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Overview

Giovanna is a computer scientist, intellectual property attorney, and blockchain specialist with 20+ years of experience advising high-tech companies and startups in software patents, software product development, licensing, open source software, trademark branding, post-grant patent challenges, litigation, and intellectual property strategy.

Giovanna is the executive producer of TEDx Berkshires and serves as a Board Member at the Berkshire Innovation Center.

Areas of Practice: Giovanna’s legal practice focuses on all areas of intellectual property law through counseling, patent and trademark prosecution, enforcement, and litigation with an emphasis on technologies related to blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, esports and gaming, wearables, payment systems, medtech, clean energy technologies, recycled materials innovations, biometrics, cryptocurrency wallets, biotech, augmented reality (AR), video compression / codecs, trusted computing and encryption, cybersecurity, object-oriented software, analytics, video on demand (VOD) systems, VoIP and video conferencing systems, AI medical devices, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and semi-conductor manufacturing systems. Giovanna uses her litigation experience to strengthen and protect her client’s intellectual property, manage risks, and position businesses to succeed in the event of a dispute.

Patent/Trademark/Copyright Prosecution and Brand Development: Giovanna develops and manages international patent and trademark portfolios and prosecutes matters before the USPTO, PTAB, TTAB, and WIPO. She frequently advises clients on developing and strengthening their patent and trademark rights and works with counsel around the world to help protect her clients’ intellectual property portfolios. She frequently advises on brand protection and counsels clients on blockchain/web 3.0 platforms, from games to marketplaces, on compliance and risk management.

IP Enforcement, Defense, and Litigation: Giovanna manages intellectual property disputes on a global scale, including, when necessary, litigating complex commercial claims involving copyright, trademark, trade dress, false advertising, and patent disputes in federal courts nationwide. She has handled patent post grant proceedings, patent litigation, copyright and trademark infringement litigations, trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, and breach of contract actions. Giovanna has prepared validity and infringement opinions, open source software compliance opinions, software license agreements, non-fungible token (NFT) royalty agreements, technology transfer agreements, copyright publishing agreements, film production agreements, website terms of use agreements, and employee intellectual property agreements.

Open Source Software: Giovanna also advises clients on open source software and OpenChain compliance, open source patent issues, and developing and implementing corporate policies on using open source software.

Background: Giovanna has experience programming several programming, scripting, and modeling languages, including Java, C++, C#, Perl, CGI, Lisp, C, C Music, Javascript, XML, HTML, and Unified Modeling Language (UML).

As a Communications Systems Analyst for the International Co-operative Alliance Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, Giovanna worked on software development, GUI and database development, application programming, server maintenance, database driven website creation, and network administration. Giovanna has also worked as a Technology Consultant for the United Nations Committee for Advancement of Cooperatives in Geneva, Switzerland, where she worked in software development and animation. As a Programmer at Harvard University, she developed Java Applets and performed Flash ActionScript programming for an e-learning project.

While studying for her law degree, Giovanna held an internship at the United States Copyright Office where she assisted with the promulgation of regulations concerning webcasting transmissions and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

In addition to working with our other clients, Giovanna helps our firm maintain a presence in western Massachusetts, personally serving clients in that area. Since 2018, Giovanna has received the distinction in The Best Lawyers in America® for her patent law expertise. For the past 6 years, she has been ranked by Super Lawyers®, a rating of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. 

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Massachusetts

Education

  • B.A. in Art History and Computer Science, Smith College
  • M.A. in Intellectual Property, University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly the Franklin Pierce Law Center)
  • J.D., University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

Speaking Engagements

Professional Associations

  • Berkshire Innovation Center - Serving on their Board of Directors
  • Berkshire Bar Association
  • Boston Bar Association
    • Co-chair of Internet and Technology Subcommittee (IP Steering Committee)

Certifications

  • Black Duck Certified Open Source Legal Professional

Partnerships

OpenChain Linux Foundation Partner

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