
Partner
David V. Carlson
Chair of the Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Group
David's practice focuses on electrical, software, and mechanical patent matters, including obtaining, licensing, and litigating patents. He has a great deal of practical experience providing strategic planning to protect a client's technology. He can prepare a strategy to assist your company in obtaining patent coverage on your key inventions. If you need to enforce these patents or defend a lawsuit against your company, he has extensive experience assisting companies protecting themselves and their IP.
While a partner of Seed, Dave has prepared and filed many hundreds of patent applications and amendments. He has engaged in numerous license negotiations and prepared many license agreements. Dave has also been the lead counsel in several patent lawsuits, including many Markman hearings. He specializes in both preparing and enforcing patents. Before joining Seed IP Law Group, Dave was a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He also previously worked as a patent attorney with Texas Instruments, where he specialized in obtaining U.S. and Japanese patent protection on semiconductor devices, computer design, and electronic systems.
Dave was a faculty member of the University of Washington School of Law from 1996 to 2015, where he taught a course on patent preparation and prosecution. He also was a founding member of CASRIP (Center for Advanced Study and Research on Intellectual Property) in 1993 and lectured there each summer as a faculty member from 1994 to 2014.
J. Reuben Clark Law School of Law - Brigham Young University
J.D. 1982
Brigham Young University
Electrical Engineering
B.S. 1979
Washington College of Law, American University
1981-1982 (attended)
Dave is a member of the state bars of Washington (1988) and Texas (1983), and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is a member of the Washington State Patent Law Association (president, 1996-97), the Japan America Society, and the American Bar Association. He is also a member of Eta Kappa Nu.
Videos



Honors & Awards
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2011-2022
Selected to Washington Super Lawyers®, 2001, 2003 & 2005-2007, 2012-2021
Top Rated AV Preeminent™ Intellectual Property Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell®, 2000-2021
Recommended, IAM Patent 1000, Transactions: Washington, 2018-2021
Recommended, IAM Patent 1000, Litigation: Washington, 2018-2020
Recommended, IAM Patent 1000, Prosecution: Washington, 2017
Seattle Metropolitan‘s “Top Lawyers” issue, 2010
Top 40 Washington IP Super Lawyers® honoree, 2006 & 2008
Washington’s Most Amazing Attorneys® honoree, 2006
Outstanding Service Award, University of Washington School of Law 2002-2003
President, Washington State Patent Law Association, 1996-1997