Jack Hicks Talks Defending Innovation, IP Rights in the Home Furnishings Industry with Furniture Today

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Even in the face of copycats, innovation remains the lifeblood of the home furnishings industry, and innovators have legal remedies to protect their designs.

So says Womble Carlyle’s Jack Hicks, a veteran IP attorney who has served the home furnishings industry for more than 25 years. Hicks recently spoke on “Innovation, Impersonation or Infringement?” at the Furniture Today Leadership Conference, and Furniture Today was on hand to cover his presentation.

“It is easy to knock someone off and knock off a bestseller, but if you want to come up with a one-of-a-kind product, we have laws to protect that,” Hicks said. “If you innovate, the law will protect you.”

Click here to read the full article in Furniture Today.

Jack Hicks has more than 25 years of experience guiding home furnishing and design companies through all stages of the intellectual property process.  He has written, prosecuted and litigated patents, trademarks and copyrights throughout the world on literally hundreds of furniture-related designs.  A registered patent attorney, Jack is frequently invited to speak at the US and Global Patent Academies, Universities and trade groups on the line between protectable original designs and public domain trends.  He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, North Carolina Super Lawyers and North Carolina Legal Elite.  Jack also is an Adjunct Professor, teaching courses on intellectual property law and international law and business at the Elon University School of Law.  He is the Chair of the Solutions Partners Division of the AHFA and practices in Womble Carlyle’s Greensboro, N.C. office.