Biography

Steve Meleen has specialized in trademark law since he began his career with Arnold White & Durkee in 1996. He also practiced at Fulbright & Jaworski prior to the formation of PirkeyBarber. Steve handles all aspects of trademark and unfair competition law, and primarily focuses on trademark litigation. He is also experienced in copyright counseling and litigation.

As Chair of the Trademark Internet Committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) from 2004 to 2006, Steve has been actively involved in Internet developments and policies affecting trademark owners, and devotes a significant portion of his practice to Internet-related trademark issues. He currently serves as Chair of AIPLA’s Trademark Litigation Committee.

Steve received his J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of Texas Law Review and Order of the Coif. Before law school, he was a nuclear engineer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where he specialized in reactor plant shielding of nuclear-powered submarines, aircraft carriers, and guided-missile cruisers.

Steve enjoys an active family life with his wife Jana and children Ashley and Matthew. In their leisure time, they can often be found at the lake, traveling to a Red Sox game, or in search of the world’s best roller coasters.

Professional Activities and Memberships

• American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Trademark Internet Committee: Vice-chair (2002 – 2004), Chair (2004-2006)
  • Trademark Litigation Committee, Vice-chair (2006 – 2008), Chair (2008 - present)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Austin Intellectual Property Law Association
• Federal Bar Association
• International Trademark Association
  • Online Trademark Use Subcommittee, Chair
• Texas Bar Association
• Travis County Bar Association

Honors

• Texas Rising Star (2004)
• The International Who's Who of Trademark Lawyers, Who's Who Legal (2007, 2009)
• Who's Who Legal: Texas (2007)

Educational Background

• 1995 J.D., with Honors, The University of Texas School of Law
  • Texas Law Review, 1994-95
  • Order of the Coif, Texas Chapter, 1995
• 1988 B.S., Cum Laude, Engineering Management, Oral Roberts University

Publications and Speeches

• Lecturer on Internet Trademark Issues, The University of Texas School of Law, 2001 – present
• AIPLA Live Online Seminar: Patent, Trademark and Copyright: Hot Topics from 2007, November 2007
• "Trademarks 2006-07: Monsters, Hogs, and Daisy Duke (Rated R)," Year in Review Plenary Session, AIPLA Annual Meeting, October 2007
• "Advertising on the Internet and Resulting Trademark Issues" Minnesota CLE Trademark Law 2007, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 2007
• Host, INTA Roundtable, "Legal Issues in Marketing and Advertising," Austin, Texas, January 2007
• "Federal Dilution," State Bar of Texas 19th Annual Intellectual Property Law Course, San Antonio, Texas, March 2006
• Co-Host, INTA Roundtable, "Trademark Litigation," Austin, Texas, October 2005
• "Trademark Law Update, Including Dilution," presented for the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Course, Austin, Texas, April 2003
• Co-author, "Recent Developments in Trademark Law: Elusive Dilution? Sorting the Resulting Confusion," Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal, Winter 2003 (11 Tex. Intell. Prop. L. J. 351)
• "Trademarks 2002-2003: Lingerie to Lawn Care," Austin Intellectual Property Law Association, May 2003
• Co-author, AIPLA’s Amicus Curiae Brief, Dastar Corp. v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 2003
• Co-author, "Transnational Domain-Name Disputes," The U.S. Perspective, International Trademark Association, Trademarks in Cyberspace 2002, Brussels, Belgium, September 19, 2002
• Host, INTA Roundtable, "Unconventional Trademarks," Austin, Texas, October 17, 2000
• "Trademarks in Cyberspace," INTA/NALA presentation, Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 2000
• "Recent Developments in Intellectual Property Law," ABA IPL Newsletter, 1997-1999
• Co-author, "Recent Developments in Trademark Law," State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, June 1997