Russell C. Gache

Practice Concentration

Mr. Gache is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He counsels clients in all areas of intellectual property law, with a nonexclusive focus on protecting intellectual property ("IP") for computer hardware and software manufacturers, computer electronics manufacturers, and internet business model companies. Russ is also an electrical engineer and enjoys combining his technical engineering skills with the complicated nature of IP law, such as patent drafting. He understands how to capture the value of IP for companies and individuals, and excels at focusing precious financial resources on IP that will bring the largest return to his clients. Mr. Gache has represented clients ranging in size from one person start-ups to fortune 1000 companies, such as Colonial Bank and AmSouth Bank.

Prior To Joining The Gache Law Firm:

After graduating from law school in 1995, Russ worked for Veal & Associates, a small IP boutique focusing mainly on patents and trademarks, and related litigation. He then joined Sirote & Permutt in 1998 where he helped them establish a robust IP department in a general practice firm. In 2008, he joined the law firm of Maynard Cooper & Gale, where he represented a broad range of IP clients. He joined his wife Dana Gache, an accomplished corporate and health care attorney, in the Gache Law Firm in July of 2011.

Prior to Becoming a Lawyer:
Prior to law school, Mr. Gache graduated from the Duke University School of Engineering and was employed at Texas Instruments in their semiconductor division from 1983-1987. From 1987-1992 he was employed at LSI Logic Corporation as sales engineer where his responsibilities included negotiating and directing LSI's subcontracts pertaining to the design and manufacture of customized computer chips and design software, primarily for LSI's military customers in Florida. In this position he worked with companies such as Harris, Martin Marietta (now Martin Lockeed), Honeywell, E-Systems, and Hughes Aerospace. Russ entered law school in 1992 and graduated in 1995. After taking his bar exams, he was licensed by the State of Alabama and the United States Patent and Trademark Office in September of 1995. Russ is also licensed in the District of Columbia.

Representative Transactions
- Successfully defended a gourmet dog product manufacturer client against a claim of trademark infringement from a domain name owner having a similar domain name. A federal district court in Birmingham, AL entered a final judgment in favor of the client dismissing all claims and awarding the client its attorneys fees of $200k to defend the action.
- Filed a patent infringement action against a friction stir welding machine manufacturer in federal district court in Huntsville, AL. The parties settled their disputed claims by entering into a licensing arrangement under the patents in suit.
- Successfully defended a New Jersey lamp fixture manufacturer in a copyright infringement action filed in Mobile, AL by obtaining a favorable settlement at a fraction of the original demand.
- Successfully defended a patent infringement action filed in Birmingham, AL against a client selling digital sports game cameras by having the case transferred to a less favorable Texas jurisdiction.
- Successfully defended a residential home designer against a claim of copyright infringement for the sale of a home design in Birmingham, AL.
- Successfully obtained a federal trademark registration for the Vulcan statue overlooking Birmingham, AL for the Vulcan Park Foundation by appealing to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board a final refusal to register the statue by the U.S. Trademark Office. U.S. Ser. No. 76-579511.
- Successfully obtained a federal trademark registration for the mark "Colonial Bank" by canceling another bank's pre-existing and conflicting federal registration for the mark "Colonial Bank USA." U.S. Reg. Nos. 2,545,610; 2,545,613.


Obtained the Following Representative Patents for Clients:
(click to view these patents in the above rotating carousel):

- Simultaneous Dual Polarization Radar System with Optical Communications Link: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,760,129
- Method and Apparatus for Automatic High Power Tube Recovery: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,750,573
- System and Method for Measuring Phase and Power Variance: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,683,828
- Phase Shifted Transmitted Signals in a Simultaneous Dual Polarization Weather System: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,551,123
- Eyewear Retention Device: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,467, 867
- Mechanized Planter: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,444,948
- Doppler Radar System: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,803,875; 6,859,163; 7,049,997
- Steel Jail Cell: U.S. Pat. No. 7,318,300
- Integrated Power Supply and Platform for Military Radio: U.S. Pat. No. 7,227,755
- Pulse Forming Converter Network: U.S. Pat. No. 7,009,370
- Measurement Module and System for Monitoring the Status of Armored Vehicle Electronic Components: U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,763
- Compact Integrated Infrared Scene Projector: U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,892
- Belt Hanger: U.S. Pat. No. 6,478, 168
- Method and Apparatus for Generating Virtual Views of Sporting Events: U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,862
- Inflatable Bicycle Seat Cover: U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,772
- Electronic Numerical Sports Player Identifier: 5,653,634

Representative Present and Past Clients:

AmSouth Bank
Colonial Bank
Colonial Properties
Enterprise Electronics Corporation
Compass Marketing
Consolidated Pipe & Supply
CPSI
Applied Data Trends
Astan, Inc.
DTI Partners, Inc.
Fast Health Corporation
Higher Ground Roasters
Global Eye Monitor
MCM Custom Vehicles
Mission Solutions Engineering
Mobular Technologies
Anivision, Inc.
Vulcan Park Foundation
Symmetry Prosthetics
Tensor Corporation
Vulcan Threaded Products
Nidek Medical Supplies
Space Camp
Teksouth Corporation
Grits, Inc.

Publications:

Many Legalities To Using E-Mail Communications - 03/10/2004

Practice Areas

Education and Honors:
Cumberland School of Law (J.D., 1995); Member, American Journal of Trial Advocacy
Duke University School of Engineering (B.S.E.E., 1983)

Admitted to Practice:
Alabama
District of Columbia
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Professional Affiliations:
Alabama State Bar Association, International Law (Manager of section web site, 1996-1997), and Intellectual Property Law (Secretary), Intellectual Property, Entertainment and Sports Law (Vice Chair, 2008-2010)sections
Birmingham Bar Association, Computer Technology Committee
American Bar Association
Alabama Information Technology Association ("AITA"), Board of Directors
Formerly served on the Legislation Review Committee for the Electronic Signatures Act (UETA) for the Alabama Law Institute
Selected by the Mayor of Birmingham in June 2002 to serve on the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Technology Leadership Alliance (BATLA, also known as Tech Birmingham)
The Gas Turbine Builders Association

Civic Activities:
Tres Dias of Birmingham