A partner in Dickinson Wright's Silicon Valley office, Hector Agdeppa focuses his practice on intellectual property law, particularly preparing and prosecuting patent applications. With extensive experience in electrical, mechanical, and computer software arts, as well as medical device innovation, He leverages his industry knowledge to guide clients through patent portfolio management and, when desired, monetization strategies.
Hector excels in inter partes review proceedings, technology transfer, licensing negotiations, and IP due diligence assessments. He also provides crucial support in patent litigation for a diverse clientele, from startups to major corporations.
His technical background encompasses wireless communications, optical networking, multimedia delivery, blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, automotive technologies, and various electromechanical and mechanical medical devices.
As a former patent examiner at the USPTO, Hector offers unique insights into telecommunications, data networking, and computer-telephony integration. Prior to his tenure at the USPTO, he gained practical technical experience as a software test engineer at a leading consumer electronics company, as well as a validation engineer at both multinational medical devices and healthcare corporation and a diverse engineering firm.
Spoken Languages
- Tagalog
Prominent Assignments
• Automobile Manufacturer: Trusted advisor to a leading global automotive giant, spanning an expansive array of automotive and mobility innovations, from pioneering autonomous vehicle technology to advancing electric/hybrid vehicles, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity, and integrated mobility ecosystems. Instrumental in optimizing patent portfolios for strategic value and fostering innovation initiatives.
• Information Technology/Enterprise Services Company: Strategic partner to a multinational IT enterprise, overseeing a substantial patent portfolio encompassing cutting-edge domains such as memory-driven and exascale computing, wireless and software-defined networking, photonics, and communications infrastructure. Integral in facilitating technology transfer, licensing, managing standard essential patents (SEPs), and executing bespoke projects.
• Video Game Publishers: Legal counsel to a premier global video game powerhouse, offering expertise in game theory, software development tools, and optimizing content delivery networks to drive immersive gaming experiences.
• Consumer Electronics/Smartphones: Advised multiple industry players on breakthroughs in cellular communications, video coding, and mobile content delivery, shaping the landscape of consumer electronics and smartphone innovation.
• Medical Device Innovators: Represented a diverse clientele in groundbreaking fields such as biologics, drug delivery to the brain/spine, incentive spirometry, and surgical robotics. Additionally, provided legal counsel to technology-driven enterprises spanning AI-based semiconductor manufacturing, optical networking, and digital/hard disk drive storage solutions.
Publications/Presentations
Publications
- Machine Learning Patentability in 2019: 5 Cases Analyzed and Lessons Learned Parts 1-5 (Feb-March 2020)
- Cementing Victory by Accepting Defeat: When Can a Patentee’s Infringement Disclaimer Moot an Appeal of an IPR Decision? (Feb 2021)
Speaking Engagements
- AI/ML: Myth or Reality?: Washington in the West, Los Angeles, CA, June 23, 2022.
- Green Guide to Cannabis Legal & Banking: C3 Risk & Insurance Services, San Diego, CA, August 28, 2019.
- Cloud Services and Software: What Your Mother Never Told You About IP Issues in the Cloud: Licensing Executives Society, Webinar, April 18, 2019.
- Regularly invited as a presenter at the Founder Institute for Startups.
- Protecting Intellectual Property: Third Thursday Emerging Company Webinar Series, GlobalMeet, September 20, 2018.