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John Hughes retired from Kilpatrick in December 2023 after practicing law for more than thirty-five years in the firm and its predecessor firms. Mr. Hughes was a partner in the Trademark and Copyright Team. He was a seasoned foreign and domestic trademark and copyright counselor, prosecutor and litigator, Mr. Hughes represented a variety of clients in diverse industries that included computer software and hardware, biotechnology, retail, restaurants, health food, chocolate, and wine.
Mr. Hughes was recognized as primary trademark counsel for such notable companies as University of California, Nexant, Guittard Chocolate, Buck Knives, Unity Biotechnology and the Flora Springs, Cache Creek and Stuhlmuller wineries. His copyright clients included Williams-Sonoma, Clif Bar, Dolby Laboratories and the poet Margaret Fishback Powers. His pro bono clients included Sustainable Surf and The Body Positive, Mr. Hughes was U.S. trademark counsel to many international law firms, and has many notable litigation milestones.
Mr. Hughes was recognized in 2024 by The Best Lawyers in America® for Intellectual Property Litigation and Trademark Law. In 2014, he was recommended by Legal 500 US for Non-Contentious Trademark Law. Mr. Hughes was named by Legal Media to its 2012 and 2014 Guide to the World's Leading Trademark Law Practitioners.
Experience
Copyright and trademark counseling regarding graphic and font designs, photographs, text, music, etc. for LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
Represented Spectravest, Inc., an apparel manufacturer, in more than 100 cases and more than 50 TRO's granted.
Computer software copyright counseling and prosecution for Dolby Laboratories, Nexant, the University of California, and many others.
Trademark counseling and portfolio management to Oracle (enterprise software), Dignity Health (healthcare), Nexant, Inc. (energy sector software), Guittard Chocolate, Buck Knives, Fish Six Corp (dba “THE MELT”) (restaurants), Unity Biotechnology (pharmaceuticals) and the Flora Springs, Cache Creek and Stuhlmuller wineries.
Copyright and Trademark enforcement, licensing & prosecution regarding the trademark and poem "Footprints in the Sand" by Margaret Fishback Powers.
Copyright counseling and prosecution of graphic, sculptural and architectural building designs for Williams-Sonoma.
Copyright counseling and prosecution of graphic designs of packaging for Clif Bar.
Insights View All
Copyright Litigation & Counseling
Brand Licensing & Related Transactions
UC Law San Francisco J.D. (1985)
Western Michigan University M.A. Ed. (1978) Teaching Humanitarian Future Studies in the Community Colleges, with honors
Western Michigan University B.A. (1976) Humanitarian Future Studies, magna cum laude
California (1987)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
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