Biography

Ryan N. Phelan is a registered patent attorney who counsels and works with clients in all areas of intellectual property (IP), with a focus on patents. Clients enjoy Ryan’s business-focused approach to IP. With a MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, Ryan works with clients to achieve their business objectives, including developing and protecting their innovations and businesses with IP.

Ryan routinely helps clients with:

  • Preparing and prosecuting high-quality patent applications, and developing strategic patent portfolios for innovative products and services, including in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions (e.g., Europe, China, and Japan).
     
  • Preparing legal opinions as to the patentability, non-infringement, validity, and/or freedom-to-operate of innovative products or services.
     
  • Litigating IP related issues to protect client market share from competitors and defend clients from IP lawsuits against competitors or non-practicing patent entities.

As a former technology consultant with Accenture and with a background in computer science and engineering, Ryan has extensive experience in computer system, hardware, and software design, engineering, development and related technologies. He represents numerous startup and Fortune 500 clients with patent matters in technical areas and industries including artificial intelligence and machine learning, medical devices, biometrics data and services, virtual reality, imaging, internet and e-commerce, computer networking, data storage and management, encryption and security, mobile telecommunications, consumer electronics, insurance and finance applications, mechanical devices, among others. 

Ryan has been published in several well-known IP publications including the World Intellectual Property Review, Bloomberg Law, and IP Litigator, and has spoken as a panelist at various IP conferences, including for the International Intellectual Property Law Association (IIPLA), and for the University of Illinois Chicago Annual IP Conference. Ryan's recent article titled Artificial Intelligence & the Intellectual Property Landscape details how artificial intelligence is reshaping the business and intellectual property landscape. 

Ryan is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law where he teaches coursework on Patenting Software Inventions, with a focus on patent subject matter eligibility dealing with procuring software and computer related patents in view of 35 U.S.C. § 101 and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International, 573 U.S. 208 (2014).

Ryan has been rated by Super Lawyers® and Leading LawyersSM as a Rising Star and peer selected Emerging Lawyer, respectively, for years 2019 through 2020. Since 2021, Ryan has been named a Leading Lawyer. Since 2023, Super Lawyers® recognized Ryan on the Illinois Super Lawyers list. He is featured in the IAM Strategy 300 & 300 Global Leaders guides. In 2024, Ryan was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© list in the practice area of Patent Law.

                Mondaq Thought Leader     
 

Ryan is the moderator of PatentNext, a blog that focuses on patent and IP law relating to next-generation and new age technologies that launched in March 2021. He was recognized as a Mondaq Thought Leader for Intellectual Property, United States during the Autumn 2021 awards for his contributions to PatentNext.   

PatentNext

Representative Experience

Patent Preparation and Prosecution

On behalf of startups to Fortune 500 companies, Ryan prepares, prosecutes, and manages patents and patent portfolios, in various technologies and technical fields. Ryan’s technical experience and background, together with his litigation experience, allows him to quickly understand his client’s technology and products, and prepare high-quality, litigation ready patents.

Ryan has personally prepared and prosecuted, or has been involved in preparing and prosecuting, over one hundred (100) patent applications in emerging and technical areas and industries, including in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions (e.g., Europe, China, and Japan).

Ryan has extensive experience in and has represented clients in technical areas including:

  • Medical devices and software-related medical device technologies such as Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and Software in a Medical Device (SiMD)
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, including self-driving vehicles 
  • Robotics, including electronically controlled prosthetics
  • Biotechnology, including data and image processing, analysis, and learning
  • Computer engineering, architecture, and networking
  • Cloud-based computing and client-server architectures
  • Internet of Things (IoT), devices, and applications
  • Internet and e-commerce related web systems
  • Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
  • Big Data systems and applications
  • Data management and storage
  • Imaging applications, including 3D, point cloud, and sensor based systems and applications
  • Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies
  • Computer graphics and gaming
  • Security, cryptography and encryption
  • Secured Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) internet communication technology
  • Digital rights management technology
  • Databases and information systems
  • Wireless, mobile, and related telecommunications systems
  • Next generation mobile devices
  • Radio frequency communication circuits and systems
  • Digital signal processing
  • Interactive user program guide interfaces
  • Financial and Insurance industry innovations
  • Mechanical devices

Intellectual Property Litigation

Ryan focuses on results for his clients and represents clients in intellectual property litigation in both defensive and offensive IP matters. He has represented clients in cases in various U.S. district courts, including the Northern District of California, the Eastern District of Texas, the Northern District of Illinois, among others, and has practiced before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

He is experienced in all stages of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, summary judgment and trial.

Ryan's litigation experience includes:

  • Counsel for ergonomic manufacturer in a patent infringement case involving desktop workspace that adjust vertically awarded through Amazon’s Neutral Patent Evaluation Process. Complete Victory achieved in Q1 2022.
     

  • In re the Matter of Certain Height-Adjustable Desk Platforms and Components Thereof (USITC 337-TA-1125) – Counsel for Lorell and Huizhou Chang He Home Supplies Co., Ltd. in a patent infringement case involving height adjustable desks. Reached settlement agreement following claim construction. (Settlement reached: Q1 2019).

  • In re the Matter of Certain Collapsible Sockets for Mobile Electronic Devices and Components Thereof (USITC 337-TA-1056) – Counsel for PopSockets in a patent infringement case involving consumer products for mobile devices. The International Trade Commission found in favor of PopSockets and issued a General Exclusion Order (GEO) preventing infringing products from being imported into the United States. (GEO issued: 6/14/2018).

  • ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. v. Apple, Inc. (E. D. Tex.) – Counsel for Apple in a patent infringement case involving digital rights management technology and Apple iTunes. Jury found on behalf of Apple with a verdict of non-infringement (Jury Verdict: 09/23/2015).

  • Petitions for Inter Partes Review (IPR2015-01956 and IPR2015-01957) – Counsel for Old Republic General Insurance Group for IPR petitions filed to invalidate patents regarding Internet and e-commerce technologies that were asserted in district court litigation.  The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) instituted the petitions on all grounds asserted.
     
  • Intellectual Ventures II LLC v. BITCO General Insurance Corporation f/k/a Bituminous Casualty Corporation et al. (E.D. Tex.) – Counsel for BITCO General Insurance Corp. and Great West Casualty Company in a patent infringement case involving Internet, e-commerce. and encryption technologies.
     
  • Protegrity Corp v. Trustwave Holdings, Inc. (D. Conn.) – Counsel for Trustwave in a patent infringement case involving database security and encryption.
     
  • Wargaming.Net LLP v. Changyou.com Limited et al (N.D. Ill.) – Counsel for Changyou in a copyright infringement case involving Wargaming’s World of Tanks® video game; claims against Changyou settled in 2014.
     
  • Stambler v. Northern Trust Corporation et al (E.D. Tex.) – Counsel for Northern Trust in a patent infringement case involving Secured Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) Internet communication technology; claims against Northern Trust dismissed in 2013.
     
  • TQP Development, LLC v. Northern Trust Corporation (E.D. Tex.) – Counsel for Northern Trust in a patent infringement case involving the RC4 internet encryption algorithm; claims against Northern Trust dismissed in 2013.
     
  • In the Matter of Certain Products Containing Interactive Program Guide and Parental Controls Technology (USITC 337-TA-820) – Counsel for Rovi Corporation in a patent infringement case involving Internet technology and interactive program guides brought against Vizio Inc.; claims against Vizio settled in 2013.
     
  • In the Matter of Certain Products Containing Interactive Program Guide and Parental Controls Technology (USITC 337-TA-845) – Counsel for Rovi Corporation in a patent infringement case involving Internet technology and interactive program guides brought against various respondents, including LG Electronics and Mitsubishi; claims against Mitsubishi and LG Electronics settled in 2013.
     
  • Guardian Media Technologies, Ltd. v. Acer America Corporation et al (E.D. Tex.) – Counsel for defendant Office Depot in a patent infringement case involving consumer electronic equipment; claims against Office Depot dismissed in 2013.
     
  • Extreme Networks, Inc. v. Enterasys Networks, Inc. (W.D. Wis.) – Trial counsel for Extreme Networks, defending Extreme Networks in a patent infringement jury trial involving computer networking equipment. Jury found on behalf of Extreme Networks with a verdict of non-infringement (Jury Verdict: 11/04/2011).

Background and Credentials

Ryan received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law, concurrent with an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. While in law school, he served as an Executive Editor of the Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property.

Prior to attending law school, Ryan worked as a capital markets technology consultant at Accenture where he developed broad experience in software engineering and computer architecture. Ryan has extensive experience with a variety of technologies, including Python, R, Java/J2EE, Microsoft C#/.NET, C++/C, Perl, XML, JSON, SOAP, XSL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Web 2.0, cloud-based and artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning technologies and libraries, including Google TensorFlow and Facebook’s PyTorch. Ryan is also a Certified Java Programmer.

Ryan received his B.S., magna cum laude, in computer science from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. While at University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Ryan served as president of his school’s Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) chapter.

Education

  • Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
  • Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management (MBA)
  • University of Louisiana Lafayette (B.S., magna cum laude)
    • Computer Science

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

Publications and Presentations

Community and Professional Involvement

  • Member, Intellectual Property Owners (IPO)
    • Software Medical Devices Subcommittee Chair
    • AI & Other Emerging Technologies Committee Member
    • Software Related Inventions Committee Member
  • Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
  • Member, Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC)
  • Lawyers for the Creative Arts–Pro Bono Representation
  • Secretary, China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)/U.S. Liaison Council
Offsite Notice

By clicking “Proceed” below, you will be opening a new browser window and leaving our website.