For over 20 years, John Moetteli has been a practicing patent practitioner/attorneyat-law (D.C.), having been authorized to practice before WIPO, the US and SwissPatent & Trademark Offices, as well as the Liechtenstein IPO. He’s also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Texas, the District of Columbia Bar (Washington DC), as well as the Bucharest Bar as an international attorney. In addition, after finishing his training under the tutelage of European patent attorneys while based in Geneva, he continues to successfully manage the prosecution of European patent applications. Further, he’s a Texas registered Professional Engineer, currently on inactive status.
Since 1997, John has been based in Europe and has represented U.S., European and Asian individuals and corporations, both small and large, before the US, Swiss and International patent and trademark authorities. In 1992, John founded, in the building that housed the original NASA headquarters in Houston, Texas, what later
became Da Vinci Partners LLC, owner of the “Da Vinci” brand for legal services in essentially every industrialized country in the World. With colleagues like David Koris, Sharon Gobat, and Novella Mantelli, Da Vinci Partners counsels primarily European and US clients regarding IP litigation issues and prepares and prosecutes
patent applications in the fields of IT, software (including AI applications and business methods), manufacturing process, electro-mechanical, medical device, and sports products fields. In fact. Da Vinci represented Salesforce in oral proceedings that directly resulted in Salesforce obtaining their very first European software patent. Da Vinci’s specialty is providing strategic IP advice taking advantage of unique ways of applying US law that extend the protection afforded by trade secrets while reserving US patent rights, and that maximize the protection afforded under US design patent law.
John holds an Engineering degree, a Masters in International Management and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree which he earned magna cum laude. In addition, he’s followed courses on Chinese Patent Law, and was co-editor of a well-known international manual on industrial property. He’s also a WIPO trained mediator and
arbitrator and, formerly, an elected member of the ICC Switzerland Commission on Arbitration and Mediation.
John is particularly specialized in preparing freedom to operate, invalidity and enforceability opinions on US patents, as well as preparing and prosecuting US and International patent and trademark applications. His experience preparing legal opinions has trained him in the ability to objectively assess infringement and validity,
all helpful to fair and thoughtful determination in arbitration as well as in providing strategic litigation advice. Knowing where the strengths and weaknesses of a case lie helps in mediation efforts as well.
John has been a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the 许可证管理人员协会 (LES), the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), and the 国际商业律师协会 (AIBL) for many years. He’s also the founder of the North American Attorneys Association in Geneva and an active member of the ICC’s Commission on Intellectual Property, during its existence. He’s lectured for the Swiss Patent Office, WIPO (as a WIPO Patent Expert), the European Commission, the European Patent Institute, has served as IMD faculty for the Program for Executive Development (PED), and Zurich University ZHAW and lectured at the University of Modena, to the China Counsil for the Promotion of International Trade, as a guest speaker at Startup Days in Bern, and Startup Nights in Winterthur, as well as coached startups in Switzerland and Italy. He’s published several articles on the subject of intellectual property law as well.
Prior to moving to Switzerland, John worked in the intellectual property section of Haynes & Boone LLP, a large litigation firm with offices in Texas, New York, California, Charlotte, Colorado, Illinois, Washington, D.C., Shanghai, London, and Mexico City. Prior to his experience with Haynes & Boone, John worked at NASA as a senior design engineer and technology manager. During this time, the Smithsonian Institute featured his work on the Discovery Channel’s Invention Series cable television program.
John speaks fluent English (mother tongue), French and German.
法学博士 — University of Houston Law Center (ranked in the top five law schools in the US for Intellectual Property specialty), magna cum laude. Dean’s list. Annual Fund scholarship recipient. 美国司法部奖: Constitutional Law and Contracts II. Corpus Juris Secundum Award. Highest grade in his class: Int’l
Business Transactions, Professional Responsibility, International Law, and Administrative Law. Member – 男爵勋章 和 骑士勋章, wellknown honorary legal fraternities.
Master of Arts — International Management Studies (商业硕士，强调国际业务的挑战) — University of Texas (Dallas), including MBA programs at the University of Houston School of Business and University of Houston Clear Lake, 4.0 GPA (perfect marks).
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering — 德克萨斯大学（阿灵顿）, cumulative GPA 3.3+, Honor Roll; Elected to Tau Beta Pi 和 Pi Tau Sigma国家工程荣誉协会。
Note: After freshman year, employed full-time while pursuing all University degrees, May ’83 through May ’95.
In Switzerland from Oct. 1, 1997 to the present – first as an IP attorney for Katzarov SA and then Bugnion SA, both in Geneva, and later as managing attorney of Da Vinci Partners LLC, now in Arbon, Switzerland. John specializes in prosecuting US patent applications and preparing non-infringement, validity, and unenforceability opinions on US patents, thereby helping Swiss clients assess the risks of entering into the US market, particularly when competitors have patents on similar technology. He also handles patent and trademark licensing negotiations, as well as prepares, files, and prosecutes patent and trademark applications in various strategically
important jurisdictions. He also mediates IP rights disputes.
From 1994 to 1997, John was an IP attorney with Haynes & Boone, L.L.P. (www.haynesboone.com). Here he was responsible for an international oil field exploration company’s international patent docket. John regularly prepared, filed and prosecuted U.S. and international patent applications in the software, telecommunications, as well as mechanical and electromechanical arts. He also prepared patentability opinions as well as prepared, filed and prosecuted trademark applications. Still further, he dealt with copyright, trademark, trade secret and unfair competition issues.
From 1991 to 1996, John worked at Johnson Space Center (JSC), for NASA’s EVAS team. Licensed as a US Patent Agent, he finished his tenure at JSC as a Senior Design Engineer, and New Technology Coordinator. At NASA, he was responsible for the design/development of certain tools for use on the International Space Station. His regular activities included brainstorming, solid modeling, mass and stress analysis, trade studies, presentations to NASA tech monitors and integration teams, and participation in cost and operational studies. As new technology coordinator, he was responsible for indoctrination of employees in requirements for new technology reporting including writing and filing new technology disclosures with the NASA Patent Department. He performed patent searches and prepared patent applications on a project basis. He was the recipient of NASA Tech Brief Award, Lockheed Disclosure of Invention Award, NASA Patent Application Award (awarded US Patent No. 5,924,329), and NASA Programs and EVAS Team of the Month awards.
From 1992 to 1994, while studying law, John was a practicing US Patent Practitioner, specialized in the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications for independent inventors and small businesses. During this time, he performed patent searches, provided patentability opinions, drafted patent drawings, and wrote, filed and prosecuted patent applications before the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office.
From 1989 to 1991, John worked as a manufacturing engineer, project manager and patent specialist for AirBorn Connectors Inc. in Addison, Texas. He was primarily responsible for the design and development of electronic connector assembly equipment. He evaluated manufacturing processes, designed tests and fixtures, and machinery components. He contributed significantly to new product design through brainstorming. He also initiated and performed informal patent searches on competitor’s equipment. He was a named co-inventor in U.S. patent 5,203,813.
From 1985 to 1987, John was a research engineer with Harris Graphics Corporation (later renamed Heidelberg Harris). He reported directly to Marshall Gaffney, the V. P. of R & D and Director of Engineering. He was project leader/designer of ink metering blade system for printing presses, the implementation of which enabled
significant cost reduction. He was awarded U.S. patent 4,773,327.
From 1983 to 1985, John was president and project manager for Ravencrest Tool Company of Richardson, Texas. He reported to a managing board. John was solely responsible for conception, design, development and production of hand and power tool systems. He supervised 13 employees. His accomplishments include design, drafting and sourcing of component parts for ease of manufacturing and to yield more competitive products. He designed the plant layout, and selected and supervised the installation of machinery. He was awarded U. S. patent nos. 4,520,697; 4,602,534; 5,347,892; 5,172,823 as well as related foreign patents. In 1986, he received the “年度发明奖” from Congressman 杰克-皮克尔 德克萨斯州奥斯汀市（产品通过全国的西尔斯百货商店销售）。
德克萨斯州律师协会的结果。Mpre 143/150；Mbe 158。 注册美国专利律师 (第35,289号)；律师(Mr.德州 00795536; 
; 华盛顿特区 489310 
). 注册专业工程师 (No. 68980);. Admitted to practice before the 联邦巡回上诉法院 and the bar of the District of Columbia as well as US Supreme Court (Bar No. 315244) Admitted before an International Bar of a European Union member state (布加勒斯特酒吧 3555/C/26.03.2012).
年度最佳知识产权律师事务所 - 中欧
2020年法律奖
中欧最佳知识产权律师事务所
2019年法律奖
最佳多语种知识产权事务所-欧洲
2018年法律奖
年度最佳专利和商标顾问 - 瑞士
2018年国际收购会
年度最佳专利律师事务所
2017年全球奖项
最佳知识产权律师事务所 - 瑞士
2017年法律奖
最佳知识产权律师事务所 - 瑞士
2016年法律奖
约翰获得了 教育充实奖 from Partners in Space (nonprofit educational organization) and was featured on Smithsonian Institution’s Invention Series, produced for the Discovery Channel, ’95-’96. He is a citizen of the United States, Switzerland and Italy. John is married and is the father of three children. He is a member of the executive committee of the American International Club of Zurich and has served as Consul of Internations, St.Gallen chapter, for over seven years. John enjoys fine food, foreign language,
boating, fast walking, and hiking.
其中重要的一章在1996年由史密森学会赞助的探索频道的发明系列节目中作了介绍，即他在休斯顿的美国国家航空航天局担任高级设计工程师的经历，他负责设计和开发ORU转移装置，这是美国国家航空航天局的加拿大机械臂和空间站支架的备份。
在STS-87任务期间，有史以来第一次从哥伦比亚号航天飞机上进行太空行走，宇航员温斯顿-E-斯科特和MS Takao Doi与被称为 "美国起重机 "的模拟电池和156磅的起重机一起工作，这是约翰的发明之一。这也是日本有史以来的第一次太空行走。起重机的加入以及与它的合作是为今后在国际空间站上的工作继续进行准备的一部分。
除了机械伸缩式起重机，约翰还设计了O-Ratchet，一种在互联网和西尔斯商店销售的机械手工具。
