Areas of Practice
Industries
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia, 1990
Education
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D.
Boston University, B.S.
Eric T. Fingerhut is the Office Managing Member of Dykema's Washington, D.C. office and former leader of Dykema’s Trademark & Copyright Practice for 8 years. Ranked as a First Tier trademark lawyer in the World Trademark Review’s “WTR 1000,” he has practiced all aspects of global brand identity and reputation management for more than twenty-five years. His practice includes trademark, copyright, right of publicity, advertising, marketing, domain name and new media law. Throughout his career Mr. Fingerhut has registered and protected many of the world's best known brand names in the automotive, bicycle, clothing, food, hospitality and technology industries. The crux of Mr. Fingerhut’s practice includes clearance searches and opinions, global filing programs, designing and implementing trademark protection and enforcement programs, and managing global trademark portfolios. His litigation experience includes infringement, dilution, cybersquatting and unfair competition cases in U.S. district and appellate courts, oppositions and cancellations before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and domain name arbitration proceedings. Mr. Fingerhut also is adept in corporate-transactional work, having worked on audits, due diligence and licensing for many years as the lead IP member of a reputable emerging company practice.
Experience
- Designed and implemented policing campaigns to combat genericization of major consumer products brands
- Used Federal dilution and cybersquatting laws to shutter more than 200 adult entertainment sites misusing client brands
- Managed large portfolios of brands in more than 190 countries
- Prevailed in dozens of domain name dispute arbitrations
- Testified as expert witness in trademark law
- Founded International Cycling Law Association (ICLA) to educate global bicycle industry on laws affecting business, provide pro bono referral assistance to nonprofits, advocate on safety and legal issues and provide venture capital
Seminars & Speeches
- November 20, 2020
- October 29, 2020
- September 30, 2020
- September 29, 2020
- What's a Trademark To Do: Protection and Infringement on the Internet, The District of Columbia Bar Continuing Legal Education Program, Washington, DCJune 25, 2014
- Management of Trademark Departments - Top 10 Strategies, FICPI ABC Meeting 2014 Master Class in IP Strategy, Bridgetown, BarbadosMarch 1, 2014
- 2013 AICPA Conference on Doing Business in China –IP Challenges for US Brand Owners Doing Business in China, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) International Business Conference, New York, NYMay 30, 2013
- The New gTLDs...a dot.boom or a dot.bust?, 2013 AIPLA Spring Meeting, Austin, TexasMay 11, 2013
- 2011 AICPA Conference on Doing Business in China - IP Challenges for US Brand Owners Doing Business in China, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AIPCA) International Business Conference, New York, NYJune 15, 2011
- Brand Bullying, INTA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CAMay 19, 2011
- Federal Legislative Opportunities for Light Electric Vehicle Association, LEVA, Interbike, Las Vegas, NVSeptember 30, 2010
- Not Your Grandfather's Trademark Law: How Social Media Has Changed Trademark Law into Brand Identity and Reputation Management, Corporation Service Company (CSC) Webinar, Washington, DCDecember 10, 2009
- Managing IP During a Financial Crunch, INTA Trademark Administrators Conference, Chicago, ILSeptember 21, 2009
- The Trademark Implications of Pay Per Click Advertising and Domaining, INTA Trademark Administrators Conference, Long Beach, CAOctober 2007
- The US Trademark Practitioner's Experience with the Madrid Protocol International Filing Treaty, INTA Annual MeetingMay 2005
- Hot Trademark Topics in the Food and Beverage Industry, INTA Annual MeetingMay 2004
- Advanced Practice before the TTAB, INTADecember 2003
- Top Ten Myths of Trademark Law, INTA Trademark Basics ForumJanuary 2001
- Intellectual Property: Leverage It, Protect It Or Lose It, Netpreneur Coffee and DoughnetsJanuary 2000
- Dot.com Mania and the Art of Mastering Your Domain, American Conference Institute, the Advanced Forum for Cyberspace Advertising and the LawNovember 1, 1999
Publications
- September 1, 2018Intellectual Property Magazine
- “Drawing the Battle Lines: Adidas’s Mission to Protect Its Three Stripes”April 24, 2018World Intellectual Property Review
- Presidential Candidates May Come and Go, But Their Monikers Last ForeverNovember 8, 2016Editor & Publisher
- "Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Rules 'REDSKINS' Name Disparaging and Cancels Registrations"June 18, 2014Serendipity, Dykema IP Blog
- "Spring Cleaning...Eight Easy Ways to Get Your Trademark House in Order"April 2014The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel
- "The Everchanging Landscape: New gTLDs, UDRPs, Brand Bully Backlash, and Others Force Changes to Enforcement Strategy"2014 EditionInside the Minds
- February 5, 2013Lexology daily newsfeed in cooperation with ACChttp://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=0f5264cf-4876-4b99-83f8-96e1d6d97847&utm_source=Lexology+Daily+Newsfeed&utm_medium=HTML+email+-+Body+-+Federal+section&utm_campaign=AIPLA+subscriber+daily+feed&utm_content=Lexology+Daily+Newsfe
- 2012 Automotive Institute Survey ResultsOctober 17, 2012Dykema Publication
- February 6, 2012IPFRONTLINE.com
- "Undressing .XXX: Sexier Than the Name Itself, A Brewing Revolt by Adult Entertainment Industry Brand Owners"November 2011E-Commerce Law & Strategy Journal, ALM
- June 7, 2011IPLaw360
- "Don't Ignore Brand Assets in a Bad Economy: Doing So Impoverishes Long-Term Legal Position and Goodwill"August 4, 2009AdAge.com
- Cross Border IP in Business Transaction Handbook 2009/20102009Pactical Law Company
- "Protect Your Marks, Even in Tough Times"2009The World Intellectual Property Review
- "Managing Brands in a Down Economy: A Discussion for Management"May 2009Brands in the Boardroom 2009
- "Best Brand Practices"May/June 2009IAM Magazine
- "Good Name; Bad Economy"October 2008The Cloak Room
- "What's in a Name? Too Often, Lame"November 2006Brandweek
- "It's No Secret! With the New Federal Dilution Law, Famous Brand Owners Have Reason to Celebrate"October 25, 2006Apparel
- "Morality Aside, Brand Owners Scorn Porn"Fall 2006The MARQUES Newsletter No. 88
- "We're Entering a New Domain"October 6, 1997Legal Times
- "The gTLD-MoU: A Yellow Flag for Trademark Owners on the Information Superhighway," IDEA The Journal of Law and Technology 38, No. 21988
News
- July 10, 2020
- June 30, 2020
- November 5, 2018
- April 24, 2018
- February 15, 2017
- February 7, 2017
- January 18, 2017
- January 5, 2017
- November 8, 2016
- October 10, 2016
- February 5, 2016
- Themed “SerendIPity” Blog Will Provide Insights, Highlights and Delights from the IP WorldMarch 27, 2014
- Leader of Dykema’s Trademark Practice Outlines “Eight Easy Ways to Get TM House in Order”March 24, 2014
- Fourth Consecutive Year to be Named to List of Top Practitioners in Trademark LawJanuary 30, 2014
- Dykema’s D.C. Team Earns Recognition in Trademark Enforcement and Litigation, Prosecution and StrategyFebruary 8, 2013
- Auto Industry Shows Signs of Recovery but OEMs and Suppliers Still Face Challenges in Supply Chain Management, Litigation and Privacy Issues Related to Connected Vehicles TechnologyOctober 17, 2012
- June 8, 2012
- June 7, 2011Law360
Alerts
- July 6, 2020
- July 19, 2019
- Goal Is to Improve Accuracy and Reduce Potentially Invalid RegistrationsFebruary 27, 2019
- How to Preserve Rights with Minimal Expense and RiskFebruary 2, 2018
- March 25, 2016
- March 26, 2013
- February 5, 2013
- The Auto Industry Embraces Domain Name ExpansionNovember 9, 2012
- Auto Industry Continues Recovery, but Supply Chain Issues, Threat of Class Actions and Privacy/Security Issues Related to Connected Vehicle Technology Pose Serious ChallengesOctober 19, 2012
- February 2, 2012
- January 12, 2012
Press Releases
- February 12, 2021
- April 16, 2020
- February 17, 2020
- April 19, 2019
- Eric Fingerhut and Jennifer Fraser Ranked in World Trademark Review 1000 for Eighth Consecutive YearJanuary 31, 2019
- June 5, 2018
- April 23, 2018
- February 5, 2018
- January 22, 2018
- April 24, 2017
- February 6, 2017
- April 22, 2016
- Fourth Consecutive Year to be Named to List of Top Practitioners in Trademark LawJanuary 30, 2014
- Third Consecutive Year to be Named to List of Top Practitioners in Trademark LawFebruary 19, 2013
- While Automotive Industry Shows Signs of Recovery, OEMs and Suppliers Confirm Challenges Are Ahead By Way of Raw Material Costs, Natural Disasters and Emerging TechnologiesOctober 17, 2012
- June 3, 2011
- Brings Tremendous Trademark and Brand Protection Experience; Addition Strengthens Depth of Dykema's Intellectual Property DepartmentMarch 30, 2010
Memberships & Involvement
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
- North American Subcommittee of the INTA’s Public and Media Relations Committee, Chair
- DC Bar Intellectual Property Law Section, Past Chair and Six-Year Member of Steering Committee
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- CT Corsearch Client Advisory Board Member
- Intellectual Property Constituency (IPC) of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Founding Member
- Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
- International Cycling Law Association (ICLA), Founder
- Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA), Board Member
- Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA), Legislative Committee Member
- Washington D.C. Technology Council, Past Director and Chair of Membership Committee
Awards & Recognition
Recognized in Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers® for Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Litigation, 2016-2020
Recognized in Managing Intellectual Property magazine as an IP Star, 2015-2016
Recognized for enforcement and litigation and prosecution and strategy in WTR 1000 — The World's Leading Trademark Professionals, United States - D.C. jurisdiction, 2011-2021