Intellectual Property
Apr. 19, 2012
Carlo F. Van den Bosch
See more on Carlo F. Van den BoschSheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP Orange County
Working globally can have its rewards and challenges.
Consider a case handled by Van den Bosch in which he represented Hana Bank, a leading Korean bank, and Hana Financial Group.
The plaintiff, Hana Financial Inc. in Los Angeles, had alleged infringement of its right to the mark "Hana" in connection with financial services and sought damages of more than $40 million. Hana Financial Inc. v. Hana Bank, 207-CV-1534-PA (C.D. Cal.)
Last year, Van den Bosch won a unanimous defense verdict, the culmination of more than five years' work, which included an earlier summary judgment victory and an appeal before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The case represented his clients' first exposure to a jury trial system, he said.
"We got to explain our judicial system from soup to nuts," Van den Bosch said. "It was refreshing to view our system through that lens and get a whole new appreciation for it."
Among the challenges, he added, was the language barrier, since none of the jurors spoke Korean.
"For some of the key witnesses, we used interpreters," Van den Bosch said.
Selecting the right interpreter is a challenge in itself, he added.
"We interviewed multiple interpreters to get a sense of how they would come across for the jurors," Van den Bosch said. "Interpreters will become an extension of the witness."
As co-chair of his firm's intellectual property practice group for the past five years, Van den Bosch has seen his team grow to include more than 70 lawyers and has noticed more appreciation for the kind of service IP practitioners provide.
"IP is increasingly becoming a core asset for many companies," Van den Bosch said. "And a lot of these assets have a limited shelf life. Shareholders have taken a more critical view of things and are becoming more savvy in the process."
- PAT BRODERICK
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