Overview
Ryan C. Clark protects his clients’ ideas, designs, and brands through his work in intellectual property (IP) litigation, prosecution, and counseling. He represents clients in complex IP litigation in district courts and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He also provides strategic counsel on patent prosecution, from in-house training to ideation to enforcement. Ryan is skilled in handling design patent matters and has experience in both prosecuting and litigating design patents, including litigation in district court and the PTAB. He manages global patent and trademark portfolios, helps develop clients’ internal training and patent processes, and advises on intellectual property due diligence for M&A transactions.
Drawing upon his electrical engineering background, Ryan has successfully helped clients protect and defend their IP in a wide range of technologies, including robotics, online payments systems, consumer products, artificial intelligence, machine learning, machine vision, Internet of Things, FinTech, cloud computing, medical devices and software, computer hardware and software, telecommunications and radio frequency, beverage containers and coolers, servers, zoned audio systems, semiconductors and airborne wind turbines.
Ryan advises clients on design patents (both US and international design applications), trade dress, unfair competition, copyright and advertising. He provides counsel on compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, and helps clients respond to FTC inquiries regarding advertising claims.
From warehouse employees to chief technology officers and board members, Ryan works effectively with personnel at every level of an organization to represent the client’s best interests. He also provides in-house training on IP issues.
Before attending law school, Ryan was president and co-founder of a startup providing software and hardware products for item-level inventory control. He previously served as technical director for an environmental consulting firm, where he prepared and managed air, water and waste permit applications across the United States. He also served as an environmental permit specialist for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, where he reviewed and issued air permit applications and advised management on technical and policy matters.
Ryan is dedicated to pro bono service. He has successfully represented veterans before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, including a matter involving payment of the veteran’s benefits to an improperly appointed fiduciary, resulting in a full settlement.
While in law school, Ryan was editor of the Illinois Law Update and treasurer of the Intellectual Property Law Society.
Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Austin, 2024
Credentials
Education
University of Illinois College of Law, JD, magna cum laude, 2013
Oklahoma State University, BSEE, 2005
Admissions
Texas
Courts/Agencies
US Patent and Trademark Office
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
US District Court for the Western District of Texas
