Taking the Initiative on IP Protection: 3M’s Battle Against N95 Respirator Fraud During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Panelists:
William Childs, Assistant General Counsel/Director, 3M Litigation
John W. Ursu, Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Program Description:
This initial installment of a new WLF webinar series features two of the attorneys who devised and executed a unique litigation strategy to protect 3M’s trademark—and public health—from fraudulent N95 respirator sales. Our panelists will detail their strategy and its successes, explain how the legal actions fit into 3M’s broader plan to curb COVID-19 pandemic profiteering, and offer lessons learned on both proactive protection of intellectual property rights and litigating during a crisis.
About the Taking the Initiative on IP Protection Series:
WLF’s Taking the Initiative on IP Protection webinar series features moderated discussions with industry leaders on businesses’ use of strategic litigation, voluntary agreements, and other proactive initiatives to safeguard their intellectual property. The series is premised on two notions. First, the free-enterprise system depends on private-property ownership and the right to enjoy the benefits from contributions to scientific and intellectual advancement. Second, intellectual-property owners cannot rely solely on government criminal or civil enforcement of intellectual property laws.
Panelists
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John W. Ursu is a Partner with Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. He builds winning strategies in major cases. Over the past decade, John has handled matters at the heart of American life. These include defending Dominion Voting Systems in cases filed in Minnesota arising from the 2020 national election, arguing for the constitutionality of COVID vaccine mandates for the City of Northfield, and serving as a court-appointed member of the plaintiff’s executive committee in multidistrict litigation where he helped secure a $1.5 billion settlement on behalf of U.S. corn farmers. Cases John has led have been featured in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
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Bill Childs is a national Attorney with nearly 25 years of experience defending clients in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. His practice focuses on pharmaceutical mass tort, patent, commercial and other litigation, bringing extensive experience in handling complex, high-stakes cases. Bill was Assistant General Counsel, Litigation at 3M from 2019 to 2024. He was previously a law professor at Western New England University School of Law for eight years, earning tenure. He practiced prior to that as a litigator at Williams & Connolly LLP and clerked for U.S. District Judge James M. Rosenbaum (D. Minn.).
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