New Media Technologies and Tech Emergence
Marco RubinManaging Partner
Exoventure Associates, LLC
Marco Rubin has invested in 26 early-stage technology companies throughout his career and has held leadership roles with funds recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as Top 100 VCs in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. Marco currently serves as the Advisor to the Commonwealth of Virginia's CIT technology seed fund. Prior to Exo, he was founder of Monumental Venture Partners, LLC (MVP) making investments in security, information technology, telecommunications, software and medical devices sectors. MVP produced acquisitions of portfolio companies to Dolby Labs and Level 3 Communications. Before MVP, Marco launched New Ventures, MCI's venture capital unit until the company's acquisition in 1998. Prior to venture capital, Marco served Fortune 500 and federal clients while with Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc. He began his career as an engineer at Johnson Space Center and holds an MBA from George Washington University and a BSEE from the University of New Mexico. Marco has also served on peer review panels for the National Science Foundation in 2006 and 2007.
Jim Kohlenberger
Executive Director
The Voice on the Net (VON) Coalition
Jim Kohlenberger is the Executive Director of the Voice on the Net (VON) Coalition and a former White House technology policy advisor. The VON Coalition is the voice for the VoIP industry and the policy framework that enables it. During eight years in the White House he helped formulate U.S. policy on technology, telecommunications, and the Internet. Specifically, he worked to help pass the Telecommunications Act of 1996, helped shape the Clinton administration's hands-off approach to the Internet and e-commerce, and helped spearhead administration efforts to bridge the digital divide and connect every classroom to the Internet. He now runs his own consulting practice.
Barry Goldsmith
Communications Patent Lawyer
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC
Mr. Goldsmith focuses his legal practice on patent matters concerning a wide variety of electrical engineering disciplines, including computer software and hardware, integrated circuit designs, computer processor architectures, semiconductor processing, cellular and land-based telecommunication systems, medical devices, optical systems, computer printing systems and cable television systems.
Mr. Goldsmith's experience includes:
Drafting hundreds of original United States patent applications directed to computer software and hardware, semiconductor processing, telecommunication systems, medical devices, optical systems, computer printing systems and cable television systems.
Representing parties in complex patent and other intellectual property litigations before U.S. District Courts, and in Section 337 investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Counseling regarding patent validity and infringement opinions and the design and implementation of non-infringing alternatives to patented technology.
With a Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Mr. Goldsmith worked for IBM as an engineer designing personal computers before receiving his J.D. from the University of Florida.
Representative Litigation
Tenneco Automotive v. Visteon (D. DE) — Represented Plaintiff in a patent infringement case involving catalytic converters.
Alcatel Internetworking v. Cisco Systems (E.D. VA) — Represented Plaintiff in a patent infringement case involving Internet packet switching technology.
In re Certain Cigarettes and Packaging Therefore (U.S.I.T.C.) — Represented Complainant in a case involving gray market trademark and trade dress infringement.
Professional Activities
Bar Associations: American Bar Association; American Intellectual Property Law Association.
Admitted to bar 1994, Florida; 1995, District of Columbia; 2004, Virginia. Admitted to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office.
Education
B.S., cum laude, 1985, Electrical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia; J.D., with honors, 1994, University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida.
Prior Legal Experience
Associate, Kenyon & Kenyon, 1999-2003 and 1996-1999, Washington, DC; Associate, Baker & McKenzie, 1999, Washington, DC; Associate, Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin, 1994-1996, Washington, DC.
Business Experience
Design Engineer, IBM Corporation, 1985-1987, Boca Raton, Florida; Marketing Representative & Systems Engineer, IBM Corporation, 1987-1991, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Publications
"Last Question – A rash of Federal Circuit dismissals raises the issue: What are patent counsel doing wrong?," Legal Times, October 10, 2005;
"The Federal Circuit Allows Future Prosecution History to Affect Previously Issued Patents," Intellectual Property Today, April 2004.
Speaking Engagements
"Repelling High Tech Pirates: Use of Customs to Intercept Pirated Goods," Licensing Executives Society 2004 Spring Meeting, New York, NY;
"Identifying Your Bargaining Leverage in Patent Licensing," Mining Your Patent Portfolio Workshop, Houston, TX;
"Negotiating Strategies in Patent Licensing," Mining Your Patent Portfolio Workshop, Atlanta, GA;
"Protecting Medical Implant Intellectual Property," First International Conference on Medical Implants, Bethesda, MD.
Areas of Practice
Patent and Trademark Litigation/
Patent Preparation and Prosecution
