John Caracappa

John Caracappa is a patent litigation attorney with extensive experience handling complex disputes across federal district courts, the US International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He is a partner at Steptoe LLP, though he previously appeared for Dorsey & Whitney in a tracked case. His technological expertise spans diverse areas, including wireless communication devices, flash memory, online messaging application software, flat panel displays, navigation systems, online banking, hard disk drives, diamond-like coatings, software, solar panels, LED technologies, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, as well as materials science and mechanical innovations.

Mr. Caracappa demonstrates a balanced practice, representing both complainants and respondents in Section 337 ITC investigations, and working for both plaintiffs and defendants in district court patent infringement matters. His tracked cases include his representation of Terumo BCT, Inc. as a defendant in Haemonetics Corporation v. Terumo BCT, Inc. and as a plaintiff in Terumo BCT, Inc. v. Haemonetics Corporation, cases involving medical device technology. Other notable representations include securing a $25 million damages award for BMG Rights Management in a copyright infringement case and successfully obtaining summary judgment in Schrader-Bridgeport International v. Continental Automotive Systems. He has also achieved favorable outcomes for clients in ITC investigations related to LED technologies and IoT devices.

As a seasoned practitioner in post-grant review, Mr. Caracappa serves as lead counsel in Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings and was one of the first attorneys to file an IPR petition under the America Invents Act. His IPR experience includes representing Nissan North America, Inc. In 2013, he received a public reprimand from the USPTO for an unauthorized ex parte communication with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board during an IPR proceeding. Mr. Caracappa is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York, multiple U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. He earned his law degree from St. John's University School of Law.