Overview

John-Paul Fryckman represents clients on both sides of the “v” in complex patent litigation and post-grant disputes.  He advises high-tech companies on intellectual property strategy, global patent portfolio development, patent litigation, IP risk assessment, licensing, transaction due diligence for acquisitions and investments, and pre-suit investigations across a broad range of technologies, including computer architecture, wireless and wireline communications, software, networking, AI, distributed and cloud systems, high-performance computing (HPC), ICs/semiconductors, optics, autonomous systems, cryptography, and embedded systems. 

John-Paul has extensive patent litigation experience, including trial experience, in the International Trade Commission (ITC) and in district courts across the country — including California, Texas (EDTX), and Delaware — with favorable client outcomes spanning a vast range of technologies. He also handles post-grant proceedings, including oral arguments, before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).   

Further, he is well versed in numerous aspects of wireless technology, including physical and logical layers, network architectures, mobile operating systems and applications, and communication protocols in general. He has extensive experience representing clients in litigation involving standard essential patents (SEPs) and FRAND, particularly in matters related to wireless standards such as 5G NR, LTE, CDMA, IEEE 802.11, and Bluetooth. John-Paul frequently draws upon this experience to develop system-based prior art theories in complex wireless technology disputes.  He also provides advice on standard-setting organizations (SSOs), including 3GPP, ETSI, and IEEE-associated groups.

As a USPTO admitted patent attorney, John-Paul also manages patent preparation and prosecution in the U.S. and foreign/international jurisdictions, including the PCT, EPO, EU, and Asia.  

Before joining Fish & Richardson, John-Paul was a senior engineer at Qualcomm (2003-2007), where he designed and developed wireless encrypted VoIP communication systems, mobile base station systems, and mobile phone firmware. He has hands-on experience with integrating wireless system components and working in the field and in the lab. He also was a network software developer for VxWorks at Wind River Systems (2000-2001). He earned a B.S. in physics and M.S. in computer science from University of California, San Diego. During his undergraduate training, he held various technical and software development positions for the University of California, San Diego (1998-2000), and the San Diego Supercomputer Center (1996-2000). During graduate school, John-Paul worked at the University of California, San Diego as a research/teaching assistant, where he wrote and a won a USENIX grant to research distributed denial of service defenses.  

Outside the office, John-Paul can often be found scuba diving with his wife and two children or tinkering on one of his engineering projects.  

Experience

Represented the University of Minnesota in four District of Minnesota patent infringement cases that each alleged infringement of five of the University’s wireless communications patents. The University sought damages for alleged infringement related to the defendants’ LTE and 5G networks. The district court cases reached summary judgment, which the University successfully opposed, prior to settling favorably on the eve of trial. Fish had previously fended off six related IPRs on behalf of patent owner, obtaining institution denials in each matter.​ 

Represented Samsung in patent infringement cases concerning data and power saving software for wireless communication devices.
Headwater Research LLC v. Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd., et al. (E.D. Tex.)

Represented a leading global telecommunications company in ITC investigations against Ericsson involving 5G cellular technology and arising from a global patent dispute involving SEPs. The cases ended in a favorable settlement after trial. ​

Represented Samsung in a series of hotly contested and highly publicized patent and licensing disputes at the ITC and in the Eastern District of Texas. This dispute involved 24 patents covering software and hardware for mobile devices, including phones and tablets. At the ITC, Fish defended Samsung against Ericsson’s complaint and prosecuted a counter complaint, with each dispute asserting four patents on mobile base station products. The multi-jurisdictional dispute was resolved via a global settlement.
Ericsson Inc., et al. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., et al. (E.D. Tex.); Certain Cellular Communications Infrastructure Systems, Components Thereof and Products Containing Same, 337-TA-1248

Represented a major software vendor as plaintiff in the District of Delaware in a patent infringement case dealing with core networking technology. The matter resolved in a confidential settlement.

Represented NEC Corporation as respondent and represented NEC Corporation as complainant, respectively, in ITC investigations concerning subsea telecommunication equipment. Also represented NEC in related patent infringement matters in the Northern District of Texas and the District of Delaware.
Certain Subsea Telecommunication Systems and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1098, and Certain Submarine Telecommunication Systems (Inv. No. 337-TA-1113); NEC Corp. v. Xtera Inc., et al. (D. Del.); Xtera Inc., et al. v. NEC Corp., et. al. (N.D. Tex.)

Developed noninfringement and invalidity theories for Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung’s U.S. subsidiaries in a patent infringement action relating to wireless communications technology. Resolved successfully via settlement. 
Certain Electronic Devices, Including Wireless Communication Devices, Tablet Computers, Media Players, and Televisions, and Components Thereof – 337-TA-862

In addition, John-Paul has represented numerous mobile device manufacturers in proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).  

Pro Bono

In his pro bono practice, John-Paul works alongside The Veterans Consortium to help U.S. veterans receive the benefits to which they are entitled.