News & Events

Keep up to date with announcements, events, and the latest industry publications from D&M.

Court Declines to Apply Trademark Aesthetic Functionality Defense to Design Patents

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan recently held that the concept of aesthetic functionality, which may be used to invalidate a trademark, does not apply to design patents. Auto. Body Parts Ass’n v. Ford Global Techs., LLC, No. 2:15-cv-10137, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26290, at *1 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 20, …

Avoiding Knowledge of a U.S. Patent Does Not Preclude Willful Infringement

When patent infringement is determined, 35 U.S.C. § 284 permits courts to “increase the damages up to three times the amount found or assessed.”  In Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc., 136 S. Ct. 1923 (2016), the Supreme Court held that such enhanced damages are “designed as a ‘punitive’ or ‘vindictive’ sanction for egregious …

Dority & Manning Mourns the Passing of Founder Wellington M. Manning, Jr.

Mackie Manning, one of the founding partners of Dority & Manning, P.A., passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2017.  He was 81 years old. A chemical engineer by trade, Manning’s keen interest in law led him to law school at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  Manning supported his family while attending law …

Jason Jennings and Thomas Huycke Elected Principals

Dority & Manning is proud to announce the election of Jason Jenningsand Thomas Huycke as Principals of the firm. Both Jason and Tommy have been practicing intellectual property law since 2009. Tommy focuses his practice on the management of global intellectual property portfolios, and has extensive experience in prosecuting U.S. and international patent and trademark …

Dority & Manning Attorneys Named to Legal Elite of the Upstate

Dority & Manning is proud to announce that principals Alan R. Marshall and J. Parks Workman were named Legal Elite of the Upstate in the area of Intellectual Property Law by Greenville Business Magazine. Alan concentrates his practice on managing patent portfolios and related issues for corporate clients and universities. He has particular experience in …

Yusuf Hasan Joins Dority & Manning

Dority & Manning is proud to announce that Yusuf A. Hasan has joined the firm. Yusuf earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University; and a J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law.

Jason Pittman, Edward Kiessing, and Robert Williams Join Dority & Manning

Dority & Manning is proud to announce that Jason A. Pittman has joined the firm. Jason is a member of the South Carolina Bar. Jason earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The Citadel; and a J.D. from Charleston School of Law. Edward H. Kiessling has also joined Dority & Manning. Eddie is registered to …

Erik Sivertson and Seth Thorp Join Dority & Manning

Dority & Manning is proud to announce that Erik K. Sivertson has joined the firm. Erik is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the South Carolina Bar. Erik earned a B.S. in Physics-Engineering from Washington and Lee University (summa cum laude); and a J.D. from The …

Matt Sutch and Crockett Hailey Join Dority & Manning

Dority & Manning is proud to announce that Matthew J. Sutch has joined the firm. Matt’s skills and experience expand the firm’s capabilities in the electromechanical and mechanical arts. Matt is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the California Bar. Matt earned a B.S. in Mechanical …

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