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Douglas G. Muehlhauser is a partner in our Orange County office.
Mr. Muehlhauser represents clients in litigation matters concerning intellectual property. He has extensive experience in patent litigation, including trials and appeals. In addition to litigation, Mr. Muehlhauser also has extensive experience prosecuting patents before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Mr. Muehlhauser's practice involves a wide variety of subject matter with a particular focus on computer hardware and software, laboratory instrumentation and also medical devices, compounds and processes.
Mr. Muehlhauser joined the firm in 1995 and became a partner in 2000.
Clerk Experience
Judicial Extern for the Honorable John S. Rhoades, Sr. at the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, Summer 1994
Education
University of San Diego School of Law (USD)
(J.D., 1995), National Trial Team
Pepperdine University
(M.B.A. Business Administration, 1991)
University of California - San Diego
(B.A. Computer Science, 1984)
PrinterOn Inc. v. BreezyPrint Corp.
Achieved a complete defense victory of summary judgment of non-infringement for client BreezyPrint in a lawsuit brought by its competitor PrinterOn. The case, filed in the Southern District of Texas, concerned four patents related to printing software. Filed early motions for summary judgment shortly after fact discovery began and won on the construction of all twelve disputed patent claim terms, resulting in the grant of case-dispositive summary judgment. The Judge noted that the patents claim “antiquated technology” and compared PrinterOn’s lawsuit to an argument that a patent on “the oil wick lamp would make infringing the light bulb,” and noted that PrinterOn’s allegations were therefore “troubling on a policy level.”
Nomadix, Inc. v. Wayport, Inc., Superclick, Inc. and Superclick Networks, Inc., civil action no. 2:09-cv-08441, Central District of California, Hon. Dean D. Pregerson.
Lead counsel representing Nomadix, Inc. as plaintiff asserting infringement claims under seven patents in the area of network access technologies. Obtained favorable settlement of case against the Wayport and Superclick entities, including a license to AT&T under Nomadix’s internet access patents.Case filed: November 2009 | Case dismissed: March 2013
Nobel Biocare USA, LLC v. Technique D’Usinage Sinlab, Inc., civil action no. 1:12-cv-00730, Hon. Leonie M. Brinkema.
Represented Nobel Biocare as declaratory judgment plaintiff in defense of infringement claims under four patents related to dental implant technology. Obtained favorable claim construction and summary judgment of non-infringement under all four patents.Case filed: July 2012 | Case dismissed: January 2013
Nomadix, Inc. v. Hewlett-Packard Co. and Colubris, Inc., civil action no. 2:09-cv-08441, Central District of California, Hon. Dean D. Pregerson.
Lead counsel representing Nomadix, Inc. as plaintiff asserting six patents in the area of network access technologies. Obtained favorable settlement and license for Nomadix, including licensing to HP key portions of Nomadix’s patent portfolio in Internet access technologies.Case filed: November 2009 | Case dismissed: November 2012
Richard A. Williamson on behalf of At Home Bondholders’ Liquidating Trust v. FuzeBox, Inc., et al., civil action no. 2:11-cv-02409, Central District of California, Hon. A. Howard Matz.
Lead counsel representing FuzeBox, Inc. in defending patent infringement claim related to video conferencing technology. Negotiated favorable, early dismissal for client.Case filed: March 2011 | Case dismissed: August 2012
Internet Media Corp. v. Freedom Communications, Inc., civil action no. 1:10-cv-00690, District of Delaware, Hon. Sue L. Robinson.
Lead counsel representing Freedom Communications in defending patent infringement claim related to website access using jump codes. Negotiated settlement, and obtained dismissal and favorable license terms for client.Case filed: August 2010 | Case dismissed: June 2012
W.E.T. Automotive Systems, Ltd. v. Amerigon, Inc., civil action no. 2:10-cv-10527, Hon. Victoria A. Roberts.
Lead counsel representing Amerigon, Inc. and Feher Design, Inc. in asserting infringement claims under five patents and defending against infringement claims under eight different patents. The patents related to heating and cooling systems for automobile seats. Acquisition by client Amerigon resulted in dismissal of litigation.Case filed: February 2010 | Case dismissed June 2011
Nomadix, Inc. v. Guest-Tek Interactive Entertainment, Inc., civil action no. 2:09-cv-08441, Central District of California, Hon. Dean D. Pregerson.
Lead counsel representing Nomadix, Inc. as plaintiff asserting seven patents in the area of network access technologies. Negotiated settlement and obtained favorable terms in licensing patents to Guest-Tek.Case filed: November 2009 | Case dismissed: March 2011
Nomadix, Inc. v. LodgeNet Interactive Corp. and LodgeNet Stayonline, Inc., civil action no. 2:09-cv-08441, Central District of California, Hon. Dean D. Pregerson.
Lead counsel representing Nomadix, Inc. as plaintiff asserting six patents in the area of network access technologies. Obtained favorable outcome for Nomadix, including strategic alliance with LodgeNet marketing Nomadix’s Internet access gateways.Case filed: November 2009 | Case dismissed: January 2011
Correct Craft IP Holdings, LLC v. Malibu Boats, LLC, civil action no. 6:09cv813, Middle Dist. of Florida, Hon. John Antoon.
Lead counsel representing Malibu Boats in defense of infringement claims under six patents asserted related to wakeboard towers. Investigated, pleaded and maintained strong defenses, including inequitable conduct, leading to favorable settlement and licensing terms for client.Case filed: May 2009 | Case dismissed May 2010
Nomadix, Inc. v. Second Rule, LLC, CV-07-1946 (2007).
Represented plaintiff in patent infringement action on patents directed to systems and methods for hosting Internet hot spots. Obtained favorable claim construction and defeated summary judgment motion attempting to invalidate patent claims. Obtained TRO and positioned case for entry of defendant’s default.
Pfizer Inc. et al. v. Ranbaxy Labs. Ltd. et al., 1:07-cv-00138 (2007).
Represented defendants in patent infringement action on method patent relating to the use of atorvastatin calcium/amlodipine besylate (the active ingredients in Pfizer’s Caduet® product). Achieved favorable case-dispositive settlement for client.
Pfizer Inc. v. Ranbaxy Laboratories, Inc., 457 F.3d 1284 (Fed. Cir. 2006).
Represented Ranbaxy Laboratories as trial and appeal counsel. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed in part the decision of the district court, and found invalid a key patent claim relating to an important cholesterol drug.
A.M. Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. J.C. Ford Co., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50888 (N.D. Ill 2006).
Represented J.C. Ford as lead counsel and obtained dismissal of patent lawsuit based on lack of jurisdiction.
Intelligent Computer Solutions, Inc. v. Voom Technologies, Inc., CV-05-5168 (2005).
Represented defendant in patent infringement action on patent directed to forensic duplication of computer hard disks. Obtained favorable claim construction and favorable tentative ruling on motion for summary judgment of no infringement, and quickly achieved favorable case-dispositive settlement for client prior to hearing on summary judgment motion.
Princeton Biochemicals, Inc. v. Beckman Coulter, Inc., 411 F.3d 1332 (Fed. Cir. 2005).
Represented Beckman Coulter as trial and appeal counsel. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed rulings of non-infringement and patent invalidity in favor of Beckman Coulter.
IP3 Networks, Inc. v. Nomadix, Inc., 04-CV-1485 (2004).
Represented patent owner in declaratory judgment action on patents directed to systems and methods for hosting Internet hot spots. Achieved favorable case-dispositive settlement for client.
Univ. of North Dakota v. James Hardie Research, et al., A2-04-162 (2004).
Represented defendant in intellectual property contract dispute. Obtained preliminary injunction and summary judgment in client’s favor. Achieved favorable case-dispositive settlement for client.
Dynacore Holdings Corp. v. U.S. Phillips Corp., ADS Technologies, Inc., et al., 363 F.3d 1263 (Fed. Cir. 2004); Dynacore Holdings Corp. v. U.S. Phillips Corp., 243 F. Supp. 2d 31 (S.D.N.Y. 2003).
Represented defendant ADS Technologies in patent infringement action on patent directed to LAN networks with enhanced communication capability. Obtained dispositive summary judgment ruling of non-infringement, and obtained affirmance on appeal.
Glaxo Group v. Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (D.N.J.) (No. 00-5172 MLC). Litigation and trial counsel for defendant Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Ranbaxy) in a patent infringement action against Glaxo Group Ltd. (Glaxo). The District Court entered judgment of non-infringement in favor of Ranbaxy.
Vitalcom, Inc. v. Telemetry For Medicine, Inc., Case No. 812533 (Cal. Superior Ct.). Litigation counsel for plaintiff Vitalcom in trade secret misappropriation case.
Obtained final judgment and injunctive relief.
Sontek Industries, Inc. v. Hudson Respiratory Care, Inc., CV 97-11223 (D. Mass.), aff’d, (Fed. Cir. 1998).
Sontek Industries, Inc. v. Hudson Respiratory Care, Inc., CV 97-11223 (D. Mass.), aff’d, (Fed. Cir. 1998). Litigation counsel for defendant, a medical device company; established that the asserted patent was invalid for obviousness.
The Beam System, Inc. v. Checkpoint Systems, Inc., 42 U.S.P.Q. 2d 1461 (C.D. Cal. 1997). Litigation counsel for defendant in computer software copyright infringement lawsuit.
Obtained a dismissal of the entire action based upon plaintiff's violation of court order.
Awards & Honors
- Named to the Daily Journal's list of 2018 "Top Intellectual Property Lawyers in California"
- Selected by The Recorder as one of just four intellectual property litigators to receive the "Giant Slayers" individual recognition for his work in an ITC investigation featured in the publication's annual 2017 "Litigation Department of the Year" awards.
Articles
"Sued for Patent Infringement? Don't Miss the Early Exit Signs," Intellectual Property Today, November 1, 2013 (co-author).
“In Pfaff Case Court Clarifies On-Sale Bar,” Nat’l L.J., Feb. 8, 1999 (I.P. Supp.) at 1 (co-author).
Don W. Martens and Douglas G. Muehlhauser, Recent Patent Decisions (1999).
"Gambling Lawyer's Fees in Copyright Cases: The Second Legacy of the Fogerty Litigation" (co-author).