Stephen Jadie Coates
Steve founded Coates IP to offer his 2+ decades of experience working at the most prestigious law firm practices and technology companies.
Steve strives to educate his clients with expert legal advice, with a strong emphasis on providing practical perspective built upon working years in house. He is an expert on areas surrounding trademarks, copyright, domain names, unfair competition, marketing, technology products, and litigation surrounding these topics. At Amazon.com, Steve and his team managed trademarks for a diverse array of industries, as well as the company's domain portfolio, including some of the most trafficked domains. As Twitter's first intellectual property counsel, he managed the trademark, marketing, domain and Internet governance practices, building a team from the ground up. He has also worked at the most prestigious intellectual property law practices, including Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, and Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C. Steve is an influential legal voice, speaking frequently at conferences, and has actively participated on legal and policy organizations for many years, currently including:
Steve used to sit on the ICANN Business Constituency, has been active on many working groups, and participated on the ICANN Nominating Committee for the Board of Directors. In his spare time, Steve is passionate about parenting, music, hiking, and old comic books. |
Education
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY, J.D. 2006
Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, B.A. Art History 1997
Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, B.A. Art History 1997
Bar Admissions
New York State
Washington State
Washington State
Active Professional Associations
ICANN Intellectual Property Constituency
International Trademark Association
NYU Engelberg Center for Innovation Law & Policy
Washington State Bar Association
International Trademark Association
NYU Engelberg Center for Innovation Law & Policy
Washington State Bar Association
Leadership Positions
Current:
International Trademark Association, Anti-Counterfeiting Committee Member (2018-2019)
International Trademark Association, Internet Committee (2020-2021)
NYU Engelbert Center for Innovation Law & Policy, Advisory Board Member
Editorial Board, World Intellectual Property Review
Past:
International Trademark Association, Chair of the gTLD Subsequent Procedures Committee
International Trademark Association, Committee Member (various) 2007-present
ICANN Nominating Committee for the Board of Directors
Intellectual Property Platform Networking Group, Founder
International Trademark Association, Anti-Counterfeiting Committee Member (2018-2019)
International Trademark Association, Internet Committee (2020-2021)
NYU Engelbert Center for Innovation Law & Policy, Advisory Board Member
Editorial Board, World Intellectual Property Review
Past:
International Trademark Association, Chair of the gTLD Subsequent Procedures Committee
International Trademark Association, Committee Member (various) 2007-present
ICANN Nominating Committee for the Board of Directors
Intellectual Property Platform Networking Group, Founder
Awards
2024 World Intellectual Property Review - Law Firm Ranking of Top Trademark Prosecution Firms
2024 World Intellectual Property Review 2024 Leader
2024 Washington Super Lawyers
2024 Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers
2024 World Trademark Review Global Leaders
2024 World Trademark Review 1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals - Gold Ranking
2023 World Intellectual Property Review - Law Firm Ranking - Highly Recommended
2023 World Intellectual Property Review 2023 Leader
2023 Super Lawyers Rising Star
2023 Washington Super Lawyers
2023 World Trademark Review Global Leaders - Personal Ranking and Firm Ranking
2023 World Trademark Review 1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals - Gold Ranking
2022 World Trademark Review Global Leaders
2022 World Trademark Review 1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals
2021 World Trademark Review 1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals
2019 World Trademark Review 300 - World’s Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals
2018 World Trademark Review 300 - World’s Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals
2017 World Trademark Review Awards - North American Trademark Team of the Year
2017 Managing IP - Corporate IP Star
2017 World Trademark Review 300 - World's Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals
2016 World Trademark Review - Finalist for In House Counsel of the Year
2016 Managing IP, Corporate IP Star
2015 World Trademark Review – Software and Online Services Team of the Year
2015 Managing IP, Corporate IP Star
2012 World Trademark Review – Internet and Online Services Team of the Year
2011 Super Lawyers Rising Star
2024 World Intellectual Property Review 2024 Leader
2024 Washington Super Lawyers
2024 Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers
2024 World Trademark Review Global Leaders
2024 World Trademark Review 1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals - Gold Ranking
2023 World Intellectual Property Review - Law Firm Ranking - Highly Recommended
2023 World Intellectual Property Review 2023 Leader
2023 Super Lawyers Rising Star
2023 Washington Super Lawyers
2023 World Trademark Review Global Leaders - Personal Ranking and Firm Ranking
2023 World Trademark Review 1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals - Gold Ranking
2022 World Trademark Review Global Leaders
2022 World Trademark Review 1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals
2021 World Trademark Review 1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals
2019 World Trademark Review 300 - World’s Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals
2018 World Trademark Review 300 - World’s Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals
2017 World Trademark Review Awards - North American Trademark Team of the Year
2017 Managing IP - Corporate IP Star
2017 World Trademark Review 300 - World's Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals
2016 World Trademark Review - Finalist for In House Counsel of the Year
2016 Managing IP, Corporate IP Star
2015 World Trademark Review – Software and Online Services Team of the Year
2015 Managing IP, Corporate IP Star
2012 World Trademark Review – Internet and Online Services Team of the Year
2011 Super Lawyers Rising Star
Speaking Engagements
Hashtags and Trademarks: Legal and Practical Implications of Use by Brand Owner of Third Parties, Westlaw, April 2024
Intellectual Property Brief Symposium - Geographic Indicators in International Trademark, American University College of Law, March 2024
Protecting Your Brand: Policies, Case Law and Practical Implications of Platform Search and Keyword Advertising, myLawCLE, April 2023
Hashtags and Trademarks, Strafford Webinars, March 2023
World Trademark Review: Industry Review - Technology, World Trademark Review, December 2022
Hot Topics in Trademark Law, WLA Art Law Institute 2021, November 2021
Moderator: INTA Idea Exchange on Boutique v. BigLaw Trademark Practice, International Trademark Association, May 2021.
What's New in the Trademark Law Landscape: Regulatory Trends and Challenges Explored, Knowledge Group Webinar, October 2020
Brand Protection at a Time of Hyper-Criticism, World Trademark Review Webinar, September 2020
How Covid-19 is Changing Domain Strategies, World Trademark Review Webinar, May 2020
Hashtag Trademarks: Legal and Practical Implications by Use by Brand Owners or Third Parties, Strafford Webinars, March 2020
Hot Trademark, Copyright and Advertising Issues, ABA Entertainment and Sports Forum, Las Vegas, NV, November 2019
Working at Internet Speed: Perspectives from Amazon's Former Senior Trademark Counsel, 2019 Midwest IP Institute, Minneapolis, MN, September 2019
The Year in Trademark Law: Noteworthy Decisions and Their Impact on Your Practice, 2019 Midwest IP Institute, Minneapolis, MN, September 2019
IP Fundamentals for Artists: Guidance for Pro Bono Advice, Washington State Bar Association, Seattle Art Museum, August 2019
Combating Counterfeits and Piracy on the Internet Highway and in Digital Media, INTA Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, May 2019
Proving the Creative Contribution, NYU Engelbert Center on Innovation Law & Policy, New York, NY, May 2019
Domain Name Best Practices, MarkMonitor Symposium, London, UK, May 2019
Domain Management Strategies for an Effective Brand Protection Program, MarkMonitor Symposium, New York City, NY, May 2019
ABA-IPL Annual Meeting - Anti-Counterfeiting in Social Media, April 2019
Rocky Mountain IP Institute: Disparaging, Immoral & Scandalous Trademarks, May 2018
INTA Brands & Innovation - How Innovation is Changing the Retail Landscape, March 2018
Kilpatrick Townsend 2018 Advanced Trademark Law Seminar - I Was Told Math Was Not Involved - Surveys & Brand Tracking Studies, January 2018
INTA In House Idea Exchange: Managing Your Outside Counsel, May 2017
Trademark Disparagement and the First Amendment, McCarthy Institute Trademark Symposium, Seattle, WA, February 2017
Beyond Native Advertising, INTA Annual Meeting, Orlando, May 2016
(App)ealing to a Wired Audience: Trademarks and Mobile Advertising, INTA Leadership Meeting, Panama City, Panama, November 2015
The Social Network: Current Legal Issues in Social Media, Association for Corporate Counsel, Los Angeles, November 2015
Trademarks and New gTLDs: An International Policy Perspective, McCarthy Institute Trademark Law Symposium, San Francisco, September 2015
Is Fair Use Always Fair? International approaches to fair use issues in a mobile world, INTA Annual Meeting, San Diego, May 2015
How New Technologies are Changing Lanham Act & Copyright Act Analyses, USC Intellectual Property Institute, Los Angeles, March 2015
Schemers, Scammers and Swindlers, INTA Leadership Meeting, Phoenix, November 2014
Issues in Social Media, INTA: Internet, Innovation & ICANN, San Francisco, September 2014
Hashtags: Fair Use or Infringement? A Global Perspective, IP Bytes: Hot Topics in Trademark Law, Bar Association of
San Francisco, San Francisco, July 2014
Connecting the Dots: Global Brand Insights for Surviving and Thriving in a New gTLD World, CSC Digital Brand Forum, April 2014
Strategies for Managing Domain Name Disputes and Litigation, IQPC Trademark Litigation Summit, San Francisco, April 2014
The Ethics of Trademark Bullying, INTA Annual Meeting, Dallas, May 2013
Best Practices in Trademark Selection, Association for Corporate Counsel, Anaheim, April 2013
Trademark Law and Social Media, Cardozo Law School, New York, March 2011
Intellectual Property Brief Symposium - Geographic Indicators in International Trademark, American University College of Law, March 2024
Protecting Your Brand: Policies, Case Law and Practical Implications of Platform Search and Keyword Advertising, myLawCLE, April 2023
Hashtags and Trademarks, Strafford Webinars, March 2023
World Trademark Review: Industry Review - Technology, World Trademark Review, December 2022
Hot Topics in Trademark Law, WLA Art Law Institute 2021, November 2021
Moderator: INTA Idea Exchange on Boutique v. BigLaw Trademark Practice, International Trademark Association, May 2021.
What's New in the Trademark Law Landscape: Regulatory Trends and Challenges Explored, Knowledge Group Webinar, October 2020
Brand Protection at a Time of Hyper-Criticism, World Trademark Review Webinar, September 2020
How Covid-19 is Changing Domain Strategies, World Trademark Review Webinar, May 2020
Hashtag Trademarks: Legal and Practical Implications by Use by Brand Owners or Third Parties, Strafford Webinars, March 2020
Hot Trademark, Copyright and Advertising Issues, ABA Entertainment and Sports Forum, Las Vegas, NV, November 2019
Working at Internet Speed: Perspectives from Amazon's Former Senior Trademark Counsel, 2019 Midwest IP Institute, Minneapolis, MN, September 2019
The Year in Trademark Law: Noteworthy Decisions and Their Impact on Your Practice, 2019 Midwest IP Institute, Minneapolis, MN, September 2019
IP Fundamentals for Artists: Guidance for Pro Bono Advice, Washington State Bar Association, Seattle Art Museum, August 2019
Combating Counterfeits and Piracy on the Internet Highway and in Digital Media, INTA Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, May 2019
Proving the Creative Contribution, NYU Engelbert Center on Innovation Law & Policy, New York, NY, May 2019
Domain Name Best Practices, MarkMonitor Symposium, London, UK, May 2019
Domain Management Strategies for an Effective Brand Protection Program, MarkMonitor Symposium, New York City, NY, May 2019
ABA-IPL Annual Meeting - Anti-Counterfeiting in Social Media, April 2019
Rocky Mountain IP Institute: Disparaging, Immoral & Scandalous Trademarks, May 2018
INTA Brands & Innovation - How Innovation is Changing the Retail Landscape, March 2018
Kilpatrick Townsend 2018 Advanced Trademark Law Seminar - I Was Told Math Was Not Involved - Surveys & Brand Tracking Studies, January 2018
INTA In House Idea Exchange: Managing Your Outside Counsel, May 2017
Trademark Disparagement and the First Amendment, McCarthy Institute Trademark Symposium, Seattle, WA, February 2017
Beyond Native Advertising, INTA Annual Meeting, Orlando, May 2016
(App)ealing to a Wired Audience: Trademarks and Mobile Advertising, INTA Leadership Meeting, Panama City, Panama, November 2015
The Social Network: Current Legal Issues in Social Media, Association for Corporate Counsel, Los Angeles, November 2015
Trademarks and New gTLDs: An International Policy Perspective, McCarthy Institute Trademark Law Symposium, San Francisco, September 2015
Is Fair Use Always Fair? International approaches to fair use issues in a mobile world, INTA Annual Meeting, San Diego, May 2015
How New Technologies are Changing Lanham Act & Copyright Act Analyses, USC Intellectual Property Institute, Los Angeles, March 2015
Schemers, Scammers and Swindlers, INTA Leadership Meeting, Phoenix, November 2014
Issues in Social Media, INTA: Internet, Innovation & ICANN, San Francisco, September 2014
Hashtags: Fair Use or Infringement? A Global Perspective, IP Bytes: Hot Topics in Trademark Law, Bar Association of
San Francisco, San Francisco, July 2014
Connecting the Dots: Global Brand Insights for Surviving and Thriving in a New gTLD World, CSC Digital Brand Forum, April 2014
Strategies for Managing Domain Name Disputes and Litigation, IQPC Trademark Litigation Summit, San Francisco, April 2014
The Ethics of Trademark Bullying, INTA Annual Meeting, Dallas, May 2013
Best Practices in Trademark Selection, Association for Corporate Counsel, Anaheim, April 2013
Trademark Law and Social Media, Cardozo Law School, New York, March 2011
Select Articles and Media
AI Prompts Alone Are Not Authorship. World Trademark Review, January, 2025. See here.
David Chang issues apology over "chili crunch" trademark controversy. Today, April 2024. See here.
David Chang and Momofuku will no longer enforce "chili crunch' trademark. NBC News, April 2024. See here.
CHILI CRUNCH Dispute Update. World Trademark Review, April 2024. See here.
Celeb Chef Chang is Labeled a "Trademark Bully." Newser, April 2024. See here.
"You Are A Culinary Colonizer": People Are Calling For A Boycott Of David Chang's Momofuku After The Company Sent Cease-And-Desists To Asian-Owned Businesses. MSN, April 2024. See here.
David Chang's Momofuku Trademark "Chili Crunch" Drama. RetailWire, April 2024. See here.
David Chang called a "trademark bully" for attempting to claim control of "chili crunch" market. Salon, April 2024. See here.
"You Are A Culinary Colonizer": People Are Boycotting David Chang's Momofuku After The Company Sent Cease-And-Desists To Asian-Owned Businesses. BuzzFeed, April 2024. See here.
Small businesses criticize Momofuku and David Chang for trademark attempts, AsAmNews, April 2024. See here.
Chef David Chang called out over attempt to trademark Momofuku’s ‘Chili Crunch’, The Independent, April 2024. See here.
Small Business Owners Respond To “Bullying”, Fior Reports, April , 2024. See here.
David Chang, Michelin chef behind Momofuku, is accused of 'trademark bullying' and trying to dominate condiment market by sending dozens of cease and desist letters to restaurants copying his 'chili crunch', Daily Mail, April 5, 2024. See here.
David Chang Called 'Trademark Bully' After Sending Cease-And-Desist Letters To Other Chili Crunch Brands, Delish, April 5, 2024. See here.
David Chang’s ‘chili crunch’ trademark controversy: Small business owners respond to ‘bullying’, Today, April 5, 2024. See here.
David Chang’s Momofuku bullies small biz chili crunch competitors: “It felt like a punch”, New York Post, April 5, 2024. See here.
Momofuku challenges small food businesses over CHILI CRUNCH mark" World Trademark Review. April 5, 2024. See here.
"Trademark Bullly": Momofuku turns up heat on others selling "chili crunch." The Guardian. April 4, 2024. See here.
UK Government Sets Aside Plan for AI and Copyright Code of Practice. World Trademark Review. February 7, 2024. See here.
Firms advise client caution amid USPTO examination delays. Managing IP. December 8, 2023. See here.
Find a niche: IP boutiques reveal how they found success. Managing IP. October 26, 2023. See here.
US District Court Sides with Copyright Office in First AI Art Ruling. World Trademark Review. August 22, 2023. See here.
Twitter picked "worst letter" for rebrand. Managing IP. July 27, 2023. See here.
Coates IP Interview with WTR Global Leaders. World Trademark Review. July 19, 2023.
Why Moving the Dial on DEI is Critical to Future Success. World Trademark Review. June 29, 2023. See here.
How to turn unprecedented USPTO pendency times into a win. World Trademark Review. June 19, 2023. See here.
Copyright terms and trademark rights: a practitioner's guide to the US public domain. World Trademark Review. May 4, 2023. See here.
Inside Trademark Law Firm Operations: Building a World Class IP Practice. World Trademark Review. April 4, 2022. See here.
The "Loneliness" of Starting Your Own IP Firm. Managing IP. January 13, 2022. See here.
Facebook ruling could open floodgates for state-law claims against Internet companies. World Trademark Review. September 29, 2021. See here.
Biscuit Ruling Could "Eviscerate" Trade Dress Rights. Managing IP. February 4, 2021. See here.
How In-House Fight Infringers in "Broken" Post-GDPR World. Managing IP. January 29, 2021. See here.
"Darlie", "Aunt" and "Uncle": When Brands Should Be Retired. Managing IP. June 24, 2020. See here.
Biscuit ruling could eviscerate trade dress rights. Managing IP. February 4, 2020. See here.
How in-house fight infringers in 'broken' post-GDPR world. Managing IP. January 29, 2020. See here.
Why a pandemic is the perfect time to open a new law firm. Managing IP. November 19, 2020. See here.
"PR risk is now part of the IP job" - the developing role of trademark practitioners in an age of hyper-criticism.
World Trademark Review. September 29, 2020. See here.
"Darlie", "Aunt" and "Uncle": When brands should be retired. Managing IP. June 24, 2020. See here.
Comment: Dropping of PepsiCo's Aunt Jemima is long overdue. World Intellectual Property Review. June 19, 2020. See here.
Why continued community engagement is critical alongside PepsiCo's removal of Aunt Jemima brand. World Trademark Review. June 19, 2020. See here.
Cost-Cutting: How client relationships can survive the COVID crunch. World Trademark Review. May 21, 2020. See here.
Fleet Feet's court victory against Nike highlight changes in using and protecting slogan marks. World Trademark Review. December 6, 2019. See here.
The Rise of Competitive Advertising: Risk and Opportunity in Domain Names Using Competitor's Marks. World Trademark Review. October 24, 2019. See here.
Rethinking Law Firm Operations: Stephen Coates on why he left Amazon to build an IP boutique. World Trademark Review. September 11, 2019. See here.
Ex-Trademark Law Guru at Amazon Launches IP Boutique. Law.com. August 22, 2019. See here.
Ex-Amazon Counsel Established Boutique IP Firm. World Intellectual Property Review. August 21, 2019. See here.
Meet Twitter's First Trademark Counsel. Managing Intellectual Property. May 5, 2015. See here.
Twitter, Fair Use, and a "Socialised Logo". World Intellectual Property Review. May 4, 2015. See here.
Twitter's Stephen Coates. Law.com. September 8, 2014. See here.