Robert Lancaster practices in the area of intellectual property law, with an emphasis on patent and trademark litigation, patent prosecution, selection and protection of trademarks, and copyright and trade secret matters. He holds an undergraduate degree in civil engineering and served in the United States Air Force as an environmental engineer and aviator.

Mr. Lancaster has been involved in patent litigation relating to a broad range of technologies, including: computer networks, internet-related technologies, computer hardware and software, electronic printers, aircraft and avionics equipment, and telecommunications.  He also has represented manufacturers in major litigation involving design and manufacture of commercial and military fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, aircraft systems including ejection seats and flight control systems, propane torches, satellite launches, and recreational equipment including jetboats and batting cages.

Mr. Lancaster is a registered patent attorney.

Select Representations

Representative cases which Mr. Lancaster has worked, or is working on include:

• Landmark Technology, LLC v. Aeropostale et al. (ED Tex.)(Defended client The Wet Seal, Inc. against allegation of patent infringement relating to Internet sales transactions.)
• Vehicle IP LLC v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. et al. (D DE) (Defending client against allegation of patent infringement relating to GPS positioning technology.)
• Netscape Communications Corp., v. ValueClick, Inc. et al. (E.D. Va.)(Defended client against allegation of patent infringement relating to Internet browser functionality.)

• Acco Brands, Inc. v. Belkin, et al. (E.D. Tex.)(Successfully defended client against allegation of patent infringement relating to computer accessories.) ACCO Brands, Inc. v. ABA Locks Manuf. Ltd., 501 F.3d 1307 (CAFC 2007).
• NIKE, Inc. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (ND IL) (Defended client against allegations of design patent infringement relating to athletic shoes.)
• Ware et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (ND GA) (Defended client against allegation of patent infringement relating to transaction numbers on receipts.)
• Golden Trade, S.R.L. vs. Colorfast Dye & Print House (CD CA) (Represented plaintiff Golden Trade, S.R.L in this patent infringement case.  Obtained favorable settlements from multiple defendants.)
• Vision-1, LLC v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Sam’s East, Inc.; and Sam’s West, Inc. (D IA) (Defended clients against allegation of patent infringement relating to electronic point of sale survey systems.)
• Scriptpro LLC v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (D KS) (Defended client against allegations of patent infringement, obtained favorable settlement)
• Leggett & Platt, Inc. v. VUTEk (E.D. MO; Fed. Cir.) (Represented Leggett & Platt against VUTEk in two patent infringement cases relating to large format UV printers.
• Vardon Golf Co. v. Karsten Mfg. Co., (N.D. IL.) (Successfully obtained jury verdict on behalf of defendant
• Karsten and Ping, Inc, securing finding of non-infringement, inequitable conduct against the plaintiff, and partial invalidity.  Obtained $2.1M judgment against plaintiff)
• Brookstone Company, Inc. v. Décor Craft, Inc., and Restoration Hardware, Inc. (E.D. MO) (Represented plaintiff Brookstone in this patent infringement case. Obtained Consent Injunction and Order against one of the defendants, and a favorable settlement from the second defendant)
• Brookstone v. Cornerstone Brands, Inc. and Cimmar L.P., d/b/a Frontgate (E.D. MO) (Represented plaintiff Brookstone in this patent infringement case. Obtained a Consent Injunction against the defendants)
• Sharper Image Corp. v. Brookstone Company, Inc. (N.D. CA) (Procured favorable settlement on behalf of defendant Brookstone in this patent infringement case)
• Zevo Golf Co., Inc. v. Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, (Fed. Cir.) (S.D.CA) (Successfully obtained summary judgment, and affirmance thereof, of non-infringement of asserted patents on behalf of Karsten and Ping)
• Leggett & Platt v. Hickory Springs, (Fed. Cir.) (N.D. IL) (Obtained reversal of summary judgment of non-infringement of a patent on appeal on behalf of plaintiff Leggett & Platt)
• Willie Woods v. Atlantic Recording Corporation, et al., (E.D. MO) (Represented defendants against allegations of copyright co-ownership, unfair competition, and an accounting. Favorable settlement.)
• Allcare v. Express Scripts, et al. (N.D. TX) (Represented Express Scripts in the patent infringement action. Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of client)
• Usher’s Waterworks, Inc. v. The Boeing Company, 36 F. Supp. 2d 1166, 38 F. Supp. 2d 783 (E.D. MO), aff’d 2000 WL 278731 (Fed. Cir.) (Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Boeing, and affirmance on appeal from allegations of patent co-inventorship and misappropriation of trade secrets.)

Bar and Court Admissions

California, 2008

Illinois, 1986

Missouri, 1986

United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh, Eighth and Federal Circuits

United States Court of Federal Claims

United States District Courts for the Central, Northern and Southern Districts of California, the Central, Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois and the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Education

University of Arkansas, J.D., 1985

University of Utah, M.B.A., 1979

The University of Akron, B.S.C.E., 1975

Speeches and Seminars

• "Managing Intellectual Property Risks," American Council of Life Insurers, Ft. Lauderdale 2010
• "Recent Developments in Patent Law," Mindshare LA, Los Angeles 2010
• "Protecting Intellectual Property in Asian Markets," SEMICON West, San Francisco 2008
• "From Taster’s Choice To Tony Twist: The Right Of Publicity," St. Louis Bar Journal, 2006 (publication)
• "Trademark Law Update," Bar Association of St. Louis, 2004
• "Trademark Law for General Practitioners," Bar Association of St. Louis, 2006 and 2007
• "Digital Millennium Copyright Act," - Bar Association of St. Louis, 1999