Stephen E. Arnett
A trusted advisor to global technology companies and leading businesses, Stephen brings a pragmatic approach to client service.
Stephen Arnett advises clients on all aspects of patent portfolio development, patent analysis, and post-issuance proceedings. With a focus on business strategy, Steve provides patent preparation and prosecution services, counseling, and analysis to help clients achieve their goals. When providing IP counsel in mergers and acquisitions transactions, Steve assesses offensive and defensive patent positions, litigation vulnerabilities, and issues affecting IP value so that clients can negotiate favorable deals.
Steve’s clients include both established and growing companies in aerospace, semiconductors, commercial equipment, consumer products, transportation, and automated retail. He focuses on the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications, in addition to providing freedom to operate and validity analysis and conducting due diligence for the acquisition, sale, or licensing of patent assets.
When patent enforcement issues arise or patent analysis is required to support litigation, Steve provides counsel to clients and colleagues across a range of technologies and industries. He recently argued successfully before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for affirmance of a Patent Trial and Appeal Board finding of invalidity of a patent asserted against a client.
Steve is a former aeronautical and astronautical engineer who worked for more than 15 years with General Dynamics Space Systems, Lockheed-Martin Space Systems, and The Boeing Company. His areas of technical experience include mechanical, electromechanical and aerospace systems, semiconductor processing and packaging, internal combustion engines, and computer-implemented business methods.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 1999
- University of Washington, B.S., Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, magna cum laude, 1983
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Related Employment
- Seattle University School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Patent and Trade Secret Law, 2011-2013
- Seed & Berry LLP, Seattle, WA, Law Clerk, 1998
- The Boeing Company Commercial Space Division, Seattle, WA, Principal Engineer, 1996-1999
- Lockheed-Martin Space Systems (formerly General Dynamics Space Systems), San Diego, CA, Engineering Specialist, 1983-1995
Professional Recognition
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Patent Law, 2016-2024
Listed in Thomson Reuters “Stand-out Lawyers,” 2024
Listed in Washington Law & Politics, “Rising Stars of Washington Law,” 2003, 2006-2009
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Washington State Bar Association
- Washington State Patent Law Association
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Patent Counsel
Coinstar, LLC (formerly Outerwall Inc.)
Provides strategic counselling, development and management of U.S. and foreign patent portfolios for Coinstar, ecoATM and other Outerwall lines of business. Counsel also includes providing patentability and clearance opinions, competitive analysis, advice on patent litigation matters, and IP diligence on acquisitions. Provided IP counsel to Outerwall Inc. in its sale to certain funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC.
The Boeing Company
Prepared and prosecuted patent applications, conducted patent investigations and advised on third-party patent use of proprietary technologies in the fields of aircraft systems, composite and metallic structures, aerodynamics, power systems, aircraft layout, etc.
AmSafe
Prepares and prosecutes patent applications on aircraft airbag systems and vehicle occupant restraint systems, as well as provides clearance opinions and advice regarding freedom to operate for world’s leading provider of safety restraint products for the aerospace, defense, specialty and vehicle industries.
4Front/entrematic
Prepares and prosecutes patent applications in the field of loading dock technology, including remote management systems, dock levelers, fan systems, door systems, etc., prepares clearance opinions, and advises on and negotiates IP license agreements.
Patent Post-Grant Procedures
Inter Partes Reexamination for C. Cretors & Co.
Represented C. Cretors in an inter partes reexamination of a third-party patent asserted against C. Cretors. Obtained favorable judgment by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, finding all asserted claims under reexamination to be unpatentable.
Federal Circuit Litigation in Gold Medal Products vs. Cretors and Company
Argued successfully before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for affirmance of Patent Board finding of invalidity of asserted patent owned by appellant Gold Medal.
IP M&A Due Diligence
Broad experience in conducting due diligence of intellectual property in mergers and acquisitions for numerous clients, including for Outerwall in its acquisition of ecoATM Inc. Experience includes assessing patent strength, litigation vulnerabilities and issues affecting IP value and enforceability.