Experience

Bryan Mechell is a trial lawyer and registered patent attorney with experience in complex intellectual property litigation. Bryan focuses his practice on new and cutting-edge technologies in order to help large companies, small businesses, and inventors assess and protect the value of their IP. He regularly represents clients as both plaintiffs and defendants in various phases of litigation—including trial proceedings conducted by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board—and enjoys helping clients effectively navigate complex and technical legal issues in order to meet their business goals. 

Drawing on his background in computer science and physics, Bryan regularly represents emerging and established businesses involved in technology and software license disputes and helps them develop methods for auditing, managing, and enforcing license compliance. He is currently trial counsel representing 4DD Holdings, LLC in a high-profile case against the U.S. Government for alleged violation of a software license agreement, with a substantial damages case. He recently reached a confidential pre-suit settlement on behalf of a of a healthcare database software developer in a copyright infringement dispute with a software licensee and continues to represent the developer in follow-on license enforcement efforts. Bryan has also represented companies defending against claims including patent infringement, copyright infringement, and breach of technology license agreement.

Because of his in-depth experience and knowledge of the ever-changing IP litigation landscape, Bryan is a trusted advisor to his clients in the courtroom and the boardroom. He advises companies of all sizes on the IP-related risks and opportunities they face as they bring their innovation to market by helping them manage their technology and software licenses and map out asset protection strategies. He is skilled at helping both licensees and licensors protect their IP assets, improve their technology agreements, and develop strong bargaining positions in technology-related negotiations.

Bryan has advised clients in a wide variety of technical fields, including:

  • video streaming protocols
  • IoT and AI software technologies
  • mobile wireless telecommunications
  • mobile broadband
  • internet technologies
  • TCP/IP communications standards and protocols
  • server architecture
  • database encryption
  • computer processing and graphics
  • semiconductor design and fabrication
  • consumer products and peripherals

Bryan has completed coursework in quantum physics, advanced mathematics, chemistry, and computer science, and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Bryan is committed to pro bono representation and has obtained asylum for Tibetan monks who have been imprisoned and repeatedly tortured after demonstrating against the government.

In the community, Bryan sits on the Executive Board of Directors of the Minnesota Chorale - the Principal Chorus of the Minnesota Orchestra and one of the foremost professional choruses in the United States - where he supports the Chorale's mission of fostering and deepening community through its outreach initiatives and educational activities. Bryan is also an active tenor soloist, recently volunteering his time as the lead role in a seven-night stage production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" that raised funds for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Bryan attended the University of Minnesota where he completed the Lower Division Institute of Technology Honors Program and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science and Physics minor. Bryan graduated from the George Washington University Law School where he was a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Quarterly Journal.

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Trial counsel for 4DD Holdings, LLC—a Virginia-based and veteran-owned developer of complex data federation software—in an ongoing case in the Court of Federal Claims against the United States Government for alleged violation of a software copyright license agreement. This case represents one of the largest software copyright infringement actions currently pending against the Government. 4DD asserts that the Government infringed 4DD’s copyright by copying its proprietary software program, TETRA® Healthcare Federator, on servers and other computing devices associated with tens of thousands of unauthorized processor cores in express breach of its license. Successfully obtained sanctions award of almost $1.2 million in fees against the Government for destroying evidence. In April of 2022, the Court partially granted 4DD’s summary judgment motion, holding that 4DD has a valid copyright in its software and that the end-user license agreement prohibited the defendant from installing certain unauthorized copies or “cores” of its software. The Court also denied the Government’s summary judgment motion in its entirety. In November of 2022, 4DD’s claims were heard at trial before the Court of Federal Claims. Post-trial briefing is ongoing.

Reached a confidential pre-suit settlement on behalf of a healthcare database software developer in a copyright infringement dispute with a software licensee regarding unauthorized login sharing and copying of software in breach of license agreement. Continuing to represent software owner in follow-on license enforcement efforts.

Represent DivX, LLC in patent infringement litigation against Netflix and Hulu relating to patented video streaming technologies.

Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc. v. PumpOne Environmental, LLC. Represent QED Environmental Systems in patent infringement litigation regarding well pump technology.

Voyageur Outward Bound School et al. v. United States of America (D.D.C.): Achieved significant pro bono victory as lead appellate counsel to Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness in a four-year Administrative Procedure Act challenge to the United States Bureau of Land Management’s reinstatement of two copper-nickel mining leases along the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). In early 2022, the two mineral leases were canceled along with a finding that that they were unlawfully renewed under the former Presidential administration. The decision marked a “monumental victory for the Boundary Waters” in the words of Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum.

Trial counsel on behalf of plaintiff in PCT International Inc. v. Holland Electronics LLC, a patent infringement trial involving coaxial cable connector technology. The case was tried in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona before Judge James A. Teilborg. Secured a jury verdict for PCT on issues of infringement, patent validity, and damages in May 2015. An injunction against all future sales of infringing products was confirmed by the Court in September 2015. The Federal Circuit summarily upheld the permanent injunction and jury verdict in favor of PCT International, Inc. on August 16, 2016.

Counsel for plaintiff in Metasearch Systems, LLC v. Expedia et al. in multiple patent infringement actions in the District of Delaware for use of internet search technologies in the online travel industry. During agreed stay pending district court litigation, represented patent owner in all related covered business method review proceedings and hearings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. A final settlement of claims was reached with all defendants after the conclusion of PTAB proceedings.

Represented the patent owner of metasearching-based technology in multiple covered business method review proceedings before the PTAB. Two of the PTAB proceedings went to final hearing and the related district court litigation was resolved after the PTAB’s final written decisions.

Represented Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) against LG Electronics, Inc., et al., in patent infringement litigation venued in the Northern District of California. The case involved AMD’s assertion of nine patents relating to integrated circuit power and thermal management, computer memory architecture, graphics processing (GPU) technology, and graphical user interfaces for consumer electronics devices. The case involved over 800 accused products, ranging from televisions to smartphones, BD players, projectors, and smart appliances. LG asserted four counterclaim patents in related technological areas. After approximately two years of active litigation, the parties resolved the matter through mediation after claim construction. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., et al. v. LG Electronics, Inc., et al., No. 3:14-cv-01012-SI (N.D. Cal.)

Appellate counsel for ATI Technologies ULC in appeals of inter partes review proceedings before the Federal Circuit.

Counsel for global e-commerce, merchandising, and online marketing firm in technology license dispute.

Counsel for national broadcasting companies in patent infringement cases relating to streaming multimedia content technology. 

Defense counsel for Best Buy in Helferich Patent Licensing, LLC v. Best Buy, a patent infringement case in the Northern District of Illinois involving social media and digital content delivery on mobile phones. A confidential resolution was reached prior to claim construction briefing.

Defense counsel in Bluestone Innovations LLC v. Best Buy, a patent infringement action in the Northern District of California relating to LED fabrication techniques in televisions. Secured a confidential settlement of all claims prior to the completion of claim construction proceedings.

Represented digital media company in a patent defense matter in the Eastern District of Texas relating to duplication of digital data transmitted via computer networks. Secured confidential settlement of all claims prior to completion of claim construction proceedings.

Lead counsel for respondent in application for asylum and withholding of removal proceedings before the United States Immigration Court. Secured grant of asylum in June 2015 at the conclusion of contested proceedings.

Pro bono representation of Tibetan monk seeking asylum in the United States. Secured grant of asylum from United States Immigration Court on political and religious grounds.

Northstar Lawyer
  • Named a "North Star Lawyer" by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2014-2016)
  • Minnesota Chorale, Board of Directors 
  • Home and Community Options Annual Fundraiser, Performing Artist (2006, 2011)
Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Minnesota
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Spoken Languages
  • German
Education
  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D.; American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal; Giles Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition, Semifinalist
  • University of Minnesota, B.A. in Political Science, minor in Physics, magna cum laude
Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO): Software & Business Methods Committee Member
  • The Infringing Underbelly of AI – Is Resistance Futile?
    IPWatchdog LIVE 2023, Herndon, Virginia (September 18, 2023)

  • From Licensing to Litigation: Strategies for Protecting Software IP Assets
    Panel Moderator, IPWatchdog Artificial Intelligence Masters™️ 2023, Ashburn, Virginia (March 7, 2023)

  • Hindsight is 2020 - A Year of License Agreements in U.S. Courts Specific to Intellectual Property
    Panelist, Licensing Executives Society (LES) 2021 Annual Meeting, Webinar (September 27, 2021)

  • Creating the Audit Clause for Today’s Compliance Review
    Panelist, International Business Software Managers Association (IBSMA), Webinar (April 28, 2021)

  • The New Frontier of Software License Disputes
    Panelist, Minnesota CLE, Webinar (March 9, 2021)

  • Anticipating Software License Disputes In Today’s Evolving Work-From-Home Model
    Co-Presenter, IBSMA, Webinar (April 23, 2020)

  • How the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence Influence Patent Licenses
    2018 AIPLA Meeting, Washington, D.C. (October 25, 2018)
  • Patent Panel
    The Future of IP and Technology Law Forum, Seattle, Washington (June 7, 2017)
  • Technology License Disputes
    Webinar, Intellectual Property Owners Association (October 13, 2016)
  • Revisiting No Challenge Clauses and Assessing At risk Licenses
    Intellectual Property Owners Association, Subcommittee on IP Licensing, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 13, 2016)
  • Recent Changes to U.S. Patent Laws and their Impact on Patent Licensing
    Panelist, Licensing Executives Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (November 11, 2015)
  • The Use of Surveys in Patent Litigation
    Webinar, Certified Patent Valuation Analyst (April 14, 2015)
  • Leveraging Surveys in Patent Litigation
    Webinar, Strafford (August 6, 2014)
  • Academic Technology Transactions: Ensuring That License Negotiations in the Boardroom Maximize Patent Value in the Courtroom
    Association of University Technology Managers, San Francisco, California (February 21, 2014)
  • Strategic IP Monetization: Ensuring That Negotiations in the Boardroom Maximize Patent Value in the Courtroom
    Webcast, MN IP Institute (December 9, 2013)
  • Strategic IP Monetization: Ensuring That Negotiations in the Boardroom Maximize Patent Value in the Courtroom
    CLE Presentation, Licensing Executives Society, Austin, Texas (November 22, 2013)
  • Ensuring That Negotiations in the Boardroom Maximize Patent Value in the Courtroom
    Licensing Executives Society, Minnesota Chapter, Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 18, 2013)
  • Persuasive Oral Advocacy — Real-Time Communication Skills for Attorneys
    Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota (March 14, 2013)
  • Effective Appellate Oral Advocacy: Thinking on Your Feet
    The University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota (February 27, 2013)
  • The Use of Consumer Surveys in Patent Cases for Damages Apportionment
    Licensing Executives Society, Anaheim, California (March 13, 2012)
  • The Role of Consumer Surveys in Proving Patent Infringement Damages
    Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota (September 23, 2011)
September 18, 2023
IPWatchdog LIVE 2023
Bryan Mechell - 3rd Annual IPWatchdog LIVE Conference
Herndon, VA
March 7-8, 2023
IPWatchdog Artificial Intelligence Masters™️ 2023
Steven Carlson, Bryan Mechell, and David Prange - IPWatchdog
Ashburn, VA
September 27-30, 2021
WEBINAR | Licensing Executives Society (LES) 2021 Annual Meeting: Reimagining the Future
Bryan Mechell - Licensing Executives Society (LES)
Remote
April 28, 2021
WEBINAR | Creating the Audit Clause for Today’s Compliance Review
Bryan Mechell - International Business Software Managers Association
Remote
March, 9, 2021
WEBINAR | The New Frontier of Software License Disputes
Bryan Mechell, Ellen Levish - Minnesota CLE
Remote
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