Karen B. Tripp
Attorney at Law

An Intellectual Property Boutique-Established 1998 Example Representations

Patent prosecution work related to drilling fluids for a multi-national oil field services corporation; all patent and trademark work and related contract advice for an eco-friendly agriculture chemicals company; all patent transactional work and related legal advice for a start-up water desalination and purification company; local counsel in federal district court litigation and provided assistance with preparation and filing of appellate amicus briefs for two national non-profit corporations; lead counsel in federal court defense in multiple trademark and/or copyright infringement lawsuits.

Services Provided

Legal counseling to industry--ranging from multi-national corporations to start-up companies--and individuals concerning patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property matters.

Prepare and prosecute U.S. and foreign patent applications, primarily related to the oil industry. Also prepare and prosecute applications for registration of trademarks and copyrights.

Provide patent validity and infringement opinions, trademark infringement opinions and copyright infringement opinions. Also, provide opinions related to due diligence and pre-purchase/license investigations, in subjects primarily related to the oil industry.

Handle or assist with litigation involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, and/or contracts at the federal trial court level and with the preparation and filing of amicus briefs in federal appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Bring and defend ICAAN proceedings to recover and protect domain names.

Prepare and negotiate various types of agreements concerning intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, software, trade secret licenses, technical services agreements, and confidentiality agreements.

Handled all aspects of pre-trial intellectual property litigation leading to settlement or trial, including preparing and responding to discovery requests, motions, briefs, bench memoranda, and jury instructions, and taking and defending depositions. Worked on lawsuits involving carpet stain blockers, phenylene sulfide polymers, catalysts, oil field tools, computer memory products and chip manufacturing processes, computer software, and copyrighted designs in federal courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission, all of which settled. First chair and Attorney-in-Charge in Novell, Inc. v. CPU Distributing, Inc., Terry L. Green and Leroy Hunter (settled), and Microsoft, Inc. v. CPU Distributing, Inc., Terry Green, Michael Jaks, and Robert Castro (settled), software copyright and trademark infringement lawsuits in Federal District Court in Houston, Texas.

Prepared patent validity and infringement opinions and opinions related to due diligence and pre-purchase/license investigations, in subjects ranging from pharmaceuticals and chemicals to computer chip manufacturing processes and designs.

Prepared and prosecuted U.S. and foreign patent applications or supervised same, primarily concerning matters related to the oil industry. Prepared and prosecuted U.S. trademark registration applications and U.S. copyright registration applications. Advised and counseled companies on various intellectual property matters and internet issues.

Prepared and negotiated various types of agreements concerning intellectual property, including patent, software, and trade secret licenses, technical services agreements, and confidentiality agreements.

Creator, Program Planner, and Master of Ceremonies for First Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference for Women Corporate Counsel (held Sept. 10-13, 1997, Scottsdale, Arizona) and Second Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference for Women Corporate Counsel (held July 22-25, 1998, Dallas, Texas). Member, Law Clerks (recruiting) Committee, 1989-1990. Scribe to Managing Board, 1996.

Primary Law Contact for the following Divisions: Reservoir; Reservoir Technology (Aramco); Technical Information; Offshore Systems; Project Services; Exploration Concepts; and Geophysical Data Quality. Primary Law Contact for Export Administration matters, Records Management Program; tax matters; and marine safety concerns.

Provided general legal consultation, often regarding legal aspects of conducting field studies or tests and publishing technical papers. Prepared and negotiated various types of agreements, including confidentiality; technical and/or consulting services; equipment and facility leases; and technology licenses. Prepared patent applications and handled U.S. and foreign patent prosecution, primarily in enhanced oil recovery methods, also in seismic exploration systems. Assisted with some business-related litigation. Sat-in for General Counsel a number of times.

Secretary, Reservoir Patent Committee; Secretary, Esso Resources Canada Limited Patent Committee; Member, Non-exempt Compensation Committee; Member, Antitrust Compliance Committee.

Developed strategies for licensing Exxon technology and served as a contact for outside parties for licensing inquiries. Prepared guidelines and participated in developing policies regarding conditions and fees for transferring technology to Exxon affiliates worldwide. Prepared the first annual licensing newsletter for two foreign affiliates. Forecasted royalty income for annual budget and compiled 1987 Financial Forecast and Capital Budget Report. Coordinated visits and agendas for several U.S. and foreign visitors. Handled some public relations correspondence and a press release.

Did legal research, title searches, and drafted some trial briefs. Drafted brief for the appellant to Alabama Supreme Court in a bond for title case that prevailed and changed Alabama law in effect for over 50 years.

Publications

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2020, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2020).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2019, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2020).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2019, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2019).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2019, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2019).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2018, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2018)

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2018, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2018).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2017, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2017).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2017, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2017).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2016, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2016).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2016, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2016).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2015, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2015).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2015, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2015).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2014, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2014).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2014, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2014).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2013, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2013).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2013, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2013).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2012, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2012).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2012, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2012).

• PATENT LAW REVIEW 2011, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2011).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2011, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2011).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2011, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2011).

• UPDATE FOR COPYRIGHT LITIGATION HANDBOOK 2011, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., (2011)

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2010, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2010).

• PATENT LAW REVIEW 2010, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2010).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2010, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2010).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2009, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2009).

• PATENT LAW REVIEW 2009, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2009).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2009, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2009).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2008, The Thomson West Group, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2008).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2008, The Thomson West Group, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2008).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2007, The Thomson West Group, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2007).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2007, The Thomson West Group, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2007).

• Correcting Common Client Misconceptions About Protecting Trademarks, EXECUTIVE LEGAL ADVISOR (May/June 2007).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2006, The Thomson West Group, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2006).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2005, The Thomson West Group, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2005).

• Efforts to Copyright the Law, Recipes, and other Tales Relating to How Far Some Attempt to Take Copyright, Intellectual Property-A Means for Worldwide Protection Conference, Center for International Legal Studies, October 20, 2004, Sunshine Coast, Australia.

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2004, The West Group, New York, N.Y., editor (2004).

• What Lawyers Can Copy in Daily Practice, Including the "Law", State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law CLE, March 6-7, 2003, Austin, Texas.

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2003, The West Group, New York, N.Y., editor (2003).

• Copyrighting the Law, Not!, 9 (1) THE IP LITIGATOR 1-6, Aspen Publishers (January 2003).

• To Traverse or Not to Traverse-Consequences of Restriction Requirements in United States Patent Practice, 2 (1) THE PATENT JOURNAL 10-14, Aspen Publishers (October 2002).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2002, The West Group, New York, N.Y., editor (2002).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2001, The West Group, New York, N.Y., editor (2001)

• Copyrights Where You Least Expect Them, University of Houston and the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association Continuing Legal Education Conference (November 8-19), 2001, Galveston, Texas).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2002, The West Group, New York, N.Y., editor (2000).

• U.S. and Foreign Patents, ETCE/OMAE 2000 Joint Conference, ASME International (Feb. 14-17, 2000, New Orleans, Louisiana).

• Internet Update, Houston Women's Energy Network Luncheon Presentation, (Nov. 10, 1999).

• Internet Update, Dallas Bar Association Computer Use and Technology Section Luncheon Presentation (June 28, 1999).

• Internet Update, State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Institute (March 5-6, 1999, Austin, Texas).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 1999, The West Group, New York, N.Y., editor (1999).

• Patents & Trade Secrets, ASME International Energy Sources Technology Conference & Exhibition (1999, Houston, Texas).

• Patent Term Extensions, University of Houston and the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association Continuing Legal Education Conference (October 1-2, 1998, Galveston, Texas).

• The Pitfalls of Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver in Patent Law, ASME International Energy Sources Technology Conference & Exhibition (Feb. 3, 1998, Houston, Texas).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 1998, Clark Boardman Callaghan/Thomson Legal Publishing, New York, N.Y., editor (1998).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 1997, Clark Boardman Callaghan/Thomson Legal Publishing, New York, N.Y., editor (1997).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 1996, Clark Boardman Callaghan, New York, N.Y., editor (1996).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 1995, Clark Boardman Callaghan, New York, N.Y., editor (1995).

• A Summary of the Changes in U.S. Patent Law Effected by GATT/TRIPS Implementation Legislation, 14 CORPORATE COUNSEL REVIEW 93-103, with co-author (May 1995).

• Changes in U.S. Patent Law Effected by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act--The GATT Implementation Legislation, 3 TEXAS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW JOURNAL 315-342, with co-author (Spring 1995).

• What's New in Patent Law since GATT, Coopers & Lybrand Intellectual Property Law Seminar, The Houstonian, Houston, Texas, June 19, 1996.

• Patent Aspects of GATT: A Panel Discussion, Thirty -Third Annual Institute on Patent Law, The Southwestern Legal Foundation, Dallas, Texas, November 9-10, 1995.

• Arnold, White & Durkee Saturday Morning CLE on Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Immunity, November 1994.

• "Damages," Remedies, 1992-93 PATENT LAW HANDBOOK, Clark Boardman Co., Ltd., New York, N.Y. (1992).

• Remedies, 1991-92 PATENT LAW HANDBOOK, Clark Boardman Co., Ltd., New York, N.Y. (1991).

• Remedies, 1990-91 PATENT LAW HANDBOOK, Clark Boardman Co., Ltd., New York, N.Y. (1990).

• Remedies, 1989-90 PATENT LAW HANDBOOK, Clark Boardman Co., Ltd., New York, N.Y. (1989).

• Remedies, 1988-89 PATENT LAW HANDBOOK, Clark Boardman Co., Ltd., New York, N.Y. (1988).

• Anticipation of the Section 2032A Valuation in Estate Planning to Preserve the Family Farm, 42 ALABAMA LAW. 356-79 (July 1981)--winner of the Alabama State Bar ALABAMA LAWYER Legal Writing Award in 1981.

• When Can an Attorney Buy From an Estate or Entity He or His Firm Administered? 5 J. LEGAL PROFESSION 160-77 (1980)--awarded the Henderson M. Somerville Law Prize in 1981.

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2021, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2022) (at press).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2021, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2022) (at press).

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW REVIEW 2021, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2021).

• ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLISHING AND THE ARTS HANDBOOK 2021, Thomson Reuters, Rochester, N.Y., editor (2021).

Personal background information is available in some past editions of Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in American Law, and Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World.