Two Embarcadero Center Suite 1900, San Francisco, CA USA 94111
John Hughes is a partner in the Trademark and Copyright practice at Kilpatrick. A seasoned foreign and domestic trademark and copyright counselor, prosecutor and litigator, Mr. Hughes represents a variety of clients in diverse industries that include computer software and hardware, biotechnology, retail, restaurants, health food, chocolate, and wine.
Mr. Hughes is 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 include Williams-Sonoma, Clif Bar, Dolby Laboratories and the poet Margaret Fishback Powers. His pro bono clients include Sustainable Surf and The Body Positive, Mr. Hughes is 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
Advertising Counseling & Disputes
Brand Licensing & Related Transactions
Clearance & Portfolio Management
University of California, Hastings College of the Law J.D. (1985)
Western Michigan University M.A. (1978) Future Studies, with honors
Western Michigan University B.A. (1976) 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
Bar Association of San Francisco
Copyright Law Society
International Trademark Association
San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association
Disclaimer
While we are pleased to have you contact us by telephone, surface mail, electronic mail, or by facsimile transmission, contacting Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP or any of its attorneys does not create an attorney-client relationship. The formation of an attorney-client relationship requires consideration of multiple factors, including possible conflicts of interest. An attorney-client relationship is formed only when both you and the Firm have agreed to proceed with a defined engagement.
DO NOT CONVEY TO US ANY INFORMATION YOU REGARD AS CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL A FORMAL CLIENT-ATTORNEY RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
If you do convey information, you recognize that we may review and disclose the information, and you agree that even if you regard the information as highly confidential and even if it is transmitted in a good faith effort to retain us, such a review does not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter where that information could be used against you.
