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Kurt G. Calia

Partner

Palo Alto +1 650 632 4717

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Kurt Calia is a partner in our Palo Alto office practicing in the areas of complex civil litigation, patent litigation, intellectual property, life sciences, and patent prosecution. He is a former co-chair of the firm's Patent Group, and he currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Trade Secrets Committee of the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association (IPO).

    Kurt's practice focuses largely on the firm's high technology clients in a wide range of areas including pharmaceutical chemistry, agricultural biotechnology, biomedical devices, nanotechnology, genetics, mechanical devices, business methods, microprocessors, and software.

    Kurt has significant trial experience, having appeared as patent trial counsel in the International Trade Commission for Samsung related to light-emitting diodes, for a J&J subsidiary concerning an Alzheimer’s disease drug, and having participated in several intellectual property trials for Monsanto concerning genetically modified crops and herbicides, among other trials.

    Kurt also has substantial experience in prosecuting and defending trade secrets cases, particularly arising in the context of complex litigation involving other intellectual property claims.

    Kurt has also published and lectured on intellectual property issues, and previously served as an Adjunct Professor at the Howard University Law School where he taught a course on patent enforcement.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Thales Visionix USA, Inc. v. United States (Ct. Fed. Cl. 2014) - Representation of third-party defendant, Elbit Systems of America, LLC, in patent infringement dispute related to helmet mounted display systems used in in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
    • Infernal Technology LLC et al. v. Electronic Arts, Inc. et al. (E.D. Texas 2015) - Representation of Electronic Arts in patent infringement litigation related to lighting and shadowing effects in computer graphic simulations.
    • Ali v. Carnegie Institution of Washington and University of Massachusetts (D. Ore. 2012) – inventorship dispute related to intellectual property rights to RNA interference.
    • Swanson v. ALZA Corp. (N.D. Cal. 2012) – inventorship dispute related to intellectual property rights to the ADHD drug, Concerta©.
    • Representation of Monsanto Company in numerous lawsuits involving patent, antitrust, contract, and/or trade secrets issues concerning genetically modified crops and herbicides. Monsanto Company et al. v. E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. et al. (E.D. Mo. 2009); E.I. Du Pont and De Nemours Co. v. Monsanto Company and Asgrow Company (D. Del. 2000); Mycogen Plant Sciences, Inc. v. Monsanto (D. Del. 1998); Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. v. Monsanto Company (E.D. Mo. 1997); Novartis Seeds, Inc. v. Monsanto Company (D. Del. 1997); Rhone-Poulenc Agro, SA v. DeKalb et al. (M.D.N.C. 1997); Monsanto v. Mycogen Plant Sciences et al. (D. Del. 1996)

    • Elbit Systems of America, LLC et al. v. Hughes Network Systems, LLC et al. (E.D. Texas 2015) - Representation of Elbit in patent infringement litigation related to satellite communications systems.
    • In re: Certain Light Emitting Devices, 337-TA-785 (ITC, 2011) – patent infringement matter related to light-emitting diodes.
    • Representation of Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) as an amicus in Federal Circuit and Supreme Court appeals in Ass’n for Molecular Pathology et al. v. United States Patent & Trademark Office (Fed. Cir. 2010, 2012) – patent appeal related to the patent-eligibility of DNA sequences and methods of screening cancer therapeutics.
    • Janssen L.P. et al. v. Barr Laboratories et al. (D.N.J. 2007), Janssen L.P. et al. v. KV Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (D.N.J. 2007), Janssen L.P. et al. v. Barr Laboratories, Inc., et al. (D.N.J. 2006), and Janssen L.P. et al. v. Sandoz, Inc. (D.N.J. 2006) - patent infringement actions related to Alzheimer’s disease drug, Razadyne®-ER.
    • Blackbird Technologies, Inc. v. Applied Security, Inc. et al. (Fairfax County Cir. Ct. 2007) - employee agreement contract dispute.
    • In re: ‘318 Patent Infringement Litigation (D. Del. 2005) - patent infringement case involving Alzheimer’s disease drug, Razadyne®.
    • Compuware Corp. v. OPNET Technologies, Inc. (E.D. Mich. 2004) - patent infringement and trade secret cases related to network communication optimization technology.
    • Choice-Intersil Microsystems, Inc. v. Agere Systems, Inc. (E.D. Pa. 2002), Agere Systems, Inc. v. Intersil Corp. and GlobespanVirata, Inc. (D. Del. 2002), and Agere Systems, Inc. v. Intersil Corp. and GlobespanVirata, Inc. (D. Del. 2003) - representation of GlobespanVirata in litigation involving allegations of patent infringement, copyright infringement, trade secret, misappropriation, and breach of contract concerning wireless communication and semiconductor technology.
    • Brazos Europe, Inc. v. Capital Resource Group (D.D.C. 2004) - securities fraud litigation.
    • Rosemary Ryan-House v. GlaxoSmithKline et al. (E.D. Va. 2003) - patent-antitrust claims related to the antibiotic, Augmentin®.
    • In re: Relafen Antitrust Action (D. Mass. 2003) - patent-antitrust matter related to the anti-inflammatory drug, Relafen®.
    • Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. et al. v. Molecular Analytical Systems, Inc. et al. (Santa Clara County Sup. Ct. 2003) - contract and trade secret litigation concerning surface enhanced laser desorption ionization technology.
    • Stendig v. Intermune, Inc. (San Francisco County Sup. Ct. 2003) - representation of Intermune in antitrust litigation concerning interferon-gamma drug, Actimmune®.
    • Caliper Technologies Corp. v. MDC, Corp. (N.D. Cal. 2002) - patent infringement related to kinase enzyme assays.
    • ARM, Ltd. v. picoTurbo, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2000) - patent infringement action related to RISC microprocessor core design.
    • Pitney Bowes v. Bell & Howell Co. (D. Del. 1999) - patent infringement action related to high-speed mail processing devices.
    • Key Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. ELI-Lederle, Inc. (E.D. Pa. 1996) and Key Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. (D.N.J. 1996) - patent infringement actions related to potassium chloride supplement.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1993
        • Boston University School of Law Journal of Science & Technology Law, Co-Founder
    • Haverford College, B.S., 1990
    Bar Admissions
    • California
    • District of Columbia
    • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    Pro Bono
    • Representation of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in constitutional challenges to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (U.S. Supreme Court) and Michigan Legal Birth Definition Act (6th Cir.).
    • Representation of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice in constitutional challenge to New Hampshire parental notification law (U.S. Supreme Court).
    • Representation of the Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition in administrative litigation opposing proposed conversion of healthcare organization from non-profit to for-profit status in Washington State and Alaska.
    • Representation of the California Medical Association, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, and individual physicians in constitutional challenges to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (N.D. Cal., 2nd Cir., 8th Cir., and 9th Cir.).
    • Representation of Alabama death row inmate in post-conviction proceedings.
    • Representation of D.C. Appleseed in litigation legislation related to healthcare insurance reform.
    • Representation of a death row inmate at San Quentin in an excessive use of force and equal protection claim.
    • Representation of Sudanese lawyer in political asylum application.
    • Gray v. Poole et al. (D.D.C. 1999) (D.C. Cir. 2000) - representation of corporation counsel lawyer in defending prior prosecution of child neglect action.
    • Center to Prevent Handgun Violence v. U.S. Dept. of Treasury et al., (D.D.C. 1996) - FOIA litigation related to multiple handgun sales records.
    • Representation of D.C. Jail inmate in a murder trial.
    Accolades
    • Daily Journal, "Top Trade Secret Lawyers of 2020" (2020)
    • Daily Journal, “Top Intellectual Property Lawyers” (2020, 2016)
    • Managing Intellectual Property "IP Stars," Trade mark and Patent - CA (2019)
    • IAM Patent 1000 - The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners (2015-2016)
    • Recognized by Legal 500 US in Intellectual Property: Trade Secrets (2009-2017) and Intellectual Property - Patent Prosecution (2013)
    • Northern California Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property (2013, 2018)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Kurt currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Trade Secrets Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO).

    Areas of Expertise

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