CLICK TO EXPAND

News About DC

IN THIS DAY AND AGE, NEWS TRAVELS FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE.

And when it’s about Dunlap Codding, our team and our accomplishments, it all lands right here.
Dunlap Codding Shareholders Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014
Posted Aug 15, 2013 at 7:38 am See More

AUGUST 15, 2013—Dunlap Codding is pleased to announce that Nicholas D. Rouse and Douglas J. Sorocco have been selected by attorney peers throughout the profession for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014, the oldest and most respected peer–review publication in the legal profession.  Firm shareholder Marc Brockhaus said, “We’re delighted that Nick and Doug have been named to Best Lawyers.  We have always known that they provide excellent service and value to our clients and uphold the reputation of our industry.”  

Nick Rouse, listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014 in the fields of Patent Law and Trademark Law, has served as Dunlap Codding’s managing shareholder since 2007 while continuing an active practice.  In its inaugural coverage of intellectual property law in Oklahoma, the highly regarded Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business ranked Nick in the top band of leading practitioners, and he continues to be ranked in band one.Nick provides a broad range of patent counseling to clients ranging from individual inventors to large multinational manufacturing companies. His practice includes patent preparation and prosecution, patent portfolio management, validity and infringement opinions, evaluations of new designs, and licensing strategy.  Nick graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering, and received his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1990. He is a member of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association, and served as its president in 2006. 

Doug Sorocco is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014 in the field of Technology Law.  He practices in the areas of intellectual property, technology, licensing, life sciences and patent law and is involved in counseling and transactional work involving all aspects of intellectual property. He is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Doug regularly counsels clients in all aspects of intellectual property including acquisition and commercialization of intellectual property, portfolio management, licensing and transactional matters. He is ranked in the top band of Oklahoma’s top intellectual property practitioners by the highly regarded Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Doug was also selected by attorney peers for inclusion in Oklahoma Super Lawyers–Rising Stars Edition (2010).  He is an adjunct faculty member at the Oklahoma City University School of Law and in the Physiology Department at the University of Oklahoma’s Health Sciences Center. 

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer–review survey on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Dunlap Codding P.C. is an Oklahoma City-based law firm serving regional, national and international clients. Established in 1957 as Oklahoma’s original intellectual property firm, Dunlap Codding remains the state’s largest and most versatile IP boutique. Dunlap Codding represents a substantial number of sophisticated client companies, and for the past 50 years has obtained more patents, trademarks and copyrights than any other firm in the region.

Dunlap Codding is a member of Primerus, an International Society of Law Firms.

Dunlap Codding Represents Pictometry International in Precedent Setting Case
Posted Jun 14, 2013 at 12:48 pm See More

Dunlap Codding congratulates its client Pictometry International Corp., the leader in geo-referenced aerial image capture and visual-centric data analytics, on its recent victory before the Connecticut Supreme Court in Pictometry International Corporation v. Freedom of Information Commission et al. (SC 18724) (January 29, 2013).

The precedent-setting unanimous decision handed down by the Connecticut Supreme Court was officially released on January 29. Pictometry was represented by Dunlap Codding attorneys Joseph P. Titterington, who presented oral arguments before the Court, and Emily E. Campbell.

This case is the first in the nation to examine the interplay between a citizen’s access to public records and the limitations placed upon such access by federal copyright law.  Issues of first impression include: (1) whether Connecticut’s FOIA is preempted by the federal Copyright Act to the extent that FOIA permits the copying and distribution of copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright owner, and (2) whether the “fair use” doctrine may be applied to allow copying and distribution of copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright owner.   

As a result of this case, copyright holders may license their intellectual property to governmental agencies knowing that their federal intellectual property rights supersede the copying and distribution requirements of FOIA.  “Citizen access to copyrighted materials is unimpeded by the Court’s ruling and is consistent with Pictometry’s long-standing efforts to help governmental agencies be more efficient and transparent in their use of copyrighted technologies,” according to Pictometry’s counsel, Joseph Titterington.

The case also makes clear that the agencies do not need to bear extraordinary costs in providing information—those costs can and rightly should be passed along to the parties requesting the information.

Chris Barrow, Pictometry’s President and CEO, said, “We are happy that the Connecticut Supreme Court reached this decision protecting our intellectual property. This decision encourages companies that hold intellectual property to continue to do business with state agencies, as they know the value of their assets will be preserved.”

Background of the Case

Pictometry had contracted with the Connecticut Department of Information Technology (DOIT) to provide a license to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the use of certain of Pictometry’s computerized aerial photographic images and geo-referenced data of the state of Connecticut.

In the recently decided case, the Connecticut Supreme Court construed the state’s FOIA and held that in the event of a conflict between state law and the federal Copyright Act, the Copyright Act prevails.

Specifically, the Connecticut Supreme Court held that: 

  1. Pictometry’s software is protected by copyright and that it and the geo-referenced metadata associated with each image are also trade secrets, thereby exempting the software and metadata from the disclosure and copying requirements of the Connecticut FOIA.
  2. The federal Copyright Act is a “federal law” under the Connecticut FOIA and exempts public records that consist of copyrighted materials from the copying requirements, but not the disclosure requirements of Connecticut FOIA.
  3. Neither the state Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC) nor a state court may consider whether the “fair use” exemption under the federal Copyright Act permits a third party to obtain copies of copyrighted materials of a state vendor.
  4. Since the underlying agreement between Pictometry, as licensor, and the Connecticut Department of Information Technology, as licensee, permits certain state agencies to provide copies of the copyrighted images to a requesting party, conditioned upon the payment of an image license fee by the state agency to Pictometry, that license fee may be passed on to the requesting party by the state agency. 

These cases were heard by the Connecticut Supreme Court on appeal from a series of decisions originally stemming from a proceeding initiated by Stephen Whitaker before the state’s FOIC.

Under the state’s FOIA, Whitaker sought to obtain copies of Pictometry’s images, metadata, and software which had been licensed to a number of Connecticut state agencies by Pictometry.  After being denied copies of Pictometry’s images, metadata, and software, Whitaker appealed to the FOIC. Following an evidentiary hearing, the FOIC denied the request for the software and metadata, holding they were exempt from disclosure and copying requirement of FOIA as trade secrets of Pictometry.  While upholding Pictometry’s claim that the images were copyrighted, however, the FOIC ordered the images to be reproduced for Whitaker at a nominal fee, finding that the Copyright Act did not provide an exemption from copying.  Pictometry appealed the FOIC’s ruling to the state superior court, which in 2010 upheld the FOIC’s decision.  Pictometry subsequently appealed (July 2010) the court’s ruling to the Connecticut Supreme Court, and the latter court has now decided in Pictometry’s favor.

About Pictometry

Since inventing geo-referenced aerial oblique imaging in 2000, Pictometry International has defined the global standard for visual-centric data analytics, integration and reporting. Professionals across government agencies and commercial market segments use Pictometry’s patented technologies daily, overlaying GIS data and integrating existing systems to enhance productivity, gain unique insights, and change lives. With over 35 million images added annually to its cloud-accessible servers, the company’s unparalleled library now contains more than 210 million images–each mapped to the individual pixel. To learn more, visit pictometry.com or follow @Pictometry.

About Dunlap Codding

Dunlap Codding is an Oklahoma City-based law firm serving regional, national, and international clients. Established in 1957 as Oklahoma’s original intellectual property firm, Dunlap Codding remains the state’s largest and most versatile IP boutique, representing a substantial number of sophisticated client companies in all areas of intellectual property, including litigation.  

Dunlap Codding Ranked in Band 1 for Intellectual Property by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Posted Jun 10, 2013 at 7:42 am See More

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – June 4, 2013 – Dunlap Codding is pleased to be ranked in Band 1 (the top band) for intellectual property by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. The publication is widely regarded as the most reliable and intensively researched of all lawyer rating directories. Chambers USA began ranking Oklahoma Intellectual Property firms in 2010. Dunlap Codding has been a top-ranked firm since the inaugural coverage of the state’s intellectual property practitioners, and is again ranked in Band 1 for 2013. Additionally, each of the firm’s shareholders is listed in the top band.  The firm is the only firm in the United States ranked in band 1 with each of its shareholders or partners also ranked in the top-most band for intellectual property.

Chambers quotes a source as saying, “They were outstanding—they contributed to improving the patent and never dropped the ball.”  Sources quoted in the publication in 2012 said, “The attorneys at Dunlap Codding really try to understand the objectives and the needs of our company and use them to form their advice.” Chambers describes the firm as  “[receiving] high praise from clients spanning a number of industries, including mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, oil and gas, and healthcare. The group comes highly recommended for its patent prosecution work, and has a growing soft IP practice, particularly involving the music and film sectors. The firm also boasts a convincing litigation bench. Key clients include the University of Oklahoma, the University of Central Florida and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.”  Dunlap Codding’s clients also include Access Midstream Partners, Ashland, Inc., DePuy Synthes, Pictometry International Corp., and Schlumberger.

Dunlap Codding P.C. is an Oklahoma City-based law firm serving regional, national, and international clients. Established in 1957 as Oklahoma’s original intellectual property firm, Dunlap Codding remains the state’s largest and most versatile IP boutique. Dunlap Codding represents a substantial number of sophisticated client companies, and for the past 50 years has obtained more patents, trademarks, and copyrights than any other firm in the region.

Dunlap Codding is a member of Primerus, an International Society of Law Firms.

Dunlap Codding Associate Jill Redwine Writes About the Oklahoma Innocence Project in OCU LAW Magazine
Posted Feb 13, 2013 at 16:54 pm See More

Jill Swank Redwine, an associate in Dunlap Codding’s litigation group, writes about her experiences with the Oklahoma Innocence Projectin OCU LAW Magazine. 

Dunlap Codding On The Move!
Posted Feb 12, 2013 at 14:26 pm See More

We are now serving global innovative clients from our new headquarters in The Film Exchange District at 609 W Sheridan, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73102.  Our main phone number remains the same — 405-607-8600.  

Dunlap Codding Receives ACQ Law Award 2012—Overall Intellectual Property Law Firm
Posted Jan 17, 2013 at 9:57 am See More

ACQ, a premier global M&A magazine, recently released the results of its ACQ Law Awards 2012, representing, according to ACQ, the very best in the field from around the world.  The Awards are given in several practice areas, to firms and to individuals, and are open to all law firms, in-house counsel, and chambers.  Since 2008, the ACQ Law Awards have celebrated achievement, innovation, and brilliance.  Dunlap Codding is honored to have received an award as the overall intellectual property law firm of the year.

Dunlap Codding Associate Angel Gerdzhikov Interviewed on Bulgarian National Radio
Posted Jan 16, 2013 at 9:11 am See More

Angel Gerdzhikov was recently interviewed on Radio Plovdiv, a Bulgarian national radio station, answering questions about growing up in Plovdiv, moving to Oklahoma, and “achieving the American dream.”   

Angel has been an associate attorney with Dunlap Codding since 2010, working in the areas of patent drafting and prosecution, patentability analysis, prior art search, and licensing on behalf of clients.  

Ward Hobson and Marc Brockhaus published in CorporateLiveWire’s Expert Guide to Intellectual Property
Posted Dec 21, 2012 at 14:53 pm See More

CorporateLiveWire has published its Expert Guide to Intellectual Property 2012.  The Guide includes an article by Dunlap Codding attorneys Ward Hobson and Marc Brockhaus, entitled “IP Update:  Recent Change in U.S. Patent Law Regarding Inducement to Infringe.” The entire Expert Guide to Intellectual Property can be accessed on CorporateLiveWire’s website.

Dunlap Codding Shareholder Doug Sorocco Quoted Extensively in MacNewsWorld on the Apple/Google Kodak Patent Deal
Posted Dec 17, 2012 at 14:21 pm See More

Doug Sorocco was quoted extensively in MacNewsWorld on December 12, 2012, in an article by Rachelle Dragani, “Apple Cozies Up to Google for Kodak Patent Deal.”  

Apple’s rumored odd-couple alliance with Google to buy Kodak patents is primarily a defensive opportunity for both companies to gain access to a broad portfolio and share in the underlying costs, said patent attorney Douglas Sorocco. “Both parties are looking to insulate themselves from patent infringement claims if a third party got their hands on one or more of the patents.” 

Normally, that defense could be especially helpful for Apple, which is fighting Samsung in courtrooms around the world. In the Kodak patent buy case, however, Apple’s partnership with Google could be doing more for Samsung than Apple might like, suggested Sorocco. 

“Generally, this move probably is more helpful to Samsung, as they work closely with Google and the Android operating system,” he pointed out.  Still, the move makes sense from both sides, Sorocco continued. As much attention as Apple’s high-profile battle with Samsung gets, it’s not the only patent war the company is waging. Teaming up with a noted rival to increase its portfolio could be a move that ultimately saves precious legal resources in the future. 

“My read is that this is primarily a defensive opportunity for both Apple and Google to gain access to a broad portfolio of technology patents and share in the underlying costs,” Sorocco observed. 

“Both companies get what they want — freedom from suit and potential bargaining chips — and share the cost of doing so,” he pointed out. “It’s a pretty smart strategic and financial decision and doesn’t significantly impact the underlying disputes the companies have with one another on their core technologies.”

Dunlap Codding In the News—New Offices Being Built in the Film Exchange District of Oklahoma City
Posted Oct 22, 2012 at 8:07 am See More

The Journal Record recently reported on Dunlap Codding’s new offices in the works at 609 West Sheridan in the Film Exchange District of Oklahoma City.  Reporter Brianna Bailey wrote, “With the help of the commercial construction company Design+Build Group, local intellectual property firm Dunlap Codding is transforming a 1920s-era industrial building in the Film Exchange District into a headquarters for its growing law practice.”  The firm’s shareholders purchased the 14,250-square-foot brick building in December. 

Douglas Sorocco, one of the firm’s shareholders, was quoted as saying the area was a good fit for the firm.  “Since we work with very creative and innovative people – artists, scientists and musicians – we wanted a space that kind of reflected that creativity and innovation we see in our clients,” he said.  Working closely with Design+Build Group, the firm is remodeling the industrial space—originally built in the 1920s—to include more than 40 new windows and skylights in the brick building.  The firm has also planned a spacious outdoor courtyard for employee use and anticipates making the space available for community creative events.  The firm also anticipates expansion and is building in the infrastructure for an eventual second and third floor.

CLICK TO CLOSE

DC On Film Row

About DC on Film Row

DC on Film Row is a free event space open to everyone in our community.

We like to say that the space is a “home for creatives and innovators, home builders and the homeless, celebrators and the celebrated” so people understand that we are inclusive and want everyone from throughout our community using our space.

Our goal is to celebrate the incredible diversity of creativity, innovation, and passion within Oklahoma City and to provide a venue—free of charge—to those groups and individuals working to bind us all together and make our home a cooler and better place. No strings attached—no extensive rules to follow. We simply ask that all of our neighbors be honored and that all viewpoints be respected. Our criteria for use is simple: If the event, group, or meeting is something which strengthens our community and brings us all together, the space is available for use.

The space has hosted everything from charitable fundraisers to an underground nightclub party to celebrate Canterbury Choral Society’s 45th anniversary season. We host dinners for the OKC homeless population most Monday evenings where upwards of 250 people are served—we provide the space and soft drinks and a local church provides the food. We’ve hosted university planning retreats and monthly local rock concerts.

Every Wednesday, we open up the courtyard for lunch, invite a local food truck to set up outside our gates, and welcome our downtown neighbors into the space for a bit of socialization.

Our never-ending soda fountain seems to be the biggest hit with some of our neighbors while others spend time playing pool or simply chatting about what is happening on the weekend.

For October we turn the space into a haunted house and invite the neighborhood children to come out and trick-or-treat.

Got an idea for how to use the space? Just ask us – we’re almost certain to say yes!

DC On Film Row

The Space for Ideas.

Protecting all things creative

Who you are.

Who we are.

What we do.

What’s new.