Tim F. Williams

Experience:

Tim F. Williams represents clients in all types of intellectual property disputes, with a focus on patent and trademark litigation.

Tim is on the board of directors and general counsel for the firm and is presently chair of the Litigation group.

Tim represents clients in a wide range of industries, including software companies, electrical and mechanical component companies, and chemical companies, among others.

With over twenty-five years of experience, Tim’s  litigation and trial practice in federal and state courts includes handling cases involving claims of patent, trademark, or copyright infringement, claims of unfair trade practices or anti-trust violations, commercial disputes having warranty, misrepresentation, and breach of contract claims, as well as a variety of complex business cases. Additionally, Tim has experience in contested administrative proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including post grant review proceedings (e.g. inter partes review and reexamination of U.S. patents) and trademark oppositions.

Tim’s practice also involves the preparation and drafting of infringement and non-infringement opinions, clearance opinions, prosecution of patent and trademark applications, corporate acquisitions, and assisting clients in managing international intellectual property portfolios.

Tim previously testified in support of written opinions of counsel defending against charges of willful infringement.

Tim has prosecuted cases regarding the alleged infringement of trademarks relating to shoes, tires, art, clothing, and lighting products, among others.

Copyright disputes handled by Tim have involved architectural drawings, website graphics, books, art, and computer programs, among others.

Professional Background:

• Education: Clemson University (B.S., Chemical Engineering, magna cum laude, 1st in class, 1989); University of Texas, Ph.D. candidate Chemical Engineering (research of polymeric impregnation with supercritical fluids); University of South Carolina (J.D., cum laude, 1994).
• Admission: U.S. District Court of South Carolina; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit.
• Civic and Community Service: Federal Circuit Bar Association; American Intellectual Property Law Association; Carolina Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Association (Board of Directors, President 2005-2006), Graduate, Riley Institute, Diversity Leaders Initiative; Volunteer Solicitor, 7th Judicial Circuit, (Spartanburg County, 2011); New Prospect Baptist Church (Chairman of Deacon Board 2012-2013; Building Program 2013-2014).
• Honors: The Best Lawyers in America (Intellectual Property Law); Editor in Chief, South Carolina Law Review 1993-94; Order of the Coif; Order of the Wig and Robe; Moot Court; American Institute of Chemical Engineers Academic Achievement Award; Managing Intellectual Property “IP Star” for patent office proceedings and patent prosecution (2020/21).
• Publications: Tim F. Williams & Maegen W. Stokes, When Has a Patentee Performed a Reasonable Pre-Suit Investigation Under Rule 11?, Dority & Manning (June, 13 2018), available here; Tim F. Williams & Seth E. Jones, Avoiding Knowledge of a U.S. Patent Does Not Preclude Willful Infringement, Dority & Manning (February 13, 2018), available here; When Copying Becomes Criminal: The Stiff Criminal Penalties for Copyright Infringement, South Carolina Lawyer, May 2003, at 32.

Representative Cases

• Certain High-Density Fiber Optic Equipment and Components Thereof (337-TA-1194), International Trade Commission, Section 337 Investigation (defended against multiple patents concerning high-density fiber optic equipment)

• University of South Florida Research Foundation, Inc. v. Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., d/b/a “GE Appliances,”D. Fla. (defended against patent relating to volumetric controls for fluid dispensing, asserted IPR against the patent)

• InVue Security Products Inc. v. Vanguard Products Groups, Inc., M.D. Fla. (asserted multiple patents relating to merchandise security systems, defended against related IPRs)

• Mobile Tech Inc. v. InVue Security Products Inc., Or. (defended against patents relating merchandise security systems and trademark claims)

• InVue Security Products v. Mobile Tech Inc., D.N.C. (asserted multiple patents relating to merchandise security systems and trademark claims)

• Z94 Inc et al. v. Salt Life, LLC, S.D. Cal. (defended against trademark claims)

• Achieve It Inc. v. Napoleon Hill Foundation, D.S.C. (asserted trademark claims)

• Johnson Screens, Inc. et al. v. Polydeck Screen Corp., W.D. Pa. (defended against patent claims)

• Michelin North America v. Aeolus Tire., N.D. Ala. (asserted design patent relating to tires)

• Michelin North America v. Dynamic Tire Corporation et al., N.D.N.Y. (asserted design patent and copyright infringement relating to tires, asserted implied passing off, false advertising, and unfair competition claims under the Lanham Act)

• IPR2020-00018 (represented patent owner in inter partes review of patent relating to merchandise security systems)

• IPR2019-01206,1209 (represented patent owner in inter partes review of patents relating to optical communications)

• IPR2019-01510 (represented petitioner in inter partes review of patent relating to volumetric controls for fluid dispensing)

• IPR2014-01361 (represented petitioner in inter partes review of patent relating to electrolytes for capacitors).

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