Intellectual Property Copyrights Consultants: 24

Howard J. Cohen, PhD, has over 30 years of experience in Software Engineering, Architecture and Implementation. He possesses particular expertise in Algorithms, Relational Databases, Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and Software Applications in general. His experience has been in a broad spectrum of technology, in several languages, in a wide variety of applications, and on multiple platforms. Dr. Cohen's background includes Electronic Design Automation, Bioinformatics, Digital Cartography, Banking Systems for Foreign Exchange Traders, and many more. He is the co-inventor on approximately 120 patents.

Since 1979, Dr. Cohen has served as a Software Development Consultant to several major Silicon Valley businesses including Nortel Networks, Surromed, Incyte Genomics, BomDiver, Canon Information Systems, WeatherNews, PetroSoft, LSI Logic, Aspect Development, Abbott Laboratories, ETAK, Engineering DataXpress, Nikon Precision, Diasonics, Daisy Systems, Rolm, Oceanroutes, Mindcraft, and Integrated CMOS Systems. Concurrently, he has also held full time senior engineering and management positions with such companies as Tibco, Zycad, ETAK, and the NASA Ames Research Center.

Dr. Cohen's Consulting Services are available to companies needing software development involving problem definition, analysis, design modeling, documentation, programming, and implementation. Consulting services are also available issues regarding Trade Secrets, Copyright and Patent Infringement, and Computer Software Security and Forensics.

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Durand R. Begault received a PhD in Computer Audio from UC San Diego in 1988 and an MFA from Mills College in 1981. He has been associated with the Audio Forensic Center and Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc. since 1996 and has worked as an expert witness, legal consultant, and acoustical consultant on a variety of audio-related cases since 1988. Dr. Begault also holds a research position at NASA Ames Research Center and is an adjunct faculty member at McGill University. He is the author of several U.S. patents and is qualified as an expert witness in both Federal and State Courts. Dr. Begault has testified in over 40 cases on a variety of audio technology and forensic audio-related cases.

Areas of Expertise:

• Audio Technology Patent / Intellectual Property Analyses
• Forensic Audio and Video Tape Examination / Authentication
• Analysis of Speech, Alarms, Warning Signal Audibility
• Voice Identification and Elimination
• Analysis of ‘Ear Witness’ Testimony
• Enhancement of Speech from Noisy Audio / Video Tape Recordings
• Music Copyright Infringement and Musicological Analysis
• Gunshots
• Acoustical Test and Measurement - Environmental Sound
• Noise Exposure
• Software / Hardware Black Box Testing for Infringement
• Videotape Image Enhancement
• Analysis of Digital Recordings

Please contact the Marketing Department at Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc./Audio Forensic Center for Dr. Begault’s current CV.

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Brooks Hilliard, CMC, CCP is the only actively practicing expert witness in the world who is both a Certified Management Consultant and a Certified Computing Professional specializing in computer system selection and problem resolution. He has testified more than 30 times as a computer expert witness and has been engaged on more than 90 such matters for both plaintiffs and defendants. Mr. Hillard has done expert witness and consulting assignments in 25 states, and has qualified as an expert witness on computer software and hardware (including ERP, SCM and CRM systems) in both state and federal litigation. His expert witness engagements have included courtroom and deposition testimony in lawsuits, arbitrations, mediations and formal governmental hearings. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Allegations of ERP and CRM system failures and/or defective business software/systems
• Computer Forensics
• Intellectual property
• Valuation of computer hardware, software and services
• Regulatory, Procurement and Tax matters

Dr. Larry Chiagouris has a rare combination serving as a senior Fortune 500 executive and as an accomplished academician. He has provided expert testimony and written opinions on damages, marketing, advertising, intellectual property issues (including the use of survey research) for plaintiffs & defendants at major national & local firms.

Dr. Chiagouris  brings extensive experience as a Senior Marketing, Branding and Research Executive responsible for directing major assignments for companies such as AT&T, Campbell Soup, Kraft, Miller Brewing, Peugeot, Pfizer, Prudential and Visa. He has a Ph.D. in Marketing, is Past Chairman, Advertising Research Foundation and Former Director of the American Marketing Association.

Experience Summary:

• Experience evenly divided between plaintiff and defendant engagements over 25 cases
• Several cases include elements of intellectual property issues
• Majority of cases involve elements of consumer behavior or survey research
• Majority of cases involve elements of advertising related strategies and tactics
• Majority of cases involve elements of Internet related tactics
• Majority of cases involve written opinions and depositions
• Written and oral testimony in several Federal District Court jurisdictions
• Engaged by both large multinational law firms and small boutique firms
• Class action cases evenly divided between plaintiffs and defendants
• Selected by Agency Magazine as one of 10 best and brightest researchers.

Biernath Consulting helps small to midsized companies envision how AI and other advanced science & technology can help grow their business. He helps them create and implement innovative solutions to achieve success.

Rolf Biernath, PhD in Chemical Engineering, has over 30 years in the Chemicals and Electronics Industries with a concentration on AI advanced technology new product development. He developed new products and product lines at 3M for 31 years in senior technical roles. His 58 issued US patents span a broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines. 

Rolf has a strong drive to find the simplest and most effective solutions that meet customer needs and business objectives. His broad technical background and his resourceful ability to learn new fields quickly make him an ideal partner to help turn product's into fully realized new products and services. If it can be done, he'll find the way. If not, he'll tell you why, and let you know what advances might enable it in the future.

Rolf also works with VC and Angel Investors to assess a startup's new technology odds of technical and business success. He is known for his ability to break down complex technical problems and find the critical aspects that will make or break a new product. This helps investors ensure that financial investments are used to target the highest risks first, thereby reducing the money and time wasted chasing after products that may likely never see the light of day.

Consultant Specialties:

New Product Innovation Manufacturing Innovation Adhesives and Tapes Generative AI Prompt Engineering Root Cause Identification Chemical Engineering

Smart Devices IoT Devices IIoT Sensors Electromechanical Assemblies

Background Experience - Dr. Biernath has 58 Issued US Patents on New Products, including:

• Industrial Adhesives and Tapes – 3D printing materials, development, automation, and tape application processes
• Electronic Displays and optical display films, outdoor digital displays, backlights, LED color mixing
• Electronic Materials, epoxy thermoset adhesives, application process, elastomeric, high speed electronic connectors
• Signage, retroreflective signage, license plate recognition, ADAS, Human Invisible, Machine-Readable Coding System
• IoT and IIoT, Automatic and predictive selection and replacement of controllers, novel low-cost oil-detection sensor
• Microreplication, microfluidics, textured adhesives and processes

View Dr. Rolf Biernath's Expert Witness Profile.

BAWMAN LLC specializes in mobile broadband, wireless communications, Internet-of-Things (IoT), mesh & infrastructure Wi-Fi, computer networking, telecommunications, and offer consulting services in the following areas:

Strategic Consulting, Business Consulting: Business strategy, technology positioning, product positioning, Standards engagement strategy, technology roadmap and product roadmap development, RFI/RFP development and response

Standards Consulting: Standards and industry trade group strategy development, Standards and industry trade group representation, Standards development, Standards monitoring, Standards analysis

Technology Consulting: Network/System architecture design and development, technology evaluation, product evaluation, technology/product trial design and management, technology/product roadmap development, white paper development, RFI/RFP development & response

Patent and Intellectual Property Consulting: Patent and intellectual property analysis and evaluation concerning validity, evidence of use in Standards, infringement, prior arts, business and market impacts

Professional Profile Summary

• Highly experienced professional in the networking & communications industry
• Launched multiple products, delivered across multiple organizations & geographies
• Led cross-functional teams, communicate effectively at all levels (from interns to CxOs)
• Navigate seamlessly across strategic business concerns and technical details
• Skilled at the strategic positioning of technologies & technology products
• Excel at network system, solution architecture, & technology roadmap development
• Adept at managing relationships between service providers and technology vendors
• Leadership in AI/ML and humanitarian technology working groups (non-profit)
• Extensive experience with trade groups and Standards Development Organizations
• Extensive experience with large RFIs/RFPs, as “service providers” and as “vendors”
• Skilled at patent & intellectual property analysis; USPTO Registered Patent Agent

Patents & Publications

• 11 patents on network & system architecture, network planning, mobility, security & authentication, system selection, service provisioning, access control, network management, user interface (UI) & user experience (UX)
• Peer-reviewed publications in data communications and networking, computer architecture, and magnetic recording

Tech­nical Expertise

• Network system architecture, Wi-Fi (infrastructure, mesh), cellular broadband, Internet of Things (IoT; LPWAN, LoRa, NB-IoT), Cloud computing, Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Software Defined Networking (SDN), Web API, Big Data, small cells, WiMAX, 802.16 (WPAN), networking protocols, Plastic Optical Fiber (POF)

View Baw Chng's Expert Witness Profile.

Michael Nranian, JD, MBA, MS has over 30 years experience focusing in Product Development, Intellectual Property, Patent Litigation, Legal and Technical Compliance, and Product Liability Litigation. He is a licensed attorney in Michigan, Texas, & the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Nranian is a Six Sigma Black Belt, Professional Engineer, & Certified Project Management Professional. He has an in-depth background and education in Law, IP, Electrical, Chemical & Computer Engineering, & Business. He has testified extensively as an expert witness in depositions, hearings, and trials in state & federal courts.

Mr. Nranian conducts Product and Technology Analysis, Patentability & Prior Art Research,and provides Technology & Litigation Support for Intellectual Property. His litigation background includes patent infringement / non-infringement under literal infringement and the doctrine of equivalents, patent validity / invalidity, prior art, & file-wrapper estoppel, for both ITC and Federal cases, including Inter Partes reviews. He conducts analysis of patents and products, prepares claim charts, & expert witness reports. This includes testimony and document preparation for cases before state, and federal court jurisdictions, and the International Trade Commission and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Mr. Nranian is thoroughly familiar with all 101, 102, 103, 112, and other enablement and prior art arguments. His experience includes Technology Standards Boards and Licensing Authorities, Antitrust / DOJ, Technology Development and Transfer, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, and Copyrights, Licensing, Unfair Competition/Trade, False/Deceptive Advertising, & Lanham Act Actions, & Class Actions.

His Product Liability Expert Witness litigation background includes all types of Safety Systems, Electrical Systems, Fires, Accident Reconstruction, and Evaluation of Alternative Designs for Automotive, Medical and other industries. He has over 29 years of experience in Automotive Safety Systems, Sensors, Seatbelts, Airbags / Curtains, Seats, Diagnostic Systems, Crash Recorders, Crash Pulse Analysis, System Diagnostic, Fault Codes, Structure (including roof-crush and door) and front, side & roll-over systems (including sensing and algorithm development) for domestic and international corporations. He is thoroughly familiar with all regulatory (including FMVSS), and corporate due-care requirements, & preemption arguments, occupant kinematics, & injury causation.

Argent Media™ is a full-service Search Engine Marketing Agency that offers website optimization, search engine marketing strategies, and online reputation management. Founded by Chris Silver Smith and based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Argent Media has been provided high-quality, custom services to large and small companies, both domestic and international. 

Argent Media offers a broad range of bespoke web marketing services including:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Local Search Optimization Image SEO and Video SEO

Social Media Management Online Reputation Management SEO Expert Witness Consulting

Chris Silver Smith, the President and CEO of Argent Media™, has an extensive background in search engine optimization and online marketing. He has worked for some of the top agencies in the SEO industry, researching and developing search optimization and providing search marketing strategies for Fortune 500 and Internet Retailer 500 companies. 

Mr. Smith worked at Verizon/Idearc for over ten years, serving as the Head of Technology & Advanced Development for their Superpages.com sites. His projects there included R&D, local search development, user interface design, map-based search, mobile applications, and more. He was awarded the Verizon Individual Excellence Award in 2004 for his innovations, which increased site traffic (and click-through revenues) for the company. 

In 2006, Mr. Smith founded and chaired the Idearc SEO Council, which brought together individuals from across the company to focus on natural search optimization. 

Mr. Smith currently has five patents pending. His work has been featured in several publications, and he regularly contributes articles to Natural Search Blog, Nodal Bits, and Search Engine Land (which is the leading online publication dealing with paid and natural search marketing). Mr. Smith is a regular speaker at a number of technology and marketing conferences, and he also previously served on the Board of Advisors for Thomas-Reuters FindLaw's SEO Advisory Board, and on the Board of Advisors for Universal Business Listing (UBL).

View Chris Silver Smith's Expert Witness Profile.

FORENSIC EXPERT WITNESS - PHOTOGRAPHY

Professor Jeff Sedlik has decades of experience at the highest level of professional photography including advertising, corporate, editorial and stock. He is a respected and acknowledged authority on photography having served as Past National President of professional photography's leading trade organization,  "Advertising Photographers of America". Professor Sedlik is also an experienced Expert Witness. 

Areas of Expertise:

Contracts Copyright Licensing Publicity Rights Model Releases

Lost/Damaged Film Stock Photography Business Practices Forensic Scene Recreation Forensic Image Analysis