Leslie's practice includes copyright, U.S. and foreign trademarks, domain name recovery, Internet and search engine issues, licensing, unfair competition, software protection, trade secrets, confidentiality agreements and intellectual property in secured lending and in estate planning. Leslie and the intellectual property team at Stokes Lawrence also handle intellectual property litigation in the Federal Courts and contested matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
CONTACT INFO
206-892-2183
leslie.ruiter@stokeslaw.com
PRACTICE AREAS
EDUCATION
Emory University School of Law, J.D., with distinction (1990)
Emory University's Candler School of Theology, M.T.S., cum laude (1990)
Calvin College, B.A. Music Theory and Composition (1985)
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
Georgia (1990)
Washington (1998)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (1991), the Ninth Circuit (1996) and the Federal Circuit (1996)
U.S. Supreme Court (1997)
ASSISTANT
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
Protecting and enforcing trademark portfolios world-wide for business clients, including international (Madrid) extensions, design marks, sound marks, packaging configuration marks, and certification marks.
Copyright infringement litigation, including copyrights in software, books, works of art, works of architecture, and photography.
Transactions: trademark, patent and domain name acquisitions, licensing, and transfer; music and book publishing and distribution agreements.
Disputes before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).
Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Proceedings ("UDRPs") to recover domain names.
Expert witness re music theory and composition in copyright infringement litigation. Bunn v. [Famous Recording Artist], et al., (N.D. Ga./11th Cir.).
Representative Trademark & Domain Name & Copyright & Patent Litigation
Attachmate Corp. v. Health Net, Inc., 2010 WL 519051 (2010 W.D. Wash)
Pearl Jam, LLC v J.S.E. Janssen aka Stijn Enzo Holding BV, FA 0905001262659 (NAF 2009)
Sur La Table, Inc. v. Colby (TTAB No.: 92047883 2009)
Klise Manufacturing Company v. Braided Accents, L.L.C., (TTAB No.: 92045607 2007)
Dexter & Chaney, Inc. v. Microsoft, Inc. (2006 W.D. Wash.)
Pearl Jam, A General Partnership v. Vertical Axis, Inc. c/o Domain Administrator, FA 593325 (NAF 2005)
Flow Control Inc. v. A&H Enterprises, Inc. (2002 W.D. Wash)
Radiator Express Warehouse, Inc. v. Performance Radiator, Inc. (2000 W.D. Wash.)
Kreuter Mfg Co., Inc. v. Reliable Computer Systems, Ltd. (N.D. Ind.)
Britches of Georgetowne, Inc. v. Kinder Britches, Inc. (Fed. Cir Ct. App.)
Warren Publishing Inc., v. Microdos Data Corp., et al. (11th Cir.; Petition for Cert. to U.S. Sup.Ct.) (Copyright)
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
International Trademark Association Panel of Neutrals (INTA PON)
International Trademark Association (INTA)
Intellectual Property Sections: Washington and Georgia Bar Associations
Volunteer, Open Door Legal Services Clinic
Past Board Member, Calvin College & Seminary (Grand Rapids, MI)
Past Board Chairman, Neighborhood Playhouse (Atlanta, GA)
RECENT PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
"Planning Considerations for Clients Who Own and Co-Own Valuable Copyrights" co-author with RoseMary Reed and Laura C. Cunningham, 36 Real Property Probate & Trust (WSBA, Summer 2009)
"How the USPTO Treats Fraud in Trademark Applications," INTA U.S. Roundtable, Seattle WA (2009)
"Damages & Remedies for Copyright Infringement," co-author Shelley Hall, LSI Copyright Management & Litigation Conference (2007)
"Navigating the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy," co-author WSBA 11th Annual Intellectual Property Institute, Cutting Edge Updates, Opportunities and Issues (2006)
"Evaluating When to File a UDRP," Domain Roundtable Conference: co-presenter Seattle (2005)
"Recent Supreme Court Developments in Trademark Law," INTA Table Topics Leader (2005)
Publication: "www.misleading.com: Drawing the Line on Problem Domain Names," CLE, King County Bar Association, also Domain Roundtable Conference, Seattle
"Intellectual Property Assets in Bankruptcy: Perfecting Security Interests and Drafting Technology Licenses," CLE, Washington State Patent Law Association
"Intellectual Property Considerations in Emerging Growth Company Practice," CLE Washington State Bar Business Law Section, Midyear Meeting
"Fundamentals of Trademarks, Domain Names and Copyrights," CLE Washington State Bar Association
"What Steps Do I Take to Protect My Company's Name and Product Names? Trademarks, Domain Names and Related Issues," CLE, Washington State Bar Association Business Law Institute
INTA U.S. Roundtables: "Product Configurations and Packaging,"; "Domain Name Proceedings"; and "U.S. Trademark Registration Practice" (Seattle, WA)
RECOGNITION
Super Lawyer, WASHINGTON LAW AND POLITICS (2006, 2007)
Best Lawyers in America (2009-2010)
Top Lawyers, SEATTLE MAGAZINE (2001)
Best Washington State Bar CLE Presentations (2000)
AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
Leslie’s love of the arts and her own creative talents — she’s a composer, plays classical oboe, and recently designed a home for her family in the San Juan Islands — explains why she was drawn to intellectual property law.
RECOMMENDED LINKS
www.uspto.gov
www.archive.org
www.syso.org
www.ban.org
www.alexa.com
www.thettablog.blogspot.com
www.seattlechocolates.com