The Polasek Law Firm (TPLF) is an intellectual property litigation law firm dedicated to providing exceptional legal service to companies and individuals. Its attorneys have 30 years of litigation experience, with over 25 years of experience in patent, trade secret, trademark, copyright, and other commercial litigation. The focus of the firm’s practice is on patent and trademark litigation. The firm is also experienced in trademark applications, technology licensing, providing opinions, and general IP counsel.
When you find yourself embroiled in a dispute involving Intellectual Property, you need patent lawyers and trademark lawyers that have experience in handling those types of disputes. Please contact TPLF. The initial consultation is at no charge.
TPLF strives to provide exceptional service to every client, on every matter. TPLF is experienced in engineering that allows the firm to effectively represent clients in numerous technology areas. TPLF has extensive experience in litigating cases in courts all over the United States for clients from all over the world. At TPLF, clients receive one-on-one attention from the firm.
The Polasek Law Firm recognizes that clients expect quality legal representation at a reasonable price. The firm provides its clients with affordable representation at hourly rates significantly lower than those charged by big firms, and for certain matters provides result-oriented fee arrangements, such as a contingent fee option.
TPLF has years of experience in enforcing patents through patent litigation and licensing for clients seeking hourly or contingent fee representation and defending companies accused of violating the intellectual property rights of others.
Ted has litigated patent infringement, trademark infringement, trade secret, copyright infringement, and other commercial disputes over the past 30 years. Ted has litigated many patent infringement cases on behalf of patent owners and companies accused of infringement. He has also successfully negotiated patent licenses covering patent portfolios of more than 100 patents.
Ted understands that clients seek counsel that works efficiently and provide high-quality representation.
Polasek Law Firm has decades of experience handling cases in intellectual property and patent litigation.
Polasek Law Firm is located in Bellaire, Texas which is part of the Houston metroplex area, and concentrate in the area of intellectual property law, with an emphasis on litigation and licensing, specifically dealing with patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and trade secret lawsuits on a reasonable hourly basis, contingency fee or result based fee.
TPLF is experienced in mediation, rendering infringement and validity opinions, licensing and technology transfer, and client counseling.
Oct 6, 2025 | By Ted Polasek | Read Time: 5minutes
If someone uses your original work without permission, you may be able to enforce your rights against the infringer through copyright litigation. To begin the copyright lawsuit process, explained in detail in this article, you file a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court. Copyright law allows courts to award damages and issue orders requiring the infringer to stop using your work. At The Polasek Law Firm, PLLC (TPLF), we focus on protecting intellectual property through litigation. With over 30 years of litigation experience, including over 25 years handling patent, trade secret, trademark, copyright, and other commercial disputes, our firm represents individuals and companies nationwide. We understand the technical, creative, and business challenges that arise in intellectual property cases and offer effective strategies to safeguard your rights. What Copyrights Do Copyright protects original works of authorship that you record in physical or digital form. Protection begins automatically as soon as you create and fix a work in a tangible form. As the copyright holder, you gain the exclusive right to: These rights allow you to decide who can use your work and under what conditions. Protected Works A wide range of creative works qualify for copyright protection, covering artistic and practical expressions of creativity, including: Because copyright applies to such a range of creative expressions, nearly any original work fixed in a tangible form—artistic, literary, musical, or digital—may qualify for protection. Copyright Registration You do not have to take extra steps to hold a copyright in your works. However, registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office gives you additional rights that are essential to copyright litigation. Registration allows you to file a lawsuit in federal court and may entitle you to statutory damages and attorney’s fees, which are unavailable for unregistered works. Unlike trademarks, unregistered copyrights are not geographically limited to your area. Your work is protected nationwide from the moment you record it. However, you cannot bring an infringement lawsuit in federal court until you register the work with the U.S. Copyright Office. What Is Copyright Litigation? Copyright litigation is the process of resolving disputes related to the use of copyrighted works in court. It generally centers on copyright infringement, which involves someone exercising one or more of your exclusive rights to your work without your permission. Copyright holders often try to resolve disputes informally, before filing a lawsuit. They may start by sending a request to stop the use, issuing a cease-and-desist letter, or negotiating directly with the infringer. If the infringer continues to infringe, the next step to enforce copyrights is filing a lawsuit. Copyright Litigation in Texas Federal Courts Because copyright law is federal, lawsuits are filed in one of Texas’s four federal district courts, the Northern, Southern, Eastern, or Western District. The Southern District of Texas, which includes Houston, regularly hears copyright disputes. The Eastern District of Texas is also nationally known for handling complex intellectual property cases. For Texas business owners, this means your dispute will be heard locally but under federal law. In some cases, copyright claims may also be combined with related Texas state-law claims, such as unfair competition or breach of contract, depending on the facts. How Copyright Lawsuits Work The process of copyright lawsuits generally varies little. They usually begin with the copyright holder filing a document called a complaint in a federal court and end with a settlement or trial. Filing and Pleadings Copyright litigation begins when the copyright holder files a complaint. The complaint: The defendant then files a document called an answer, where they officially admit or deny what you claim occurred. Discovery During discovery, both sides exchange information and evidence. You may request physical or electronic evidence, send “interrogatories” to ask questions, or take “depositions,” where witnesses provide sworn testimony outside of court. Motions Before trial, either party may file motions, which are formal requests asking the judge to decide on specific issues. For example, a party may submit a motion arguing that the case’s proper outcome is obvious based on undisputed evidence and request that the court issue a ruling in their favor. Negotiations and Alternative Dispute Resolution Most lawsuits settle, including copyright suits. Copyright holders and alleged infringers may settle at any time during the copyright litigation process, from before they file to moments before a verdict. Parties may negotiate directly through their attorneys or use alternative dispute resolution methods. These methods typically involve mediation, where a neutral third party helps the parties reach an agreement, and arbitration, where a neutral decision-maker hears both sides and issues a binding ruling outside of court. Trial If the parties do not settle, the case proceeds to trial. Both sides present evidence by introducing documents and offering testimony. Once they conclude, a judge or jury decides whether the defendant infringed the copyright. If so, the decision maker determines how much compensation you should receive, orders the infringer to cease using the work, or both. Defenses in Copyright Litigation In a copyright lawsuit, the alleged infringer may defend against infringement allegations by claiming, for example: Defending against allegations of copyright infringement is just as much a part of the copyright litigation process as enforcing copyrights. How Much Is a Copyright Lawsuit Worth? Copyright lawsuits can be worth a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands, depending on what the copyright covers and how the infringer used it. Courts may award several types of damages: Courts may also order the losing party to pay attorney’s fees, which cover the cost of hiring a lawyer. Protecting Your Rights Through Copyright Litigation At TPLF, we dedicate our practice to intellectual property disputes, including copyright litigation. With over 25 years of focused experience and deep technical knowledge, we handle disputes across many industries. We offer free initial consultations and represent clients nationwide from our Texas office. If you believe someone has used your copyrighted work without permission, contact a Houston copyright litigation attorney at The Polasek Law Firm today to discuss your options.
Oct 2, 2025 | By Ted Polasek | Read Time: 4minutes
Texas is one of the most active patent jurisdictions in the country, making it a key location for protecting intellectual property. Patent litigation takes place in Federal Court. Texas has four Districts (Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern), and each District is well versed in patent litigation, with the Eastern District of Texas and Western District of Texas well known for their high volume of patent lawsuits. The Polasek Law Firm (TPLF) is an experienced intellectual property litigation firm with over 30 years of dedicated practice in patent litigation, as well as trademark, copyright, trade secret, and commercial litigation. Although based in Texas, TPLF represents companies and individuals nationwide in the enforcement of patents and in defending companies accused of infringement. The firm combines legal knowledge with experience to effectively handle disputes across many technology fields. Initial consultations are free of charge. What Is Patent Litigation? Patent litigation is the process of raising and determining disputes concerning infringement and validity in federal court. A patent owner has the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering for sale, and importing a patented invention for a specific time period. When someone infringes on the patent owner’s rights, the owner may file a lawsuit to enforce the patent. Patent litigation typically involves two parties: the patent owner, who owns the patent and claims infringement, and the company accused of using the patented invention without permission. The accused infringer will challenge infringement and a patent’s validity in patent litigation. Patent Rights Owning a patent gives its owner the right to: Patent Infringement Patent infringement occurs when a person or company uses a patented invention owned by another without permission. Infringement can take several forms, including: To prove patent infringement in court, the patent owner is required to show that the allegedly infringing product, system, or method falls within the scope of one of the patent claims. A party accused of infringement is required to prove invalidity. If infringement is found by a court, a court will then decide what money damages are appropriate and whether an injunction preventing further infringement is appropriate. How Does the Patent Litigation Process Work? Patent litigation in Texas and nationwide involves much more than filing a lawsuit. It also involves: The patent litigation process is rarely quick. In Texas federal courts, cases can take 18 months to three years to reach trial, depending on complexity and the court’s docket. Many cases settle before trial, but patent cases often involve highly technical issues that take time to work through. How Much Does a Patent Lawsuit Cost? One of the most common concerns business owners have is, how much does a patent lawsuit cost? Patent litigation can be expensive due to its complexity and the need for expert witnesses, technical evidence, and extensive preparation. Several factors drive cost, such as: At TPLF, we provide practical legal counsel that balances aggressive representation with cost-effective solutions. Working with a Houston Patent Litigation Attorney from The Polasek Law Firm The Polasek Law Firm has decades of experience in patent litigation and trademark litigation and the engineering background needed to understand complex technologies. The firm provides exceptional legal services to companies and individuals across the nation.
I frequently receive calls from potential clients seeking to protect their brand or a writing, but unsure whether they need to file a trademark application or obtain a copyright registration. What is the difference between trademark and copyright law? In fact, they are distinct from one another in several different ways. In a nutshell, a trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design that is associated with your goods or services, while a copyright is a form of protection for an original work of authorship. If you have any questions or need help registering your trademark or copyright, please call (832) 485-3580 or send us an online message. Key Points Trademark vs. Copyright Trademarks protect brands; copyrights protect original works of authorship. Trademark scope: names, logos, slogans, trade dress that identify the source of goods/services. Copyright scope: text, images, music, video, software code, and other creative expression fixed in a tangible medium. How rights arise: Copyright attaches on fixation; trademark rights arise from use in commerce (or intent-to-use), and federal registration strengthens protection. Standards & duration: Trademarks hinge on likelihood of confusion and can last indefinitely with use/renewals; copyrights require originality and typically last life + 70 years. Practical tips: Run a trademark search, use marks properly (™/®), register both rights, and monitor for infringement. Request a Free Consultation What Is a Trademark? A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device used to identify your goods and services. In most cases this representation is visual—think of McDonald’s Golden Arches, for example, or the KFC slogan “It’s finger lickin’ good.” A trademark, however, can also be a sound or even a scent. You may acquire “common law trademark” protection through your use of a trademark in commerce. However, common law rights are limited, typically only to the specific geographic location of its use in commerce. You can obtain more expansive rights by obtaining a state registration, or better yet, a federal registration. A federal registration provides you with the strongest protection. What is a Copyright? A copyright protects creative works such as novels, paintings, photographs, websites, and even computer software source code. A “copyright” attaches to a work the moment it is affixed in a tangible medium. You must register your copyright with the US Copyright Office to enforce your rights in a federal court. Trademark vs. Copyright: A Summary of the Major Differences Following are some of the primary legal differences between copyrights and trademarks: Although you can register both a trademark and a copyright at the federal level, the registration process is different for each one. Potential Pitfalls The process of generating, registering, and protecting trademarks and copyrights can be complex. The following are some of the most common pitfalls: When it comes to protecting your business’s intellectual property rights, it is critical that you get it right the first time around. Safeguard Your Intellectual Property Rights – Trademarks & Copyrights (100% Free Consultation) For a free consultation, contact an experienced intellectual property attorney at The Polasek Law Firm by calling (832) 485-3580 or by contacting us online.
