John Cotter leads patent, complex intellectual property, and commercial cases at trials and on appeals. He has tried patent, trademark, and other IP cases; argued Markman, TRO, preliminary injunction, and summary judgment hearings; argued appeals at the Federal, First, and Eleventh US Circuits and the Massachusetts Appeals Court; handled inter partes disputes at the US Patent and Trademark Office; and has taken US and overseas arbitrations to judgment.
John's patent cases have involved agricultural and industrial chemicals and biologicals; pharmaceuticals; electronic and optical switching technology; wireless and mobile communications; medical ventilators and blood analyzers; diagnostic medical tests; software and computer systems for web services, FDA clinical trials, medical records, and security; and surgical devices. He advises clients on IP strategy, rights ownership, indemnification, license agreements, and license enforcement programs; internal investigations involving technology and trade secrets; Hatch-Waxman/ANDA patent litigation; exemptions from infringement; and coordinated global litigation strategies.
John's trademark litigation experience spans from internationally famous to regional and niche brands, for consumer and industrial products, pharmaceuticals, and medical instruments. In the copyright, licensing, trade secrets, and internet areas, John has litigated the leading case on internet trespass; a pro bono artists' and musicians' rights lawsuit resulting in rescinding unconstitutional regulations; entertainment and patent royalty disputes; non-competition restrictions and software copyright cases including under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
His pro bono work includes trying cases for political asylum seekers in immigration court and assisting victims of cyber harassment.
John was K&L Gates’ first firm-wide practice group coordinator for intellectual property litigation. Prior to joining K&L Gates, he was the co-chair of and partner in the patent and intellectual property practice group of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP. Prior to practicing law, John was an engineer with General Electric’s Aircraft Engine Group.
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation-Intellectual Property, 2013-2024; Litigation-Patent, 2014-2018; Patent Law, 2021-2024
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Boston Bar Association
- Federal Circuit Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association
- International Trademark Association
- New York Intellectual Property Law Association
John has spoken before the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Practicing Law Institute, the Licensing Executives Society (LES), the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), and law schools and universities. Examples include:
- "Recent Trends and Relevant Cases – Patent and Trade Secret Litigation," American Society of Appraisers (ASA), 2024 Litigation in Valuation Conference, Virtual, 21 November 2024.
- "Patent and Intellectual Property Basics for University Entrepreneurs," Wentworth Institute of Technology, Accelerate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Boston, MA, 14 February 2023.
- "University IP Licensing" presentation to Northeastern University Bioengineering Industrial Advisory Board, Boston, MA, 26 May 2021.
- "The Impact of COVID-19 on Litigation in the Pharmaceutical Industry and Mitigating Risk with Litigation Finance," K&L Gates Webinar, 24 September 2020.
- "What to Look for in Contingency Fee Arrangements When Deciding to Enforce University Patent Rights," Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Eastern Region Meeting, Raleigh, NC 4 October 2019.
- "Today’s Legal Challenges in R&D – Review of Recent Litigation and IP Protection in Field Research," Seminar, Irvine, CA, 17 April 2019.
- "Primer on Intellectual Property Law for Advertising and Marketing," Seminar, Boston, MA, March 2014.
- "Leahy-Smith America Invents Act: One Year Later," CLE Presentation at annual meeting of in-house IP lawyers, Franklinton NC, October 2013.
- "Securing and Defending IP Rights," European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA), Course for Investment Professionals, Paris, France, 23 April 2009.
- "Hot Topics in Patent Litigation," CLE Presentation, Reston, VA, 12 November 2007.
- "The Changing World of Intellectual Property Law," Financial Technology Forum (a division of Institutional Investor, Inc.), Boston, MA, 16 November 2005.
- "Intellectual Property Insurance and Risk Management Strategies," Licensing Executives Society, Boston, 20 October 2004.
- "Hatch Waxman Patent Litigation Update," S.G. Cowen & Co. 7th Annual Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Therapeutic Categories Review Conference and 4th Patent Forum, New York, 12-13 October 2004.
- Host for International Trademark Association Roundtables, Boston, various dates, 2000-2003.
- "Clickwrap and Click-Through; Licensing and Contract Issues," Harvard University Extension School, Cambridge, MA, 14 April 2003.
- "Avoiding Evidence Pitfalls: Demonstrative Evidence," Macaronis Institute for Trial and Appellate Advocacy, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, 17 April 2003.
- "Unwanted Access: Online Trespass and Other Contact," ABA’s National Cybercrime Conference at John Marshall Law School, Chicago, 10 May 2002.
- "I.P. for I.T.," Northeastern University's High Tech MBA Program, Dedham, MA, 1 June 2002.
- "Pharmaceutical and Health Care Breakout Session," International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 7 May 2001.
- "Fair Use, Public Domain or Privacy? Should the Digital Exchange of Copyrighted Works be Permitted or Prevented?," Fordham University Law School's Symposium on Digital Exchange of Copyrighted Works, New York, October 6, 2000, transcript published at Vol. IX, No. 2, Fordham Intellectual Property, Media, and Entertainment Law Journal, Winter 2001.
- "Using and Misusing Third Party Resources," Practicing Law Institute's 5th Annual Internet Law Institute, New York, 9 July 2001.
- "The Infringement Continuum: The Expanding Definitional View," American Conference Institute's Intellectual Property on the Internet Seminar, Washington, D.C., 14 November 2000.
- "Property Rights in Cyberspace," Yale Law School's Law and Technology Society Roundtable, New Haven, 13 November 2000.
- "Trademark Law," Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Fall 1999.
- "Patent Infringement Risks: Financial Consequences and Funding Remedies," Biotechnology Industry Organization BIO ’98 Conference, New York, 18 June 1998.
- "Selected Permanent Injunction Issues in Patent Litigation," Boston Patent Law Association Litigation Committee Seminar, Boston, 8 April 1998.
- “Court decisions limit reach of certain method patents,” Boston Business Journal, September 2008
- “The Inequitable Conduct Defense: Still a Real Issue,” The International Chamber of Commerce, United Kingdom Members Handbook, Cyworks, 2004.
- “U.S. Patent Appeals Court Marks 20th Anniversary,” The Lawyers Weekly (Canada), November 29, 2002.
- “New Protection for Databases - When?,” Intellectual Property Observer, Winter 2002.
- “Unwanted Access: Online Trespass and Other Contact,” ABA’s National Cybercrime Conference Course Handbook, 2002.
- “Avoid Negotiating Your Company Into an IP Lawsuit,” Intellectual Property Observer, Summer 2001.
- “Using and Misusing Third Party Resources,” Practicing Law Institute’s Fifth Annual Internet Law Institute Course Handbook, 2001.
- “Supreme Court Decides ‘On Sale’ Patent Case,” Venture Update, Summer 1999.
- Quoted, "Bank of America's patent machine keeps rolling," AmericanBanker.com, 15 September 2020
- Quoted in "Technology Cases to Watch in 2008," Technology Law 360, Portfolio Media, January 1, 2008.
- Quoted in "Let the Music Play," Boston Globe Magazine, May 15, 2005.
- Quoted in "Sidewalk shows must go on: Hub give street performers a pass – for now," by J. M. Lawrence, Boston Herald, December 23, 2004.
- Quoted in "Singers sue city, say they're harassed," by Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe, July 24,2004, and in "Street performers sue, claiming harassment," by The Associated Press, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Florida, July 24, 2004.
- Quoted in "Suggestions to Overhaul U.S. Patent System Questioned," by Linda Goodspeed, Boston Business. Journal, June 4-10, 2004.
- Quoted in "Lemelson Patents Ruled Invalid, Unenforceable and Not Infringed," by Daniel S. Burgess, Photonics Spectra, March 2004.
- Quoted in "On the Docket: Digital Copyright Act, Pharmaceutical Disputes Will Define IP Battles," by Sheri Qualters, Boston Business Journal, September 5-11, 2003.
- Mentioned in "At the Bar: Lawyering Can Turn Into a Real Lifesaver," by Maggie Mulvihill, Boston Herald, July 1, 2003.
- Mentioned in "Hearsay" column, by Jeanne Greeley, Massachusetts Lawyer's Weekly, June 30, 2003.
- Quoted in "Plug Pulled on File-Sharing Students," by Monty Phan, New York Newsday, April 27, 2003.
- Mentioned in "eBay's Behind the Scenes Move," by Victoria Slind-Flor, National Law Journal, August 7, 2000.
- Quoted in Computer & Internet Lawcast, Vol. 11, No. 12, Week of July 10, 2000.
- Quoted in "Bid for Fair Practice: Online auctioneer gains business from link site but doesn't want e-shoppers using the back door," by Debra Baker, ABA Journal, April 2000.
