Shaobin Zhu

Partner

Shaobin Zhu is a helmsman. He is knowledgeable, patient, energetic and never vague about principled issues. His wisdom and strategy are inseparable from his experience. Zhu can always design the most perfect plan at the critical moment.

— The Legal 500 Asia Pacific - China (2024)

Emailshaobin.zhu@us.dlapiper.com

Call+1 206 839 4894

Seattle

About

Areas of FocusIntellectual Property Technology Patent Litigation Patent Development and Strategy

Bar admissionsCaliforniaNew YorkWashingtonUnited States Patent and Trademark Office

CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for Veterans ClaimsUnited States District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of TexasUnited States District Court for the Northern District of New York

EXPERIENCE

A global renewable energy company in a significant victory in a Section 337 investigation before the International Trade Commission (ITC) asserting infringement of six patents covering complex solar power and conductive cell technology. This total win helped the company avoid a ban on the importation of a large portion of the industry’s solar products designed for clean energy. Shaobin also contributed to the dismissal of a parallel complaint against the company in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
A Chinese electrical products manufacturer in securing a complete victory in a patent infringement case in the US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, in which the action was dismissed with prejudice. Shaobin also contributed to obtaining a complete victory for the company in an inter partes review (IPR) petition before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO), finding that all the claims challenged by the company were unpatentable over two different combinations of references.
A global mobile data service provider in defeating trade secret misappropriation allegations in a patent case brought by competitors. In addition, Shaobin built strong noninfringement positions and preserved claim construction issues for the company to reverse the district court’s summary judgment and win the appeal of infringement and claim construction issues at the Federal Circuit.
An owner of a domain in a successful defense in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, challenging the ownership of the domain under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act and Virginia common law, and tortious interference with a contractual relationship, as well as in personam claims under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and Virginia common law against John Doe.
Several Chinese companies in successfully protecting their innovations and brands by enforcing their patents, trademarks, and copyrighted 3D designs against infringers in many US district courts, including in the Northern District of New York and the Central District of California.
Several Chinese companies in litigating and negotiating IP and technology licensing, involving standard-essential patents, electronic design automation (EDA) software, and open-source software, achieving favorable results for these companies.
A Chinese state-owned company in a successful defense against alleged patent infringement, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and unfair competition related to auto coolant supplying systems in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, including filing IPRs at the PTAB of the USPTO and securing a stay of the litigation only three months before trial, ultimately achieving a successful resolution to the case.
Dozens of Chinese companies in defending against alleged IP infringement (including patent infringement, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and/or trade secret misappropriation) at the ITC and many US district courts, including in the District of Delaware, Western and Eastern districts of Texas, and the Northern and Central districts of California. Successfully helped Chinese companies to minimize their exposure and reach favorable settlements by implementing counter actions in the PTAB, US courts, and China, and performing strategic settlement negotiations.
Chinese clients in defending against counterfeit allegations at the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including obtaining IP licenses and releases from IP owners, successfully arguing for trademarks fair use defenses at the CBP’s Intellectual Property Rights Branch (IPRB), filing petitions for relief, and convincing the CBP to release detained or seized goods.
A Chinese electronic materials company in negotiating and acquiring US$10 million worth of global patent families from a subsidiary of an American multinational chemical company by conducting IP due diligence and reviewing and revising the asset purchase agreement and associated papers.

Education

J.D., University of Washington School of Law

M.S., Computer Science, Iowa State University

LL.M., Administrative Law, Renmin University of China Law School

LL.B., Science of Law, Renmin University of China Law School

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Publications and media

Co-author, “Things About Intellectual Property Litigation in the United States: Is Service of Summons You Received from the U.S. Court Effective?” IP ForeFront, July 16, 2023
Co-author, “Road To The Future: SEP Licensing And Litigation In The Automotive Field,” The Patent Lawyer, July/August 2022

Seminars

Media Mentions

“Shaobin Zhu, who guides Chinese clients through all stages of patent prosecution and invalidation in the USPTO, helps resolve their IP disputes overseas and provides prescient licensing counsel”, IAM Patent 1000.

Prior Experience

Teaching and Speaking Engagements