Patent Lawyer


Partner and Patent Attorney

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Michael S. Dowler is resident in our Houston, Texas office located at 1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2300, Houston, Texas 77056.

For nearly 30 years, Mr. Dowler has specialized in litigation and trial of highly complex IP matters, while also devoting a portion of his practice to IP acquisition, licensing, clearance matters, validity/infringement/enforceability opinions, portfolio management, post-grant proceedings, patent and trademark prosecution, and arbitrations.

He has successfully tried jury cases to verdict and has otherwise served as lead counsel for clients in district courts all across the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the Ninth Circuit.

Mr. Dowler’s undergraduate background in electrical engineering enables him to handle highly technical cases, including matters involving digital and analog circuits, microprocessor architecture, memory device designs, microcontrollers, graphics accelerators, memory modules, chipsets, large-scale data storage systems, KVM switches, computer interfaces and protocols, television and DVD circuitry, tape and disk drives, and the firmware/software/source code that runs many of those hardware designs.

Mr. Dowler also has worked extensively on cases related to computer system architecture, complex semiconductor fabrication processes, chemical delivery systems, telephone networks, electromagnetic transmission systems, radar detectors, aircraft and aircraft systems, artificial lift systems for the oil and gas industry, and a host of business methods, including banking, financial accounting software processes, and database management systems.

Mr. Dowler also has litigation and practical experience with issues involving trademark, trade dress, copyright, unfair competition, domain name disputes, and legal issues unique to Internet service providers.

Education

  • South Texas College of Law (JD, 1992)
  • Texas A&M University (BSEE, Electrical Engineering, 1987)

Representative Matters

  • Cirrus Design Corp. v. Fleming, No. 0:19-cv-01286-JRT (D. Minn.) (2019)
  • Weatherford U.S., L.P., v. Jeffrey DeYoung, No. 01-18-0003-3251 (Arbitration) (2018)
  • CMP Products Ltd. v. Cooper Crouse-Hinds, LLC, No. 4:17-cv-2194 (S.D. Tex.) (2017)
  • Well Master Corp. v. Thomas Grey Daniell, et al., No. 1:17-cv-01996 (D. Colo.) (2017)
  • Integrated Production Services, Inc. v. Flowco Production Services, LLC, No. 4:16-cv-03583 (S.D. Tex.) (2016)
  • Cadmium Software, Inc. v. Entertainment Printing Services, LLC, No. 2016-43608 (D. Ct. Harris County, Texas, 61stJudicial District) (2016)
  • Onesubsea IP UK Ltd. v. FMC Technologies, Inc., 2:15-cv-445 (E.D. Tex.) (2015)
  • Parallel Networks, LLC v. Kollective Technology, Inc., No. 1:13-cv-00914 (D. Del. 2013)
  • Wisconsin Technology Venture Group, LLC v. FatWallet, Inc., 3:12-CV-326 (W.D. Wis.) (2012).
  • Tranz-Send Broadcasting Network, Inc. v. Kontiki, Inc., 3:11-CV-2917-WHA (N.D. Cal.) (2011).
  • PakSense, Inc. v. American Thermal Instruments Co., 1:10-CV-325-WBS (D. Idaho) (2010).
  • Fleming v. Escort, Inc. and Beltronics USA, Inc., 1:09-CV-105-BLW (D. Idaho) (2009).
  • Rose Electronics v. Rose Electronics Ltd. and Paul Naish, 2008-18480 (D. Ct. Harris County, Texas, 334 Judicial District) (2008).
  • Avocent Redmond Corp. v. The United States, 1:08-CV-00069-LSM (Ct. Fed. Cl.) (2008).
  • Quest Software, Inc. v. BBS Technologies, Inc., 2:07-CV-485-TJW (E.D. Tex.) (2007).
  • Thomson Inc. v. Guardian Media Technologies, Ltd., 07-CV-1613 WQH (S.D. Cal.) (2007).
  • Guardian Media Technologies, Ltd., v. Daewoo Electronics Corp. and Daewoo Electronics America Inc., CV-07-08220 AHM (C.D. Cal.) (2007).
  • Avocent Redmond Corp. v. Rose Electronics, et al., C-06-1711 MJP (W.D. Wash.) (2006).
  • Epicenter Inc. v. Aten Technology, Inc., et al., 2:05-CV-8767-CJC (C.D. Cal.) (2005).

Courts & Adjudicative Bodies

  • United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • Supreme Court of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Federal Claims
  • United States International Trade Commission
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
  • United States District Court for the District of Delaware
  • United States District Court for the District of Idaho
  • United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the District of Utah
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Federal Circuit Bar Association
  • Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Member, Houston Bar Association
  • Member, Houston Intellectual Property Law Association

Publications & Speaking Engagements

  • You’ve Just Been Sued For Patent Infringement – The Top 10 Things To Do Now!” Intellectual Property Today (March 2008).
  • Steps to Defend an Infringement Suit.” Texas Lawyer – Executive Legal Advisor (November 2007).
  • Are you (or your boss) Personally Liable for Patent Infringement? Intellectual Property Today (April 2007), IPLaw360 and CompetitionLaw360 (February 2007).
  • Effective Patent Strategy Requires Thorough Review of Portfolios.” Texas Lawyer (April 2007).
  • Patent Audits: Discovering ‘New’ Uses For ‘Old’ IP.”  Intellectual Property Today (August 2001).