John Charles Merchant

The Law Office of John Merchant provides professional legal service to individuals and growing businesses. We research and analyze prior art, prepare and prosecute U.S. patents, trademarks and copyrights, and draft contracts and licensing documents aimed at preserving intellectual property assets and maximizing profits.  We also assist business clients on a variety of general business law matters.

 John Merchant has been practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1992.  He is a licensed U.S. patent attorney and member of the California State Bar.  He earned his undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley.  He earned his J.D. and LLM in Intellectual Property Law from Santa Clara University School of Law. John handles all matters personally to provide quality legal services at a fair price.

 ADMISSIONS/LICENSES

•  Registered to Practice Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

• Licensed Attorney, California
• Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
• United States District Court of California, Northern District

 EDUCATION

• Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, California

            L.L.M. Intellectual Property Law, 2005.

• Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, California

            J.D. 1991

       - Associate Editor, Computer and High Technology Law Journal, Spring 1991

       - American Jurisprudence Award; Criminal Law

       - Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition

       - Additional Coursework: Patent Licensing, Software Patents, Summer 2000

• University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California

           B.A. Rhetoric, 1987

       - Also completed scientific coursework exceeding eligibility requirements for   the USPTO admission including coursework in physics, calculus, physical and organic chemistry, biology, and genetics and computer software development.

 MEMBERSHIPS

• Alameda Country Bar Association
• San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association
• American Bar Association

 COMMUNITY SERVICE

• All Saints Food Pantry, San Leandro, CA  - Volunteer 

 REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Utility Patents
     - Immersive Video Conference System: US Pat. No. 8638354

        - Method of Composing Music on a Handheld Device:  US Pat. No. 7893338

        - Waterproof Deck Flashing System and Method: US Pat. No. 8869466

        - Hanger Device and Method fo Hanging Objects:  US Pat. No. 809152

• Design Patents   - Hanger Device: US Pat. No. D658489S1
     - Wetsuit Entry Device: US Pat. No. D727592
     - Suspended Solar Illuminated Vase: US Pat. No. D641655S1
     - Jewelry Display: US Pat. No. D610834
  
• Trademark Trials and Appeals Board
     - Acusport v. Vertical Communications, Inc. - Settled
• NonProfit 501(c)(3) Public Benefit Corporation Formations   - Dentists Organized for Veterans, Orinda, CA