William Pecau

William G. Pecau- Partner
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
William G. Pecau is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he is a member of the Intellectual Property group. Mr. Pecau litigates diverse trademark, false advertising, copyright, and patent cases on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants.

As lead trial counsel, Mr. Pecau has represented clients before many federal trial and appellate courts in the United States and proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, he has been engaged in transactional matters involving the establishment of joint ventures and international and domestic intellectual property transfers, including licensing, acquisition, and financing agreements.

Before joining Steptoe, Mr. Pecau was a partner at one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, representing clients in several noteworthy cases as first chair. Prominent cases include the defense of barnesandnoble.com in a patent infringement action concerning Amazon.com’s “1-Click” business method patent, the defense of Microsoft and Expedia against Priceline.com’s "Name Your Own Price" business method patent, and the prosecution of Hewlett-Packard’s inkjet technology patent, trademark and unfair competition claims against Nu-Kote International. Another high-profile case is the Apple Computer v. Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard case concerning Apple’s claim of infringement of its Graphical User Interface by Microsoft’s Windows and HP’s NewWave.

Recent cases include a successful trial in the Middle District of Alabama against Regions University for infringement of the Regions mark of Regions Bank, a successful opposition to an application by Emerson Electric to register its Dirt Hawg and Water Hawg marks based on a family of Hog marks of Black & Decker, and a decision of the Federal Circuit in favor of Texaco against the registration of a Clear Bottle mark by Pennzoil-Quaker State.
Selected Publications

The Red Sole Survives – A Modified Louboutin Mark is Upheld By The Second Circuit
September 6, 2012
Doing Business in the United States
July 14, 2011, Practical Law Company Cross-Border Doing Business in… Handbook
Intellectual Property Advisory - Does eBay Need a Disclaimer? Tiffany v. eBay, The Second Circuit Rules
April 5, 2010
Gripe Sites: Sue or Stew
Volume 15, Number 5
February 2009, Law Journal Newsletter: The Intellectual Property Strategist
Litigating the Business Method Patent: Pitfalls for Unwary Defendants
2006, The Intellectual Property Strategist Vol 12 No 12
Exempt Organizations Advisory - Trademark Act Clarifies Issue of Proof in Dilution of Trademark Cases
October 30, 2006

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association, 1982 - Present
Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1977 - Present
Board Counsel to National Children Research Center (NCRC) of Washington, DC, 2006 - Present
Editor, Remarks, 1991-1993
International Trademark Association, Chair of Publications Board, 1997-1999; Vice Chair, 1995-1997; Member, Planning Committee 1993-1994
Member, Board of Directors of Covenant House New York, 1989 -Present
Member of the Advisory Board, Intellectual Property Strategist, 1995 - Present
Education

Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1976, Associate Editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Transactional Law
University of the South, B.A., 1973, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Bar & Court Admissions

District of Columbia
New York
California
US Supreme Court
US Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit
US Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit
US Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit
US Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit
US District Court for the Northern District of California
US District Court for the District of Colorado
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
US District Court for the Western District of New York
US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin