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Steve Maule

Associate, Baker Botts

Steve Maule is an associate with Baker Botts, where he practices in all areas of intellectual property law, including patent litigation, prosecution, and licensing. He has worked on patent disputes regarding semiconductor manufacturing technology and semiconductor circuitry design, as well as litigation matters involving electrical power technology, web development and internet technologies, communication systems and technologies, video display technologies, and inventor disputes. Steve also has experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications involving wireless security systems, augmented and virtual reality systems, machine learning systems, and electrical, computer, and software technologies, as well as oil and gas and mechanical technologies including subsurface sensing and control technologies. In addition, Steve is involved in Baker Botts’ Emerging Company and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice and is interested in how intellectual property benefits startups and small businesses.

Recent Articles by Steve Maule

The FTC’s Repair Restriction Ambition May Face Friction

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has pledged to use more of its enforcement resources to ensure that consumers are free from manufacturer-imposed restrictions on self-repair or third-party repair, to the maximum extent allowed under the law. The unanswered question is: how far does the law allow the FTC to go? The answer is, quite possibly, not as far as the White House or the new Chair of the FTC, Lina Khan, would like. One problem for the FTC: doubts about the authority granted to the agency under the FTC Act. Another hurdle will be the legal protections granted to manufacturers—both as market participants responding to consumer demand and, in many cases, as the owners of intellectual property rights. This blog has already discussed some of the ways that the “right to repair” movement might conflict with copyright protections. Here, we focus on the limits of the FTC’s authority and antitrust doctrine, as well as conflicts with patent law.