Edward A. Cavazos

Until 2000, Mr. Cavazos was senior vice president, general counsel, and later senior vice president, legal and business affairs, of Interliant, Inc., a pioneering Internet application service provider and Web hosting firm that went public in July of 1999. He teaches "The Law of Software, Video Games and Interactive Entertainment" at The University of Texas School of Law.

Representative Matters

Transactional Experience

Represented security software company in negotiating major OEM, License and Distribution agreement.

Represented state agency in major procurement of email outsourcing services.

Handled complex intellectual property issues arising in the context of the acquisition of a semiconductor company.

Assisted various technology companies during the process of planning for and negotiating venture capital financings.

Assisted client in creating a computer hardware distribution and reseller program, and drafted and negotiated related agreements.

Represented aerospace company in commercializing and licensing technologies related to space exploration.

Developed terms of use and privacy policy for consumer-focused internet business.

Negotiated music license related to use of client’s original compositions in a major motion picture.

Represented venture capital firm with regard to intellectual property matters related to potential investment opportunity.

Advised client on starting and funding a computer game company.

Litigation Experience

Stripes LLC v. Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Inc., TGI Friday's, Inc. et al.  - Currently representing Stripes LLC, a publicly-traded convenience store and food services company in lawsuit against TGI Friday's alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and similar claims relating to defendant's unauthorized use of the "Stripes" trademark (Southern District of Texas - McAllen).

Cooper Notification v. Twitter, Inc., Everbridge, Inc. et al. - Currently representing provider of notification messaging system in defending against claims of patent infringement (District of Delaware).

Lamebook v. Facebook - Represented Lamebook, a popular Facebook parody website in seeking a declaratory judgment that Lamebook does not infringe Facebook's trademark and that the Lamebook site constitutes protected speech under the First Amendment.  (Western District of Texas - Austin).

Communicate & Negotiate, LLC v. PT On-Line Courses, LLC -  Represented provider of on-line training courses in a lawsuit alleging trademark infringement, copyright infringement, unfair competition, and cybersquatting (Western District of Texas - Waco).

Volusion, Inc. v. Network Solutions, Inc. - Represented a software and service provider in a lawsuit alleging claims of trademark infringement, unfair competition, cybersquatting, and dilution (Western District of Texas - Austin).

OLA v. Builder Homesite, Inc., New Home Technologies LLC, et al. - Represented providers of application services for the homebuilding industry against claims of patent infringement, theft of trade secrets, antitrust, and related claims (Eastern District of Texas).

IP Co., LLC d/b/a Intus IQ v. Comverge, Inc., et al. - Represented provider of clean energy products and advanced metering solutions against multiple claims of patent infringement; matter settled favorably (Eastern District of Texas).

Progressive Concepts v. Hawk Electronics, Inc. - Represented defendant in Declaratory Judgment action brought involving trademark infringement and related claims (Northern District of Texas).

Zimmers and Davis v. 3N Global, Inc. - Represented provider of emergency notification messaging system in defending against claims of patent infringement in two courts simultaneously; matter settled favorably (Southern District of Ohio and Central District of California).

USAA v. DML Learning - Represented plaintiff in obtaining early resolution of breach of contract and copyright infringement lawsuit arising out of a custom software development agreement (State District Court, Bexar County - San Antonio, Texas).

Rivera v. Dyncorp - Successfully defended defense aerospace contractor by obtaining a favorable verdict in federal court jury trial involving claims of employment discrimination (Western District of Texas).

Publications and Speeches

“Licensing and Corporate Partnering” University of Texas Office of Technology Commercialization’s Colloquium on Commercialization, November 2011

“Website Agreements for Artists," State Bar of Texas 21st Annual Entertainment Law Institute, October 2011

“The Collapsing Magic Circle: Laws, Rules and Social Contracts in Virtual Worlds,” TEDxSanAntonio, October 2011

"IP and Licensing Issues," The Seminar Group, Venture Capital Financing, October 2011

"Employee Social Media and On-line Liability," State Bar of Texas 10th Annual Advanced In-House Counsel Course, July 2011

"Copyright Law for Songwriters," Kerrville Folk Festival, May 2011

"Mobile Applications:  Emerging Legal and Transactional Issues," University of Texas School of Law’s Technology Law Conference, May 2011

"David vs. Goliath:  Lessons Learned from Lamebook vs. Facebook," SXSW, March 2011

"Internet Law Update," Houston Intellectual Property Law Association Annual Meeting, Galveston, October 2010.
 
"Advanced Issue Involving Licensing and Technology Agreements," UT CLE's 2010 Technology Law Conference, May 2010
 
"Top 10 Intellectual Property Focus Items," UT CLE's 2010 Corporate Counsel Institute, Dallas and Houston, April 2010

"Open Source: Current Issues and Best Practices," University of Texas School of Law - 17th Annual Computer Law Conference, Austin, May 2007