Intellectual Property

Methodical. Attentive.
Creative.

Our IP attorneys assist with trademark and copyright registration, compliance, licensing, dispute resolution, and pre-dispute counseling.

Intellectual Property

When you create something truly innovative, protecting it is essential. Our intellectual property attorneys specialize in trademark and copyright registration, compliance, licensing, dispute resolution, and pre-dispute counseling. We also handle internet law, domain name disputes, and trade secret protection.

Our IP Team combines technical, business, and legal expertise to efficiently advise on a wide range of intellectual property matters, helping clients maximize profits and reduce risk. We also assist in identifying potential legal issues with new technologies before they are used, allowing for informed decisions and better risk management.

IP Litigation

FMJ also handles a variety of IP litigation, and we represent clients in trademark, copyright, unfair competition, and other related claims. We have secured significant relief for clients, including temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions when facing urgent IP threats. Our team has also obtained substantial monetary relief, deterring others from infringing on our clients’ intellectual property. Our proven trial experience in both federal and state courts gives clients confidence that their legal counsel will present complex IP matters effectively to secure favorable outcomes.

Services Provided

FMJ’s Intellectual Property Team is dedicated to helping clients secure the protection and market advantage they deserve. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a growing business, or a global corporation, our attorneys are here to provide expert legal guidance in safeguarding and leveraging your intellectual property assets.

The following list is an example of some of the services that our Intellectual Property Law Team can provide.

Trademark, Copyright, Patent, and Trade Secrets

  • Trademark and Copyright
  • Registration and Filing
  • Portfolio Management and Audits
  • Ongoing Maintenance and Renewals
  • Infringement Analysis and Enforcement
  • Licensing and Assignment Agreements
  • International Trademark Registration (Madrid Protocol), and Portfolio Management
  • Fair Use Analysis and Risk Management
  • Protection of Moral and Design Rights
  • Domain Name Protection and Trademark Use in Digital Spaces
  • Trade Secret Management and Confidentiality Agreements
  • Non-Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreements
  • Employee Training and Confidentiality Protection
  • IP Strategy and Valuation
  • AI Use Policies and Terms and Conditions

Sports and Entertainment

  • Trademark Registration for Teams, Logos, and Events
  • IP Protection for Athlete and Teams
  • Endorsements, Sponsorships and Event Branding
  • Film, TV, and Music Rights Management
  • Talent and Influencer Contracts
  • Social Media and Streaming Protection
  • Event Sponsorship Agreements and Management
  • Broadcasting and Distribution Agreements
  • Music Licensing and Royalty Collection
  • Rights of Publicity
  • Name Image Likeness (NIL) Agreements and Policies

Technology

  • Licensing Agreements for Software, Patents, and IP Assets
  • Cross-Border Licensing and Technology Transfers
  • Royalty Negotiation and Revenue Sharing
  • Technology Transfer in M&A
  • Open-Source Software Compliance
  • Blockchain IP Protection
  • Software Development Agreements

Compliance and Risk Management

  • Website Audits and Brand Protection Strategy
  • Anti-Counterfeiting Measures
  • Regulatory Compliance and Risk Assessment
  • Risk Allocation in M&A and Licensing Agreements
  • Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Compliance
  • Product Liability and IP Compliance
  • Advertising Law Compliance
  • Privacy Policies and Website Terms and Conditions

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

  • Trademark and Copyright Infringement
  • Opposition, Cancellation, and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Proceedings
  • Trade Secret and Unfair Competition Litigation
  • Domain Name Disputes (Cybersquatting)
  • Arbitration, Mediation, and Other Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods
  • Cease and Desist Letters
  • IP and Copyright Trolling Responses and Advising
  • Pre-Litigation Counseling and Risk Mitigation

 

Intellectual Property Team

Intellectual Property Resources

April 2026

Golf Law in the News: Liability, NIL, Environmental Issues, and Trademark Disputes – FMJ Law Podcast Episode 41

In this episode of the FMJ Law Podcast, Adam Brown and Nate Snyder enjoy a wide-ranging conversation that uses golf as a surprisingly effective... Read more

February 2026

Are AI Generated Documents Privileged? No, According to a Recent Court Ruling.

AI searches and documents may not be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Read more

February 2026

Nate Snyder and Morgan Zuehlke to Present at The Solo Journey Business Education Event

Nate and Morgan are set to speak about legal topics such as data privacy, contracts/agreements, IP, business entities, liability, and risk management. Read more

February 2026

Privacy Policies: When Do Your Words Become Legal Promises?

The language you choose in a privacy policy can carry legal consequences. Read more

January 2026

Event: Protecting Your Business in a Digital World

Morgan Zuehlke has been invited to speak to the Eden Prairie Chamber about cybersecurity issues. Read more

November 2025

The Hidden Costs of Attrition in Agency Contracts (and How to Negotiate Them Away)

Morgan Zuehlke and Pat Shriver discuss strategies for effective agency and service contracts. Read more

July 2025

Minnesota Monthly Selects 11 FMJ Attorneys for the 2025 Top Lawyers List

Congratulations to these 11 attorneys across 9 practice areas! Read more

July 2025

FMJ Attorneys Named to the 2025 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists!

Congratulations to these 12 attorneys, and thank you for another excellent year. Read more

November 2024

The PWHL as a Guide to Avoid Five Minutes in the Penalty Box for Fighting … About Trademarks

An interesting primer on trademarks, NIL, individual athlete branding, and more. Read more

June 2024

FMJ’s New Eden Prairie, Minnesota Office is Open

11095 Viking Drive, Suite 420, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Read more

January 2024

The Corporate Transparency Act is Here. Is Your Organization Ready? FMJ Law Podcast Episode 16

Pat Shriver analyzes the CTA and its new requirements. Read more

Other Practice Areas

Agriculture

Agriculture

Our Agriculture group has legal experience in all aspects of agribusiness, including general corporate and transactional matters, farm succession planning, and litigation. Our attorneys also represent many types of cooperatives and independent elevators, including grain, feed, chemical, and fuel.
Appellate

Appellate

Our Appellate group has years of experience in assessing, briefing, and arguing appeals at all levels of courts throughout the United States. We have the ability to synthesize and analyze the record and the law, as well as narrow the case focus to those issues most likely to bring client benefit and appellate success.
Aviation & Transportation

Aviation & Transportation

Recognized nationally and internationally for our experience and insider knowledge of the transportation industries, our Transportation & Logistics attorneys are equipped with immense insight and a practical approach to complex logistical and legal issues.
Banking & Financial Institutions

Banking & Financial Institutions

Our Banking & Financial Institution team includes lending attorneys, bankruptcy attorneys, corporate attorneys, commercial and special asset attorneys, and attorneys with experience serving on bank loan committees, boards of directors of banks, and bank holding companies.
Bankruptcy & Insolvency

Bankruptcy & Insolvency

Our Bankruptcy & Insolvency attorneys represent creditors in all aspects of bankruptcy, reorganization, and workouts, and appear in courtrooms across the country. Our philosophy is to actively participate in every phase of the workout and reorganization process.
Competition & Trade

Competition & Trade

We work with clients daily to help them better compete in their marketplace, whether that be local, national, global, or virtual. Our goal is to understand our clients’ businesses and challenges and help them navigate the business and legal obstacles to success.
Defamation and Reputation Protection

Defamation and Reputation Protection

Fafinski Mark & Johnson is a leader in helping businesses to protect their reputations and navigate defamation claims, including both libel and slander.
ETA – Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition

ETA – Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition

Fafinski Mark & Johnson is a thought leader working on the cutting edge of ETA. We value the flexibility and opportunity that ETA transactions provide for our clients, and our team has the capacity and depth of knowledge to handle issues that arise while keeping the the deal moving toward closing.
General Corporate & Business

General Corporate & Business

Our General Corporate & Business group works with organizations of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, across all industries, helping them devise strategies and solve problems. Much of the work we do is contractual – structuring, negotiating, and reviewing contracts.
HR & Employment

HR & Employment

Our HR & Employment attorneys guide our clients through the complexities of employment procedures and policies, employee benefits, hiring and termination practices, and compliance with ever-changing employment laws. We combine our knowledge of the law with specifics of our clients’ businesses to produce optimal outcomes.
Insurance

Insurance

FMJ’s Insurance group represents commercial and nonprofit insurers, and the team serves as outside general counsel to fraternal insurance companies. We advise insurance companies on all aspects of corporate, nonprofit, and insurance law.
Litigation

Litigation

From local courtrooms to the United States Supreme Court, our Litigation group has a proven track record of obtaining favorable outcomes for our clients in a wide variety of legal disputes. We specialize in commercial, general, employment, shareholder, insurance defense, product liability, aviation, transportation, real estate, and appellate litigation.
Manufacturing

Manufacturing

FMJ’s Manufacturing attorneys have been holistically representing manufacturers for two decades. From R&D, through supply chain, operations, distribution, and sale channels, we know your challenges. We have a history of efficiently solving our clients’ legal issues in every phase of manufacturing.
Mergers & Acquisitions

Mergers & Acquisitions

Our Mergers & Acquisitions team has handled deals collectively worth billions of dollars. With experience representing buyers, sellers and investors, we have the capacity and depth of knowledge to understand the issues that arise during the course of a transaction and offer solutions to ensure your deal moves forward and closes.
Nonprofit & Philanthropic

Nonprofit & Philanthropic

FMJ’s Nonprofit & Philanthropic group is passionate about assisting philanthropies and nonprofit organizations in carrying out their meaningful missions, paired with their extensive experience in an array of areas, makes the firm an ideal fit to help nonprofit and philanthropic organizations face the many nuances of nonprofit law.
Products Liability

Products Liability

With their expansive product knowledge and extensive experience, FMJ’s Products Liability group is able to handle cases effectively, efficiently, and with their clients' interests always at the forefront. The group has served as regional and national counsel to multi-level international Fortune 500 companies in 30 states for over 40 years.
Real Estate

Real Estate

Our Real Estate team has the experience and practical business knowledge necessary to navigate, negotiate, and manage the nuanced elements of real estate transactions, whether you are a business that has ongoing commercial purchase and sale or lease transactions, you are an experienced investor, or you are investing in real estate for the first time.
Sports & Entertainment

Sports & Entertainment

FMJ’s attorneys provide the wide range of legal services that sports and entertainment organizations need to succeed. We understand that cost-effectiveness matters, so we deliver real value without sacrificing the quality of our advice and representation. Our team works efficiently to solve legal challenges, allowing clients to concentrate on what matters most: their craft, their content, and their game.
Trusts & Estates

Trusts & Estates

Our Trusts & Estates group provides estate planning, estate administration, business and unique asset succession planning, estate controversy assistance and related services to individuals, closely-held businesses, tax-exempt organizations, and corporate fiduciaries. We are always accepting new clients and offer complimentary 30-minute initial consultations and flat-fee estate planning to fit every budget.