Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.

- Mike Tyson

Ward Hobson practices primarily in the areas of intellectual property law, litigation, business and corporate transactions. 

Ward is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and regularly counsels clients on the acquisition, protection, maintenance and enforcement of intellectual property rights on both a local and national scale. His experience includes managing patent and trademark portfolios, providing clearance opinions, devising filing strategies, procuring and maintaining of patents, trademark and copyright registrations, negotiating intellectual property agreements, reviewing and analyzing intellectual property due diligence in connection with asset purchases, and defending intellectual property rights through Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings and various state and federal court litigation. 

In addition, Ward regularly handles a variety of complex litigation and transactional matters, including asset and equity purchases, real estate transactions, and tort and breach of contract claims. Ward provides strategic counsel to clients in a variety of industries, including but not limited to the financial, healthcare, restaurant and craft beer, oil and gas, plus arts and entertainment industries. 

  • Represents entrepreneurs and business owners in various service, healthcare, real estate, and technology sectors in connection with start-up organization, business planning, contractual relationships, business ventures and litigation.
  • Represented a finance company to collect over thirty million dollars owed by third parties pursuant to certain bank promissory notes, and guaranty agreements.
  • Defended an aerial measurement company in patent infringement lawsuit related to geo-referenced oblique aerial imagery and asserted counterclaims for patent invalidity and unenforceability.
  • Represented an aerial measurement company in patent infringement lawsuit related to geo-referenced oblique aerial imagery.
  • Represented an industry leader in pharmacy point of sale technology in action for copyright infringement.
  • Represented a local women’s retailer in action for misappropriation of domain name.
  • Defended a manufacturer of healthcare products in qui tam patent false marking lawsuit.
  • Defended a privately-held vitamin supplement company in a breach of contract and business tort lawsuit related to dietary supplements.
  • Represented a national nuclear recycling company as local counsel in ADA case filed by a former employee.
  • Represented an oil and gas drilling equipment manufacturer in patent infringement case relating to oilfield equipment.
  • Represented a pharmacy software company in breach of contract action.
  • Represented a patent owner in a patent infringement action relating to electrical circuit technology.
  • Represented an international sporting manufacturer as local counsel in patent infringement case relating to athletic garments.
  • Represented a privately-held company responsible for outsourced accounting, reporting and human resource services in a patent infringement suit relating to retail sales reporting technology.
  • Represented a manufacturer of drilling equipment in patent infringement suit relating to RFID chip technology.
  • Represented a domestic for-profit corporation in patent infringement suit involving Internet technologies.
  • Represented an architectural design company in patent infringement case involving construction technology.
  • Represented an aerial measurement company in patent infringement case relating to geo-referenced oblique aerial imaging.
  • Represented a manufacturer in patent infringement case involving auto-darkening optical lens technology.
  • Represented a national restaurant group as local counsel in trademark infringement lawsuit.

  • American Society of Legal Advocates, Top 40 Litigation Lawyers Under 40 List in Oklahoma, 2013
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers®, Oklahoma City, Copyright Law, 2024
  • Best Lawyers®, Oklahoma City, Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2024
  • Best Lawyers®, Oklahoma City, Trade Secrets Law, 2024
  • Leadership Oklahoma City, Signature Program – Class 39
  • Oklahoma Super Lawyers®, Rising Star for Patent Litigation, 2010, 2013-2020

  • Co-Presenter, Business Information Group, Corporate Transparency Act, 2024
  • Moot Court Judge, University of Oklahoma College of Law, 2011, 2012, 2016-2018
  • Law of Nature or Patent Eligible Invention – The U.S. Supreme Court clarifies whether isolated DNA strands and synthetically created cDNA are patent eligible, July 2013
  • IP Update: Recent Changes in U.S. Patent Law Regarding Inducement to Infringe, CorporateLiveWire Expert Guide to Intellectual Property 2012
  • Guest Speaker, University of Oklahoma College of Law, Applied Intellectual Property Law, 2011
  • D. Ward Hobson, “Reforming the Patent System: A Closer Look at Proposed Legislation,” 3 OKLA. J.L. & Tech. 29 (2006)

  • OKC Midtown Rotary, Member and Board Member, 2014-Present
  • Luther Bohanon Inn of Court, 2007-2008
  • Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section

Education

  • J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law, 2007
  • B.S., Microbiology, Minor in Chemistry, University of Oklahoma, 2004

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Oklahoma, 2007
  • Western District of Oklahoma, 2007
  • Eastern District of Oklahoma, 2012
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office, 2008
  • United States Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 2011