Skip to main content
Edit Page Control Panel
Office team
John D. Denkenberger

John D. Denkenberger

Managing Member
Chair of Litigation Group

John Denkenberger is the managing member of COJK, a member of the firm's executive committee, and chair of the litigation practice group. John has successfully litigated patent, trademark, trade secret, and unfair business competition issues in federal and state courts. He has also successfully litigated AIA post-grant challenges, including inter partes review, before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. In addition to his litigation practice, John also advises clients on foreign and domestic patent and trademark procurement, technology licensing, and litigation strategies in a variety of technology areas, including mechanical, electromechanical, acoustics, and software. Prior to becoming an attorney, John worked for 10 years as a research and design engineer in the aerospace and aircraft industry.

Since its inception in 2013, John has been named to Intellectual Asset Management's Patent 1000 — The World's Leading Patent Professionals. He is ranked in Chambers USA for intellectual property law; is recognized in Managing Intellectual Property magazine’s IP Stars for his work in patent law; is included in the list of The Best Lawyers in America; and has been named a Washington Super Lawyer.

  • J.D., cum laude, Seattle University School of Law, 1995
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1986

  • Washington State Bar
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S District Courts: D. Colo., E.D. Tex., W.D. Wash.
  • U.S. Appellate Courts: U.S. Supreme Court, Federal Circuit, Ninth Circuit

  • Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness PLLC
    Seattle, WA

  • Senior Specialist Engineer
    The Boeing Company, 1991 – 1997
  • Structural Engineer
    General Dynamics Corporation, 1988 – 1991
  • Associate Engineer
    Grumman Corporation, 1986 – 1988

  • American Bar Association
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Asian Bar Association of Washington
  • King County Bar Association
  • Patent Trial and Appeal Board Bar Association
  • Seattle Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
  • Washington State Patent Law Association

Federal District Court

  • Creative Information Technology, Inc. v. WellSpan Health
    U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
    Representing Wellspan Health in a trade secret and breach of contract dispute.
  • International Mezzo Technologies, Inc. v. Airborne ECS, LLC et al.
    U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
    Representing International Mezzo Technologies, Inc. in a patent, trade secret, and breach of contract matter.
  • Inland Technology Incorporated v The Allen Company, Inc.
    U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington
    Representing Inland Technology Incorporated in action for federal trademark infringement, common law trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair competition, and false designation of origin under the Lanham Act, violations of the Washington State Consumer Protection Act, and unjust enrichment.
  • Toolbox Widget Inc. v. Ernst Manufacturing, Inc.
    U.S. District Court for the District of Montana
    Representing Toolbox Widget Inc. in an action for federal trademark infringement, common law trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair competition and false designation of origin under the Lanham Act, and unlawful practices under the Montana Consumer Protection Act.
  • wedi Corp. v. Hydroblok Grand International Ltd. et al
    U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
    Representing defendant Hydroblok Grand International Ltd. against a complaint of false advertising and unfair business practices under federal and state law.
  • MercAsia USA, Ltd. v. Jianqing “Johnny” Zhu and 3BTech, Inc.
    U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
    Represented MercAsia USA, Ltd. in enforcing patent rights and to obtain preliminary injunction related to consumer products.
  • Pacific Landscape Management Inc. v. Pacific Landscape Management LLC
    U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
    Represented Pacific Landscape Management, Inc. in a trademark infringement, Lanham Act, and related state causes of action matter.
  • MacNeil Automotive Products Limited d/b/a WeatherTech et al v. Yita, LLC et al
    U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
    Represented WeatherTech in a patent infringement matter relating to protective floor trays for automotive vehicles and their method of manufacture.
  • DuPont Safety & Construction, Inc. v. Hutchinson SA et al
    U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
    Represented Hutchinson SA in a patent infringement matter relating to flame barrier laminates for use in aircraft thermal acoustic blankets.
  • Northwestern University v. King County
    U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
    Represented defendant against allegations of unfair and deceptive trade practices and trademark infringement under federal, state, and common law.
  • Shinn Fu Company of America, Inc. et al. v. Alltrade Tools LLC
    U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
    Represented plaintiffs Shinn Fu Company of America, Inc. and Shinn Fu Corporation to enforce patent rights and to obtain declaratory judgments concerning defendant’s intellectual property.
  • Bombardier Inc. v. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation et al.
    U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
    Represented plaintiff Bombardier, Inc. in a complaint alleging among other claims, trade secret misappropriation under federal and state law.
  • Dorman Products, Inc. v. PACCAR Inc
    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    Represented defendant PACCAR Inc in a declaratory judgment action to enforce various patent rights and defend against various state law unfair business practice allegations.
  • Alfdex AB et al. v. PACCAR Inc
    U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
    Defended PACCAR Inc in patent infringement litigation pertaining to mechanical devices.
  • PACCAR Inc v. Four State Int'l Trucks, Inc. et al
    U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
    Represented plaintiff PACCAR Inc to enforce intellectual property rights in various design patents, trademarks, and trade dress.


United States Patent and Trademark Office

  • Yita LLC et al. v. MacNeil IP LLC (IPR2023-00172)
    Represented patent owner MacNeil IP LLC in an inter partes review proceeding of US Patent No. 8,899,655 related to vehicle floor trays.
  • Yita LLC et al. v. MacNeil IP LLC (IPR2023-00173)
    Represented patent owner MacNeil IP LLC in an inter partes review proceeding of US Patent No. 9,138,917 related to vehicle floor trays.
  • 3BTech, Inc. v. Jingle Master International Ltd. (IPR2018-00663)
    Represented patent owner Jingle Master International Ltd. in an inter partes review proceeding for a certain claim of US Patent No. 7,882,986 related to liquid dispensing devices.
  • Taser International, Inc. v. Digital Ally, Inc. (IPR2017-00515)
    Represented petitioner Taser International in an inter partes review proceeding for certain claims of US Patent No. 9,253,452 related to surveillance systems.
  • Taser International, Inc. v. Digital Ally, Inc. (IPR2017-00376)
    Represented petitioner Taser International in an inter partes review proceeding for certain claims of US Patent No. 8,781,292 related to surveillance systems.
  • Taser International, Inc. v. Digital Ally, Inc. (IPR2017-00375)
    Represented petitioner Taser International in an inter partes review proceeding for certain claims of US Patent No. 8,781,292 related to surveillance systems.
  • Dorman Products, Inc. v. PACCAR, Inc. (IPR2014-00542)
    Represented patent owner PACCAR Inc in an inter partes review proceeding that challenged the invalidity of US Patent No. D525,731 related to a truck headlight.
  • Dorman Products, Inc. v. PACCAR, Inc. (IPR2014-00555)
    Represented patent owner PACCAR Inc in an inter partes review proceeding that challenged the invalidity of US Patent No. D526,429 related to a truck headlight.

Presentations

  • "How Recent Changes in U.S. Law Affect Patent Procurement Strategy and Portfolio Management," Commission of Intellectual Property 3AF, P2i2015 Intellectual Property and Innovation Symposium (Toulouse, France, September 2015).
  • "Intellectual Property: From Fundamentals to Enforcement," Seattle University School of Law, Summer Practice Academy (Seattle, WA, July 2015).
  • Panel Discussion, "Post Issuance Proceedings – Their Role in Your IP Strategy," Centerforce USA, Seattle IP Strategy Summit (Seattle, WA, February 2015).
  • "H.R. 3309: 'The Innovation Act' and its Likely Impact on Patent Litigation," Licensing Executive Society, Vancouver Chapter (Vancouver, BC, January 2014).
  • "Design Patents: An Important Tool in Your IP Toolbox," Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness (Seattle, WA, December 2013).
  • "Federal Circuit Survey & USPTO Review Procedures," Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness (Seattle, WA, June 2013).
  • "Panel Discussion on the Supreme Court's Quanta Decision," Washington State Patent Lawyers Association (Seattle, WA 2008).
  • "Third Annual Advanced Workshop on Managing Patent Assets," Law Seminars International (Seattle, WA, 2006).
  • "Second Annual Advanced Workshop on Managing Patent Prosecution and Litigation," Law Seminars International (Seattle, WA 2005).
    Back To All Team Members