, semiconductor fabrication, biometrics, electronics packaging, rubber resins and agricultural chemicals.

Mike simultaneously earned both a law degree and a Master’s in materials science from the University of California, Berkeley. He served on the editorial boards of the California Law Review and the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. While in school, he also prosecuted patents as a registered patent agent.

The ITC cases Mike has litigated include:

• ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1271 – representing respondent in investigation related to surface texturing of solar cells.
• ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1223 – represented respondent in investigation addressing laser cutting of solar cells. Case settled with no payment and no withdrawal of any active products from the market.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-1152 — represented complainant in countersuit regarding vehicle remote security and convenience systems. Case settled before trial, with dismissal of opponent’s original suit.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-1151 — represented respondent in investigation regarding photovoltaic cells. Secured a dispositive claim construction ruling, resulting in a rare grant of summary determination of non-infringement. Commission and Federal Circuit affirmed.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-1089 — representing respondent in investigation involving memory modules. Commission found no violation.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-1084 — represented respondent e-commerce company in investigation involving insulated beverage containers. Settled at close of fact discovery.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-1026 — trial counsel for respondent in investigation involving audio processing. Commission found no violation.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-1023 — trial counsel for respondent in investigation involving memory modules. Commission found no violation. Federal Circuit affirmed.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-1000 — first-chair trial counsel for e-commerce company in investigation involving motorized two-wheeled self-balancing vehicles (a.k.a. “hoverboards”). Secured initial determination of no jurisdiction.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-982 — represented respondent in investigation involving RF circuits. Complainant terminated case before trial.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-914 — trial counsel for respondent in investigation involving agricultural chemicals. Secured denial of temporary relief and final determination of no violation.
• Inv. No. 337-TA-904 — represented complainant in investigation regarding retail security tags. Settled, with respondents agreeing to consent order. 
• Inv. No. 337-TA-752 — represented respondent. Commission found no violation. 
• Inv. No. 337-TA-744 — represented complainant. Commission found a violation, affirmed by Federal Circuit. 
• Inv. No. 337-TA-714 — represented respondent in a case involving touchscreens and touchpads. Respondent prevailed with a finding of no violation. 
• Inv. No. 337-TA-649 — represented respondent in investigation concerning semiconductor packaging. Complainant terminated the investigation.