Steve Hudnut is an intellectual property attorney whose practice includes preparing and prosecuting U.S., foreign, and international applications for patents, designs, product configurations, and trademarks. His practice also includes providing analysis and opinions regarding patentability, freedom-to-operate, patent infringement, and patent validity. He also assists clients with licensing and intellectual property litigation.
Technical Expertise and Professional Background
Steve’s strong mechanical engineering background has allowed him to work with a wide range of technologies, including composite materials, smart materials, piezoelectric materials, spacecraft flight hardware, medical devices, toys, recreational equipment, computer hardware, tools, construction equipment, electrical systems, aviation, and mechanical devices.
Prior to his legal career, Steve worked for Lockheed Martin Astronautics in Denver, Colorado as a design engineer. At Lockheed Martin, he participated in the structural design and fabrication of the Mars Polar Lander spacecraft. Steve’s graduate studies have focused on composite materials, including functionally gradient piezoelectric composites and carbon-fiber composites. His master’s thesis was directed to investigating the effect of various interlaminar filler materials on the damping properties of carbon-fiber composites. Steve also holds an Engineer-in-Training certificate in California.
Education
- J.D., summa cum laude, Seattle University School of Law,
2004
Associate Editor, Seattle University Law Review - Graduate Studies in Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1995
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 1993
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Oregon
- U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Professional Associations
American Society of Mechanical Engineers; American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA); American Bar Association
Selected Publications
- Hudnut, S.W. and Chung, D.D.L, “Enhancing the Loss Modulus of Carbon Fiber Polymer-Matrix Composites by Addition of Particles in the Interlaminar Region,” Rubber and Composites Processing and Applications 25(2), 77–81 (1996).
- Hudnut, S.W. and Chung, D.D.L, “Use of Submicron Diameter Carbon Filaments for Reinforcement between Continuous Carbon Fiber Layers in a Polymer-Matrix Composite,” Carbon 33(11), 1627–1631 (1995).
Outside Interests
Steve is a licensed pilot, who also enjoys cycling, rock climbing, model railroading, and spending time with his family.