Robert Houpt Thornburg

A Miami Patent Attorney, Robert Thornburg is a nationally recognized intellectual property litigation specialist who has a built a reputation over the past 15 years in bet-your-business patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and technology focused litigation on behalf of international and Florida-based businesses. In addition, he has filed over 400 trademark applications and over 100 patent applications on diverse technologies. Outside of IP litigation and prosecution, he also assists technology businesses in orchestrating counterfeit defense campaigns; negotiating and drafting intellectual property agreements; addressing domain name disputes, as well as assisting in DMCA take down proceedings.

In recent years, Mr. Thornburg served on the board of directors of the Association of Intellectual Property Firms (AIPF). He is a past president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Florida (IPLAF). Mr. Thornburg is also on the Executive Counsel of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar and a former chair of the section’s Intellectual Property Committee and the section’s Computer & Cyber Law Committee.

Mr. Thornburg is passionate about advancing the rights of artists, photographers, musicians, and content creators in the Miami area. In 2013, he founded the Miami Chapter of the Copyright Society of the USA, where he is the chapter co-chair. He is also active in the Coral Gables community as a member of the Merrick Society of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, a trustee to First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables and an active supporter of St. Philips Episcopal School.

Mr. Thornburg is also a strong supporter of University of Florida where serves on the Law Center Association (LCA) Board of Trustees and is a former president of the University of Florida Law Alumni Council (LAC).

While at Florida Law, Robert served as Vice-Chair of the Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board. Mr. Thornburg is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Technology Law & Policy, and President of the Florida Intellectual Property Law Association.

Mr. Thornburg is an active lecturer on topics relating to intellectual property and has served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, the University of Miami Miller School of Law, Florida State University College of Law, and the University of Notre Dame College of Engineering.

Affiliations

University of Florida Law Center Association Board of Trustees (2018- Present)

University of Florida Law Alumni Council (President, 2016-2017; President-Elect, 2015-2016; Secretary, 2014-2015)

Copyright Society of the U.S.A. (Executive Committee/Co-Chair 2018 Mid-Year National Meeting, 2017-2018)

Copyright Society of the U.S.A., Miami Chapter (Chapter Founder, Co-Chair, 2015-2019)

Association of Intellectual Property Firms (Board of Directors, 2017-2018)

First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables (Trustee, 2016-2018)

Coral Gables Community Foundation, Merrick Society Member (2016-2019)

Intellectual Property Law Association of Florida (President, 2013-2014; Vice Pres., 2012-2013; Secretary, 2011-2012)

Publications

Electronic Discovery in Florida, The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 80, No. 9 (October 2006)

Trade Secrets in the Digital Age, ABA SciTech Law Journal, Vol. 3, Issue 1 (May 2006)

Trademark Survey Evidence: Review of Current Trends in the Ninth Circuit, 21 Santa Clara Comp. & High Tech. L. J. 715 (2005)

Choice of Law in International Copyright: The Split of Authority Between the Second and Ninth Circuits Regarding Extraterritorial Application of the Copyright Act, 10 J. Tech. L. & Pol’y 23 (2005)

L.L.M. Dissertation, Trademark Surveys: Development of Computer Based Survey Methods, 3 J. Marshall Rev. Intellectual P. L. (2004)

Stadium Naming Rights: An Assessment of the Contract and Trademark Issues Inherent to Both Professional and Collegiate Stadiums, 2 VA. Sports & Ent. L.J. 328 (2003)

Florida Privacy Law: Application of Intentional Tort Principles and Florida’s Right to Privacy as Safeguards to Private Dissemination of Private Information, 4 Fla. Coastal L.J. 139 (2003)

The Impact of Copyright Law on Distance Education Programs: How Fair Use and the CONFU Guidelines May Shape the Future of Academia, 27 S. Ill U.L.J. 321 (2003)

Recognition

Best Lawyers in America, Copyright Law: 2013‑2020

Florida Super Lawyers: 2013‑2019 (Top 100 Attorneys in Miami: 2017 & 2019)

Rising Stars: 2010‑2012

South Florida Legal Guide – Intellectual Property Law: 2013‑2019

Miami Daily Business Review, Rising Stars: 2013

Florida Trend Legal Elite, Up and Comers: 2010 & 2012

40 Under 40 Outstanding Attorneys of Miami‑Dade County: 2009