Erik Janitens
Partner
1111 Bagby Street
Suite 2100
Houston, TX 77002
Erik focuses his practice on intellectual property matters spanning a broad range of technology sectors, including wireless communications, computer hardware and software, integrated circuits, consumer electronics, telecommunications, mobile applications, and Internet technologies. He has extensive experience handling all phases of patent litigation in both federal district courts and the International Trade Commission (ITC),...
Erik focuses his practice on intellectual property matters spanning a broad range of technology sectors, including wireless communications, computer hardware and software, integrated circuits, consumer electronics, telecommunications, mobile applications, and Internet technologies. He has extensive experience handling all phases of patent litigation in both federal district courts and the International Trade Commission (ITC), encompassing discovery (document collection and production, written discovery, and depositions), infringement and invalidity contentions, claim construction, expert reports, mediation, and settlement negotiations.
Erik also represents clients in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His experience includes all aspects of initiating and defending IPR petitions—from drafting petitions, preliminary responses, and post-institution briefing and expert reports, to managing and defending depositions.
Prior to law school, Erik worked as a dry etch process engineer at an Austin-based semiconductor company.
encompassing discovery (document collection and production, written discovery, and depositions), infringement and invalidity contentions, claim construction, expert reports, mediation, and settlement negotiations.
Erik also represents clients in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His experience includes all aspects of initiating and defending IPR petitions—from drafting petitions, preliminary responses, and post-institution briefing and expert reports, to managing and defending depositions.
Prior to law school, Erik worked as a dry etch process engineer at an Austin-based semiconductor company.
Experience
Previous Professional Experience
- Senior Counsel, global law firm (2015-2025)
- Electrical Engineer, Austin-based semiconductor company (2008-2012)
Representative Matters
- Represented an Internet and technology company in a patent infringement case in the District of Delaware. The case involved allegations that the company’s apps and websites infringed several patents related to search and matching-based services and messaging technologies. The court granted Defendant’s summary judgment motion, finding that the claims of the asserted patent were ineligible for patent protection and thus invalid.
- Represented a major mobile device chip provider in defending a seven-patent investigation brought at the International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding various aspects of graphical processing units contained within accused smartphones. The Administrative Law Judge determined that no violation of section 337 had been established.
- Represented an Internet of Things (IoT) hardware and services provider in a patent infringement lawsuit brought in the Middle District of Florida and corresponding ITC Investigation. Obtained a favorable settlement.
- Represented a video and image editing company in a patent infringement case brought in the Southern District of Texas. Plaintiff accused the company of infringing five patents related to digital animation. The court granted Defendant’s motion to dismiss, finding that the claims of the asserted patents were ineligible for patent protection and thus invalid.
- Represented a video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider in a patent infringement case brought in the District of Delaware. The case involved allegations that the company’s apps and website infringed several patents related to data compression and streaming functionalities. Plaintiff agreed to dismiss claims after exchange of expert reports.
- Represented a fleet management company in a patent infringement case brought in the Eastern District of Texas. The case involved allegations that the company’s mobile device management software infringed a patent related to data transfer and synchronization. The Court ruled company was a “prevailing party” under 35 U.S.C. 285 and awarded attorneys’ fees. The Federal Circuit affirmed the fee award.
- Represented leading movie-theater companies in patent litigation brought in the Eastern District of Texas involving patents related to digital rights management. Settled favorably before trial.
- Represented various clients ranging from sole inventors to Fortune 50 companies in enforcement and defense of multiple and varied patent infringement actions.
- Represented petitioners and patent owners in inter partes review proceedings before the USPTO.
- Provided freedom to operate analyses to various clients, including a medical device company and Internet domain registry company.
Education
- University of Houston Law Center, JD (2015)
- University of Michigan, BS, Electrical Engineering, cum laude (2008)
Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Previous Professional Experience
- Senior Counsel, global law firm (2015-2025)
- Electrical Engineer, Austin-based semiconductor company (2008-2012)
Representative Matters
- Represented an Internet and technology company in a patent infringement case in the District of Delaware. The case involved allegations that the company’s apps and websites infringed several patents related to search and matching-based services and messaging technologies. The court granted Defendant’s summary judgment motion, finding that the claims of the asserted patent were ineligible for patent protection and thus invalid.
- Represented a major mobile device chip provider in defending a seven-patent investigation brought at the International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding various aspects of graphical processing units contained within accused smartphones. The Administrative Law Judge determined that no violation of section 337 had been established.
- Represented an Internet of Things (IoT) hardware and services provider in a patent infringement lawsuit brought in the Middle District of Florida and corresponding ITC Investigation. Obtained a favorable settlement.
- Represented a video and image editing company in a patent infringement case brought in the Southern District of Texas. Plaintiff accused the company of infringing five patents related to digital animation. The court granted Defendant’s motion to dismiss, finding that the claims of the asserted patents were ineligible for patent protection and thus invalid.
- Represented a video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider in a patent infringement case brought in the District of Delaware. The case involved allegations that the company’s apps and website infringed several patents related to data compression and streaming functionalities. Plaintiff agreed to dismiss claims after exchange of expert reports.
- Represented a fleet management company in a patent infringement case brought in the Eastern District of Texas. The case involved allegations that the company’s mobile device management software infringed a patent related to data transfer and synchronization. The Court ruled company was a “prevailing party” under 35 U.S.C. 285 and awarded attorneys’ fees. The Federal Circuit affirmed the fee award.
- Represented leading movie-theater companies in patent litigation brought in the Eastern District of Texas involving patents related to digital rights management. Settled favorably before trial.
- Represented various clients ranging from sole inventors to Fortune 50 companies in enforcement and defense of multiple and varied patent infringement actions.
- Represented petitioners and patent owners in inter partes review proceedings before the USPTO.
- Provided freedom to operate analyses to various clients, including a medical device company and Internet domain registry company.
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch, Litigation – Intellectual Property (2026)
- Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch, Intellectual Property Law (2022-2026)
- Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch, Patent Law (2022-2026)
- Top Lawyer, Houstonia magazine (2022)
Erik focuses his practice on intellectual property matters spanning a broad range of technology sectors, including wireless communications, computer hardware and software, integrated circuits, consumer electronics, telecommunications, mobile applications, and Internet technologies. He has extensive experience handling all phases of patent litigation in both federal district courts and the International Trade Commission (ITC),... encompassing discovery (document collection and production, written discovery, and depositions), infringement and invalidity contentions, claim construction, expert reports, mediation, and settlement negotiations.
Erik also represents clients in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His experience includes all aspects of initiating and defending IPR petitions—from drafting petitions, preliminary responses, and post-institution briefing and expert reports, to managing and defending depositions.
Prior to law school, Erik worked as a dry etch process engineer at an Austin-based semiconductor company.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Previous Professional Experience
- Senior Counsel, global law firm (2015-2025)
- Electrical Engineer, Austin-based semiconductor company (2008-2012)
Representative Matters
- Represented an Internet and technology company in a patent infringement case in the District of Delaware. The case involved allegations that the company’s apps and websites infringed several patents related to search and matching-based services and messaging technologies. The court granted Defendant’s summary judgment motion, finding that the claims of the asserted patent were ineligible for patent protection and thus invalid.
- Represented a major mobile device chip provider in defending a seven-patent investigation brought at the International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding various aspects of graphical processing units contained within accused smartphones. The Administrative Law Judge determined that no violation of section 337 had been established.
- Represented an Internet of Things (IoT) hardware and services provider in a patent infringement lawsuit brought in the Middle District of Florida and corresponding ITC Investigation. Obtained a favorable settlement.
- Represented a video and image editing company in a patent infringement case brought in the Southern District of Texas. Plaintiff accused the company of infringing five patents related to digital animation. The court granted Defendant’s motion to dismiss, finding that the claims of the asserted patents were ineligible for patent protection and thus invalid.
- Represented a video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider in a patent infringement case brought in the District of Delaware. The case involved allegations that the company’s apps and website infringed several patents related to data compression and streaming functionalities. Plaintiff agreed to dismiss claims after exchange of expert reports.
- Represented a fleet management company in a patent infringement case brought in the Eastern District of Texas. The case involved allegations that the company’s mobile device management software infringed a patent related to data transfer and synchronization. The Court ruled company was a “prevailing party” under 35 U.S.C. 285 and awarded attorneys’ fees. The Federal Circuit affirmed the fee award.
- Represented leading movie-theater companies in patent litigation brought in the Eastern District of Texas involving patents related to digital rights management. Settled favorably before trial.
- Represented various clients ranging from sole inventors to Fortune 50 companies in enforcement and defense of multiple and varied patent infringement actions.
- Represented petitioners and patent owners in inter partes review proceedings before the USPTO.
- Provided freedom to operate analyses to various clients, including a medical device company and Internet domain registry company.
Education
- University of Houston Law Center, JD (2015)
- University of Michigan, BS, Electrical Engineering, cum laude (2008)
Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Practice Areas
- Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch, Litigation – Intellectual Property (2026)
- Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch, Intellectual Property Law (2022-2026)
- Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch, Patent Law (2022-2026)
- Top Lawyer, Houstonia magazine (2022)
Highlights from the Firm’s Insights
