Gavin George is an associate in the Intellectual Property Practice Group of Haynes and Boone. His practice covers all areas of intellectual property law, with an emphasis on technology transactions and data privacy in the information age. His practice includes technology agreement drafting and negotiation, intellectual property analysis and due diligence, and consulting on evolving data protection and social media issues.
Gavin helps facilitate business transactions involving the licensing, development, and transfer of software, data, and other technology. He counsels large and small companies regarding intellectual property issues that arise in commercial software purchases, information technology services agreements, outsourcing, cloud computing, handling of protected data, and adoption of cutting-edge Web-based technologies. He also regularly advises clients on the intellectual property and technology issues that arise in corporate mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, and bankruptcies. In addition to his law degree, Gavin holds a B.S. in chemical engineering.
Gavin has advised a number of large U.S. and international companies across a variety of industries, including the health care, railway, energy and entertainment industries. He is also experienced in advising clients on legal issues related to development and launch of Websites and video games.
Prior to joining Haynes and Boone, he worked as a research assistant developing software for biomass combustion analysis.
Representative Experience
- Assists global medical company with technology agreement drafting and negotiation.
- Represented Altec Lansing, LLC and its Australian affiliate in the purchase of the assets of Avega Systems, Inc. and its Australian affiliate.
- Represented Ruby Tuesday, Inc. in its $24 million acquisition of assets of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, Inc. and its affiliates. The asset purchase includes the brand's intellectual property rights and the assets of seven company owned restaurants, as well as royalties from five franchised restaurants.
Recent Publications and Presentations
- "European Data Protection Directive and Safe Harbor," presentation, North Texas Information Systems Audit and Control Association, April 11, 2013.
- "Lessons in Privacy Policy Drafting from LinkedIn Data Breach," Social Media Law Brief, September 6, 2012.
- "Cloud Computing Service Agreements," Lexology, April 19, 2012.
- "Employee/Consultant IP Assignment: Abbott v. Epocal," presentation, February 14, 2012.
- "Domain Name Collateral and Trademark Tangles," Law360, January 19, 2012.
- "IP License Transfer in Mergers and Acquisitions," presentation, November 11, 2011.
- "Business Trends and Case Law Updates in Software Licenses," Dallas Bar Computer Law Section, January 2011.
- "Update on Mandating Data Security," Co-Author, Privacy & Data Security Law Journal, December 1, 2009.
- "The Erosion of Licensor’s Rights," Co-Author, Bloomberg Law Reports, April 13, 2009.
- "Patently Complicated New Rules Still in Play: Tafas v. Doll on Interlocutory Appeal," Haynes and Boone Alert, March 30, 2009.
- "Domestic Trouble From Foreign Patent Affairs," Journal of the Patent and Trademark Office Society, Vol. 91(1):1-77-87, January 2009.
- "Pro-IP Act Signed Into Law," co-author, October 15, 2008.
- "Be Careful Where You Save That File," co-authored with J. Wolfson, IP Law360, July 24, 2008.
- "Copyright Office Commences Online Registration of Claims," July 8, 2008.
- "What is Hiding in the Bushes? eBay’s Effect on Holdout Behavior in Patent Thickets," 13 Mich. Telecomm. Tech. L. Rev. 557 (2007).
Selected Representative Experience
Online Publications
04/11/2013 -
European Data Protection Directive and Safe Harbor
Presented to the North Texas Information Systems Audit and Control Association on April 11, 2013.
09/06/2012 -
Lessons in Privacy Policy Drafting from LinkedIn Data Breach
The litigation instigated by LinkedIn users in the wake of the recent data breach holds a vital lesson about the drafting of website Privacy Policies for social media companies and other website operators that gather personal data.
04/19/2012 -
Cloud Computing Service Agreements
How should you approach your cloud computing service contract?
02/14/2012 -
Employee/Consultant IP Assignment: Abbott v. Epocal
A presentation outlining basic patent rules, basic copyright/trademark rules, patent assignment by contract, copyright assignment by contract, and the
Abbott v. Epocal case.
01/19/2012 -
Law360 Guest Article: Domain Name Collateral And Trademark Tangles
For a business involved in digital distribution, a domain name and the services offered through that domain name are often responsible for a large portion of the business value.
11/02/2011 -
IP License Transfer in Mergers and Acquisitions
An overview of issues related to license transfers in mergers and aquisitions transactions.
10/04/2010 -
Hot Branding News, Fall 2010
12/01/2009 -
Update on Mandating Data Security
A review the data security requirements of new laws in three states: Massachusetts, Nevada, and Connecticut.
Privacy & Data Security Law Journal, December 2009. Reprinted with permission.
10/02/2009 -
The IP Beacon, October 2009
The IP Beacon is a quarterly newsletter prepared by the Haynes and Boone Intellectual Property Practice to inform clients and friends of trends and changes in intellectual property law.
09/21/2009 -
Update On Mandating Data Security
Many states have enacted statutes imposing general obligations on companies to maintain “reasonable” security procedures and practices to protect the personal information of state residents from unauthorized access or use... This article explores a few specific developments in state law.
04/13/2009 -
The Erosion of Licensor’s Rights
A license agreement traditionally has been thought of as a promise from an intellectual property owner not to sue the licensee for engaging in conduct that would otherwise violate the owner’s rights. A license agreement enables the licensor to generate revenue, while retaining ownership of the intellectual property.
© Bloomberg Finance L.P. 2009. Originally published by Bloomberg Law Reports. Reprinted by permission.
03/30/2009 -
Patently Complicated New Rules Still in Play: Tafas v. Doll on Interlocutory Appeal
The Federal Circuit in
Tafas v. Doll (formerly
Tafas v. Dudas) has now had its first review of the new rules proposed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”), based on an appeal of a summary judgment ruling. The PTO has been attempting to implement these new rules relating to the patenting of inventions since November 1, 2007, which would impose fairly strict and burdensome requirements on patent applicants and companies attempting to protect their financial investment and incentive to develop such technology.
10/15/2008 -
Pro-IP Act Signed into Law
Yesterday the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 was signed into law.
09/08/2008 -
The IP Beacon
A Haynes and Boone Newsletter highlighting current issues in Intellectual Property Law.
07/24/2008 -
Be Careful Where You Save That File
IP Law 360
Inventions are not patentable in the U.S. if they have been publicly disclosed, used, or sold for more than a year before filing an application, according to Section 102(b) of the Patent Act. This rule is based on the principle that an invention in the public domain should no longer be patentable.
07/08/2008 -
Copyright Office Commences Online Registration of Claims