Dianne Smith-Misemer Lawyer Profile | FizzLaw

Dianne Smith-Misemer

Individuals, small- to medium-sized businesses, and Fortune 500 companies have relied on us for protection of their intellectual property since 1929. We have the expertise necessary to assist with any and all of your intellectual property needs, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and IP litigation. Being in the Kansas City metro area, we can provide world-class service at rates far more competitive than our counterparts on the Coasts and in other large-city markets.

Dianne’s practice is a dedicated blend of trademark and technology law that spans the life cycle of intellectual property, from its conception and prosecution through maintenance, commercialization, and enforcement.  Dianne’s clients range from individuals and local start-up businesses to Fortune 500 Companies and multinational corporations. 

On the trademark side, Dianne regularly advises clients on clearance, brand development, prosecution, domestic, and global portfolio management, licensing, and enforcement matters.  She frequently practices before the United States Patent & Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial Appeal Board and has extensive experience in prosecuting and defending opposition, cancellation, and concurrent use proceedings.   

Dianne also represents clients in trademark infringement and other intellectual property litigation, including copyright and patent infringement, cybersquatting, false advertising, unfair competition, and breach of license agreement matters.  In 2008, she represented a not-for-profit online news organization as plaintiff in the Southern District of New York, involving trademark infringement, descriptiveness, and priority of use issues.

Dianne knows both sides of the technology fence well, representing both the individuals and companies that develop technology and those who license it in a wide range of development, procurement, licensing, distribution, and contract dispute matters.  She has negotiated and closed numerous software deals in the financial services, health care, education, automotive, and telecommunications industries, among many others.

Dianne also advises clients on various Internet-related issues such as domain name disputes, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, website development, hosting, privacy, data use, linking agreements, application server provider agreements, and a wide range of online distribution agreements.

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