Clients hire Eric von Vorys because he helps them develop strategies that protect their brands and proactively minimize their competitors’ ability to challenge their trademarks in court.
Eric specializes in trademark and unfair competition law, copyrights, domain names, and related litigation. His practice also includes a counseling component that covers the full range of IP-related issues, including transaction-related evaluation of intellectual property portfolios, clearance of marks, domain name dispute resolution, and negotiating and crafting of intellectual property agreements and licenses.
In addition to working with clients in the law firm environment for more than a decade, Eric has also served as an in-house lawyer in the private sector and worked within the federal court system. Blending this diverse background, his passion for IP law, and his experience successfully negotiating over a thousand trademark applications, he is adept at designing highly creative and effective approaches to trademark disputes to the benefit of his clients.
When necessary, Eric litigates trademark infringement and unfair competition cases. Eric has represented clients before the U.S. District Courts, as well as administrative proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and Domain Name Arbitration Panels. But, he prefers to seek amicable resolutions to intellectual property disputes by negotiating settlements.
In addition to trademark matters, Eric also represents both purchasers and suppliers of technology and technology-related services. Clients range from startups to established companies in the areas of computer software and services, e-commerce and Internet-related issues. In this arena, his practice includes preparation and review of software license agreements, software development agreements, source code escrow agreements, and Internet-related agreements including SaaS agreements, website development and hosting agreements, website terms and conditions of use, privacy policies, web linking and revenue sharing agreements.
Eric routinely represents direct marketers, advertisers, media, and Internet companies in all aspects of their advertising and promotional marketing business. He assists clients in their marketing endeavors, including clearance of advertising and marketing materials, sweepstakes, games of skill, and other contests, direct marketing campaigns, Internet marketing, and privacy issues.
Another aspect of Eric’s practice is assisting clients in securing the necessary licenses to distribute or serve alcoholic beverages. This encompasses basic alcohol permits from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), liquor licenses from Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., and where required, certain county licenses. He recently assisted a resort outside Richmond, a new wine importer and hotel in Montgomery County, MD to secure their liquor licenses.
Furthermore, Eric has extensive experience in traditional entertainment law. He has represented both corporations and artists in the negotiation of music recording, publishing, production and licensing agreements, streaming and download agreements, television and film production agreements, as well as modeling agreements.