Deborah Neville, Of Counsel
Deborah Neville has practiced intellectual property law as
a registered patent attorney since 1988. She focuses on
protection and exploitation of rights via patent, trademark
and copyright, and trade secret law. Her approach to IP
rights supports effective and vigorous IP monetization -
obtaining maximum return on the investments in IP.
Deborah's clients include a wide range of technology
companies (internet, nanotech, hardware, software,
integrated circuit design and manufacture methods,
analytical test and measurement, DNA chips, digital content
delivery, network security, medical devices) and businesses
(travel, nutrition, food, fitness, health, construction,
architecture, design, clothing, cosmetics, sporting gear,
distance learning, games and toys) and well as musicians,
writers, artists in established and new media.
As a litigator in Los Angeles in 1988, Deborah was defense
counsel on the Lemelson v. Mattel "Hot Wheels" patent
infringement case. She also represented a major independent
film studio in Alan Menken v. Concorde New Horizons,
concerning disposition of rights to "Little Shop of
Horrors". She also performed copyright clearance, trademark
services and tech savvy counsel ( often to in-house studio
counsel) for new technology for a variety of entertainment
industry clients, as well as patent counseling and
acquisition for technology clients.
From 1993-2000 Deborah was corporate IP counsel to Hewlett
Packard Corporation and later to Agilent. Her
responsibilities included IP acquisition and portfolio
management for business units ranging in up to a billion in
revenues. She identified under-exploited IP and implemented
an international licensing program which generated
significant royalties from Japan and other markets. Ms.
Neville also served on the standards working group with the
studios and consumer electronics manufacturers for putting
movies on DVDs. She also provided strategic counsel to the
then director of HP Labs regarding competitors and their
activities in Hollywood specifically and the
entertainment/media business generally.
She has been IP Of Counsel to Silicon Valley and LA based
multinational law firms, and served as General Counsel to
ASF, a digital imaging software company prior to its
acquisition by Kodak.
Her most recent Federal jury trial involved Lanham Act and
breach of publishing contract claims brought between NY
based editor Otto Penzler and New Millennium Entertainment.
Deborah has been an internationally invited speaker on many
topics, ranging from Patents in the Entertainment Industry
(UCLA Extension) to Software Patents and Licensing;
Nanotech Investment Forum and Siggraph "Copyright Policy
and Graphic Artists"; "Offensive and Defensive Use of
Patents "(UCSD). Deboarh has served as Adjunct professor at
San Jose State University School of Business, teaching
Corporate Law for Entrepreneurs.
Her book was selected by Fortune Book of the Month Club .
The Great American Idea Book: How to Make Money from Your
Ideas for Movies, Music, Books, Inventions, Businesses and
Almost Anything Else! is an IP guidebook co-authored with
novelist/screenwriter Bob Coleman; published in both hard
and softcover by W.W. Norton. The 2006 updated version is
in preparation.
Deborah received her J.D. from University of California
Hastings College of the Law J.D. and her B.A. in
Physics/Biology (with honors) from The Catholic University
of America Wash, D.C. and studied graduate level
Neuroscience /Physiological-Cognitive Psychology at The
University of California at San Diego.
She is founder and past chair of the Beverly HIlls Bar
Association New Technology Section; has served in
leadership roles in Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law
Association, and American Intellectual Property Law
Association.
She is licensed to practice law in California and Texas and
is a patent attorney registered to practice before the
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Deborah reads voraciously, cooks intermittently, is fond of
chocolate, and practices aikido (a Japanese martial art).
She is ranked first degree black belt by the Aikikai
Foundation in Tokyo Japan and her teacher is Hiroshi Kato
of Suginami Aikikai in Ogikubo, Tokyo.