Profile

Chris Thomas concentrates his practice on disputes concerning copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, false advertising, unfair competition and unfair and deceptive trade practices. He has extensive experience representing clients in commercial and business tort litigation, including litigation involving infringement of intellectual property rights in federal and state court litigation, before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in proceedings before the National Arbitration Forum. Mr. Thomas also has experience with copyright registration, licensing and transfers, and trademark search and clearance, prosecution, opposition, enforcement and licensing.

He is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Prior to law school, Mr. Thomas worked with information technology for a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.

Experience Highlights

Mr. Thomas’s experience includes:

• Successfully defending clients at jury trial in federal court against claims of trade secret misappropriation, false advertising, unfair and deceptive trade practices, tortious interference with actual and prospective economic advantage, and breach of contract
• Obtaining summary judgment on a copyright infringement claim based on the affirmative defense of implied non-exclusive license from a joint author
• Successfully defending client against plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction based on alleged trade dress rights
• Obtaining summary judgment on claim of ownership of a mark and defeating counterclaims for copyright infringement and trademark infringement

News

• Forty-Four Parker Poe Attorneys Named 2013 NC Super Lawyers
  January 18, 2013
• Parker Poe Attorneys Recognized Among 2013 Legal Elite
  January 15, 2013
• Chris Thomas Elected To Artspace Board of Directors
  June 29, 2012
• Business North Carolina Names 16 Attorneys to 2012 Legal Elite
  January 9, 2012
• Parker Poe Names Six New Partners
  January 3, 2012
• Parker Poe IP Group Recognized by Non-Profit for Pro Bono Work
  April 25, 2011
• Act NOW to Protect Your Trademarks on Facebook
  June 11, 2009
• Christopher M. Thomas Joins Parker Poe's Raleigh Office
  July 13, 2006

Publications

Co-author, "Personal Use in Copyright Law: An Unrecognized Constitutional Right," 50 Journal of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. 475 (2003) (with L. Ray Patterson)

Co-author, “Antitrust Limits on Mediation and Settlement,” Antitrust News, North Carolina Bar Association, Antitrust & Trust Regulation Section, April 2010 (with Catharine Biggs Arrowood, & James C. Lesnett, Jr.)

Memberships

• Artspace
  Board of Directors, 2012-2015
• Burning Coal Theatre Company
  Board of Directors, 2007-present