Criminal Law

• Theft
• Restraining Order
  A registered copyright enhances the value of a work and provides recourse in copyright infringement actions include temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions to prevent infringement, as well as money damages after infringement has occurred. Money damages can include both actual damages and disgorgement of infringer profits. As an alternative to actual damages, statutory damages may be available from $200 for innocent infringement and up to $150,000 in the case of willful infringement. Let expert copyright attorney Nevin Shaffer give you the advice and assistance you need to prevent or stop infringement of your valuable copyright and recover compensation for damage done.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Intellectual property is often practiced in large corporate law firms that are mostly interested in managing the IP portfolios of multinational corporations. Independent inventors or small business owners are likely to be turned away by these firms, or have their matters assigned to a paralegal or junior associate working on his or her first patent – yours. Nevin Shaffer has secured patents for international corporate clients and universities on the cutting edge of technology and innovation, but he always remains accessible to meet the needs of small, local businesses that deserve the best IP advice and representation as well.
• Business Disputes
  John Nevin Shaffer, Jr. earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970 and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Houston at Clear Lake City in 1976. He received his Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary’s University and was admitted to the Texas and U.S. Patent Bars in 1980. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2002 and the Alabama bar in 2009. He is an AV rated lawyer and a Florida Board Certified Intellectual Property Law Specialist. Nevin is an adjunct professor of intellectual property and business law at the University of West Florida.
• Business Transactions
  If you have developed a process, machine, design or other patentable item, securing a patent for your invention may be essential to achieving commercial success from your work. Attorney J. Nevin Shaffer, Jr. can help you through the complex and intricate process of obtaining a patent and can further assist you in maintaining that patent, filing for international patent protection, and making the most of your patent through lucrative licensing arrangements and other commercial transactions.
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property
  The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” Congress has responded by enacting Titles 17 ( copyrights ) and 35 ( patents ) of the US Code, setting out the parameters for legal protection of intellectual property in the U.S. (chapter 22 of title 15 addresses trademarks ). Along with state laws protecting trade secrets, these laws give businesses and inventors valuable tools to protect their work and the ability to profit from their success, but understanding and applying these laws is a highly technical and complex area of the law. J. Nevin Shaffer, Jr. is a registered patent attorney who is certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in intellectual property law. Learn more about our intellectual property law practice below, and contact J. Nevin Shaffer, Jr., P.A. in Gulf Breeze or Mobile for help understanding, managing and protecting your intellectual property.
• Unfair Competition
  Registering your trademark provides you with a measure of legal protection, but as a trademark holder you must still be vigilant to protect your mark from infringement anywhere in the world where it is registered. If you feel your valuable rights are being infringed upon, we can help you mediate disputes or provide appropriate litigation advice to help ensure your mark retains its value. Whether undergoing opposition proceedings before Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, cancellation proceedings or concurrent use registration disputes, we can provide strategic advice and technical assistance to ensure you are well-represented.

Employment Law

• Non-compete Agreement
  A Florida Bar board-certified specialist in Intellectual Property Law, J. Nevin Shaffer, Jr. provides expert assistance in drafting confidentiality agreements, nondisclosure agreements and non-compete agreements to keep your trade secrets safe and secure. Additionally, Nevin can represent you in negotiations for the assignment or licensing of trade secrets consistent with your IP portfolio and overall business strategy.