John J. Cunniff is a registered patent attorney is certified by the Florida Bar as a Specialist in Intellectual Property Law. Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. John provides expertise on intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, and legal opinions on patentability, infringement and validity issues. He prepares and reviews confidential disclosure and joint-development agreements, and trade-secret protection plans. John’ counseling also consists of prosecution of Internet domain-name complaints.
John also deals with the preparation and prosecution of trademark registration and patent applications in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and worldwide. He maintains management of national trademark registration and patent applications worldwide. His core technologies include biotech/biomedical, biochemical, plants, polymers, and biological and mechanical arts.
Prior to becoming an attorney, John spent seven years as a research associate for Amersham Pharmacia Biotech/US Biochemical Corporation, a major supplier of enzymes and reagents used in pharmaceutical research. He also worked for six years as a senior research associate at the Jackson Laboratory, a leading genetics research laboratory. He also holds a U.S. patent for Thermostable DNA Polymerase (#5,885,813) as well as corresponding patents in Canada, Japan and Europe.
John is licensed in Florida and Ohio. He is also licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Patent Matters.
Professional History
• Of Counsel, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, 2012-present; Associate, 2004-12
• Associate, Renner, Kenner, Greive, Bobak, Taylor & Weber, 1999-2004
• Research Associate, American Pharmacia Biotech/US Biomedical Corp., 1992-99
• Senior Research Assistant, The Jackson Laboratory, 1986-92
Publications & Speaking Engagements
Year-End Intellectual Property “Housekeeping”
December 31, 2016
"Review of Patent Applications by Outside Parties: The 'Peer to Patent' Pilot Program," John J. Cunniff, Esq.
November 30, 2010
"Is DNA Still Patentable?" John J. Cunniff, Esq.
May 01, 2010
"When Does 'Invention' Happen? Inventorship and Conception of an Invention," John J. Cunniff, Esq.
September 30, 2009
"Intellectual property protection in an economic downturn," John J. Cunniff, Esq.
May 14, 2009
"Expansion of Generic Top-Level Domains," John J. Cunniff, Esq.
September 04, 2008
"The Right of Publicity of Professional Athletes," John J. Cunniff, Esq.
May 07, 2008
"Design Patent Infringement and the 'Non-Trivial Advance' Test," John J. Cunniff, Esq.
January 03, 2008
Community Involvement
DDC Clinic, Member, Institutional Review Board
Akron Volunteer Legal Services, Former Member
Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association, Former Director
Firestone High Aquatic Association, Former Treasurer
Firestone Football Association, Former President
Awards & Distinctions
Inventor, U.S. Patent No. 5,885,813: Thermostable DNA Polymerase
