1100 Peachtree Street NE Suite 2800, Atlanta, GA USA 30309
1001 West Fourth Street, Winston-Salem, NC USA 27101
Michael Morlock focuses his practice on patent law with a primary focus on the electronics and software industries. His practice includes patent litigation, strategic patent prosecution, and contentious inter and ex parte post grant challenges. Mr. Morlock has extensive experience in trials before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and is a member of Kilpatrick’s PTAB litigation group which is ranked by Patexia Insight as one of the top 10 Best Performing Law Firms representing Patent Owners and top 20 overall (Representing petitioners or patent owners) (IPR Intelligence Report, September 2021).
Mr. Morlock also has extensive experience litigating in federal courts throughout the country, particularly in the Eastern District of Texas, where he was a member of the trial team representing GREE, Inc. in a series of patent infringement suits resulting in over $100 million in jury verdicts in GREE’s favor following two jury trials in 2020 and 2021.
Mr. Morlock was recognized as a top patent practitioner in 2024 by IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners. He was recognized in 2021 and the seven years immediately preceding as a North Carolina "Rising Star" for Intellectual Property Law by Super Lawyers magazine.
Prior to law school, Mr. Morlock worked as a Research Engineer for the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta, where he focused his research on electronic warfare and defense avionics systems.
Experience
Counsel for a major television manufacturer in challenging at the PTAB several patents related to display technology. Hisense USA Corporation v. Brightplus Ventures LLC, IPR2023-01168, 01311, 01385, 01410 (PTAB 2023).
Represented Ring Container Technologies, LLC in offensive patent infringement action against a competitor in the Eastern District of Texas regarding packaging technology. After engaging in early fact discovery, the dispute favorably resolved in a private mediation before Judge David Folsom (ret.). Ring Container Technologies, LLC v. Altium Packaging LP, No. 2:21-cv-464 (E.D. Tex. 2021). Engaged to defend Ring Container Technologies, LLC against its competitor Graham Packaging LLC in an action pending in the Western District of Kentucky. Graham Packaging Company, LP v. Ring Container Technologies, LLC, 3:23-cv-00110 (W.D. Ky. 2023).
Represented GREE, Inc., a Japanese gaming and internet media company in a large-scale patent battle with Supercell, a Finnish mobile game development company. Kilpatrick Townsend launched suits involving more than 20 patents against Supercell, resulting in more than $100 million in jury verdicts in favor of GREE, after successfully defending multiple challenges at the PTAB. GREE, Inc. v. Supercell Oy, Nos. 2:19-cv-00237, 2:19-cv-00310, 2:19-cv-00311, 2:19-cv-00070, 2:19-cv-00071 (E.D. Tex. 2019, 2020) (Judge Gilstrap).
Counsel for a major mobile manufacturer challenging a patent related to camera technology in an in inter partes review proceeding. Litigation resolved favorably after institution of inter partes review. Motorola Mobility, LLC v. Lumintec, LLC, IPR2022-00430 (PTAB 2022).
Successfully defended major aerospace company in action for preliminary injunction in the Eastern District of Texas, including a finding by the Court that our client “raised a substantial question that the asserted patent claims are invalid as obvious.” The case was transferred to the Central District of California and resolved favorably after successful inter partes and ex parte challenges to the asserted patents. B/E Aerospace, Inc. v. C&D Zodiac Inc. et al., 2:16-cv-01417 (E.D. Tex. 2016); 2:19-cv-01480 (C.D. Cal. 2019); IPR2017-01275, -01276, PGR2017-00019, IPR2022-00749 (PTAB 2022).
Successfully defended the validity of two patents related to mechanical shoe cushioning systems in inter partes reviews brought by defendant in a patent infringement action, which led to favorable resolution of the parallel litigation. adidas AG v. Skechers USA, Inc., 3:16-CV-1400-SI (D. Or. filed Jul. 11, 2016); Skechers USA, Inc. v. adidas AG, IPR2017-00125, -127, -320, -322, 847 (PTAB 2017).
Prevailed on behalf of Petitioner Google Inc. in two inter partes reviews challenging the validity of patents related to processing and transmitting digital content. The PTAB found all challenged claims in both proceedings unpatentable. Google Inc. v. Summit 6 LLC, IPR2015-00806, -807 (PTAB 2015).
Asserted a portfolio of patents related to digital sports and fitness tracking, including successfully defending the validity of the patents challenged at the PTAB, leading to a successful settlement on the eve of trial. adidas AG v. Under Armour, No. 14-CV-130-GMS (D. Del. filed Feb. 4, 2014); Under Armour, Inc. v. adidas AG, IPR2015-00694, -695, -696, -698, -700, (PTAB 2015).
Served as counsel for leading domestic furniture innovation and manufacturing company in a patent, contract, and alleged trade secrets suit brought by furniture company relating to furniture mechanisms and related matters. American Leather Operations LLC v. Ultra-Mek, Inc., No. 3:13-cv-04496 (N.D. Tex. 2013), successfully transferred and resolved. American Leather Operations LLC v. Ultra-Mek Inc., No. 1:14-cv-00295 (M.D. N.C.).
Successfully invalidated at the PTAB a patent related to network storage and delivery asserted by Intellectual Ventures against Motorola. Motorola Mobility LLC v. Intellectual Ventures I LLC, No. CBM2015-00004 (PTAB 2014).
Served as counsel for a major financial institution in a patent suit related to financial services, credit cards, debits cards, and related technology. Case resolved before trial. Card Verification Solutions LLC v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 1:13-cv-06342 (N.D. Ill. 2013).
Counsel for petitioner in an inter partes review filed against a patent asserted in the District of Vermont. Final Written Decision issued on February 11, 2014 invalidating all asserted claims as anticipated under 35 U.S.C. 102. Motorola Mobility LLC v. Arnouse Digital Device Corp., Case No. IPR 2013-00010 (PTAB 2013).
Represented AT&T in a patent litigation related to video and audio communications. Case resolved before trial. Pragmatus Telecom, LLC v. AT&T, Inc., No. 1:12-cv-01536 (D. Del. 2012).
Successfully defended a major bank in patent litigation related to automated financial transactions. The Middle District of Florida granted summary judgment of invalidity of all asserted claims. Every Penny Counts, Inc. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 8:11-cv-02826 (M.D. Fla. 2011).
Represented T-Mobile, Sharp, and Motorola Mobility against patent infringement claims related to mobile phone interfaces. Case resolved before trial. GellyFish Technology of Texas LLC v. Alltel Corp et al., No. 2:11-cv-00216 (E.D. Tex. 2011).
Defended United Airlines, U.S. Airways, and Air Canada in the District of Delaware where CyberFone Systems LLC filed multiple actions alleging infringement by customer travel managements systems. Case resolved before trial. Cyberfone Systems LLC v. Federal Express Corporation, et al., No. 11-cv-00834 (D. Del. 2011); Cyberfone Systems LLC v. Amazon.com, et al., No. 11-cv-00831 (D. Del. 2011).
Defended United Airlines in patent infringement case related to a mobile services network platform and corresponding date processing systems. Case resolved before trial. MacroSolve, Inc. v. United Airlines, Inc., No. 11-694 (E.D. Tex. 2011).
Defended AT&T in the Eastern District of Texas in patent litigation related to video delivery systems. Case resolved before trial. Garnet Digital, LLC v. Apple, Inc., et al., No. 11-647 (E.D. Tex. 2011).
Counsel for Red Hat, Inc., Amazon.com, SoftLayer Technologies, Rackspace, Whole Foods, The Planet.com Internet Services, and NYSE Euronext in a patent infringement litigation regarding caching functionality in the Linux operating system in the Eastern District of Texas. A favorable settlement occurred shortly before trial. Bedrock Computer Technologies, LLC v. SoftLayer Technologies Inc., et al., No. 06-269 (E.D. Tex. 2009) and Red Hat Inc. v. Bedrock Computer Technologies, LLC, No. 09-549 (E.D. Tex. 2009).
Defended Red Hat in a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Software Tree LLC asserting a patent related to object-relational mapping (ORM) software. Case settled shortly before trial. Software Tree LLC v. Red Hat Inc. et al., No. 6:09-cv-00097 (E.D. Tex. 2009).
Represented Wachovia Bank, Branch Banking & Trust Company, M&T Bank and Comerica Bank against DataTreasury in patent infringement suits in the Eastern District of Texas. The patents at issue involved various technologies, including telecommunications, electronic payment and clearing systems, software, business methods, and electrical and mechanical devices. The plaintiff in these cases sued more than 40 defendants, including many leading banks and financial institutions. Cases settled in 2009 and 2010 shortly before trial. DataTreasury Corp. v. Wachovia Corp., et al., No. 05-0293 (E.D. Tex. 2005) and DataTreasury Corp. v. Wells Fargo & Co., et al., No. 06-0072 (E.D. Tex. 2006).
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Patent Office Rolls Back Director Vidal's Guidance on PTAB Discretionary Denials
Federal Circuit Confirms that AAPA May Not Form the Basis of a Ground in an IPR
University of Florida College of Law J.D. (2008) with honors
Georgia Institute of Technology B.S. (2005) Electrical Engineering, with honors
Georgia (2018)
North Carolina (2008)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2012)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (2012)
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2008)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2008)
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