Morningstar Law Group – Raleigh Law Firm – Durham NC Attorneys
Chris Jackson - IP Litigation Lawyer Raleigh – Intellectual Property Litigator

J. Christopher Jackson

Partner

Christopher Jackson works closely with his clients to help navigate the complex challenges of intellectual property and commercial litigation. With a clear understanding that job one is protecting his clients’ business needs, Christopher prides himself on delivering the best possible outcomes for them, whether through litigation, trial, or alternate dispute resolution.

He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of disputes involving copyrights, trademarks, and patents, and also is highly experienced at handling disputes related to technology issues, particularly with respect to software, healthcare IT, and e-commerce. His clients also place great trust in his counsel in business disputes related to unfair competition, trade secrets, business torts, fraud, and privacy concerns, as well as with respect to defending and prosecuting claims for breach of contract, breach of license, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.

Christopher works hard to create and maintain great relationships with his clients, who range from publicly traded, market-leading software and technology companies to small and midsize private businesses, entrepreneurs, and artists. He has successfully litigated cases for them in federal and state courts throughout North Carolina and across the southeastern United States. His well-rounded experience includes cases involving the Copyright Act, Lanham Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), Anti-Cybersquatting Piracy Act (ACPA), and Sherman Act, among others.

Within Morningstar Law Group, Christopher currently serves both as the Operations Partner and as a member of the firm’s Accountability Team. In these roles, he is responsible for a variety of issues involving technology and security, human resources, firm finances, risk management, and marketing.

Pro bono legal projects also have always been important to Christopher, and his experience includes a stint working full-time with Legal Aid of North Carolina representing indigent clients. His former firm, Wood Jackson PLLC, was honored by the N.C. Bar Association with its Smaller Law Firm Pro Bono Service Award in 2014.

Before joining Morningstar Law Group, Christopher was a co-managing member of Wood Jackson PLLC; practiced at Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, an international law firm; and was a staff attorney for the Securities and Corporate Practices Division of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in Washington, DC. He also served as a law clerk for the Honorable I. Beverly Lake, Jr., who was Chief Justice of the N.C. Supreme Court at the time.

A North Carolina native, Christopher lives in Raleigh with his wife, Jill, a board-certified family law attorney, and their two children.

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Accolades

  • Best Lawyers: Raleigh Lawyer of the Year – Litigation – Intellectual Property (2020)
  • Best Lawyers: Litigation – Intellectual Property (2015-2022)
  • Business North Carolina Legal Elite: Intellectual Property (2019), Litigation (2012, 2014-2019, 2021-2022), Young Guns (2011)
  • Super Lawyers (2015-2022), 2022 Selectee for Business Litigation

Representative Experience

  • Defending independent service organization (ISO) for medical imaging equipment in federal lawsuits brought by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) involving claims for copyright infringement, and for alleged violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), state unfair competition and unfair and deceptive trade practices acts, and Sherman Act (antitrust).
  • Advised a premier global provider of corporate education programs affiliated with a leading U.S. university regarding various intellectual property disputes.
  • Representing a cannabidiol oil (CBD) company in a federal lawsuit involving claims for cancellation of trademark, violations of the Lanham Act, trademark infringement, and state law false advertising and unfair competition.
  • Represented a privately-held software development company against claims including breach of contract, violation of N.C. Trade Secrets Act, federal Computer Fraud and Abuse and N.C. Computer Trespass Act, unjust enrichment, tortious interference with contractual relations, and violation of state unfair and deceptive trade practices act, which was resolved before trial.
  • Represented private medical practice in a dispute with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) regarding a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.
  • Represented leading full-service talent booking agency in various disputes involving claims of copyright infringement and breach of contract.
  • Represented business in domain name and website development dispute with website developer.
  • Defended restaurant in lawsuit involving alleged trademark infringement.
  • Represented software developer in dispute with Fortune 500 company regarding alleged copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation.
  • Represented laboratory device manufacturer in dispute concerning alleged breach of contract.
  • Represented software developer against breach of license and copyright infringement claims.
  • Counseled privately-held equipment and parts seller on trademark and copyright issues.
  • Defended a software company in a copyright and licensing case where liability was undisputed, and obtained a trial result that was less than three percent of the opposing party’s claim.
  • Represented a leading retailer and distributor of high-quality protective cases and accessories for portable electronic devices in a matter involving claims for trademark infringement, false designation of origin, dilution, and unfair and deceptive trade practices, which resulted in a consent judgment being entered against the opposing party that included both monetary damages and a permanent injunction.
  • Defended a software company in a dispute with a reseller involving claims of breach of contract and breach of warranty, and resolved the matter before trial after the court granted the defendant’s motion for partial summary judgment.
  • Defended a software company in a dispute involving claims for breach of contract and breach of warranty after an alleged data loss event, and resolved the matter after getting third-party claims dismissed before an arbitration hearing.
  • Together with the American Humanist Association, represented a North Carolina prisoner in a dispute against the N.C. Department of Public Safety, Division of Prisons, which resulted in the court granting the client’s motion for summary judgment and recognizing Humanism as a faith group, declaring that the defendants had violated the Establishment and Equal Protection Clauses, and awarding attorneys’ fees.

Presentations & Publications

  • “The Truth About Arbitration (What Really Happens).” Joint Presentation. Morningstar Law Group CLE (2017)
  • “Tips for Avoiding and Resolving Technology Contract Disputes.” Panel Member, Current Topics for the Busy In-House Lawyer. Morningstar Law Group CLE (2016)
  • “It’s All Too Much, Handling Large Discovery Requests.” NC Bar Association CLE (2013, 2014)
  • “Why Do Pro Bono?” Panel Member, Pro Bono Summit at NC Bar Association / Legal Aid of North Carolina CLE (2013)

Education

  • University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D. (1999) with honors
    NC Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation: Articles Editor and Staff Member
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A. (1995) with distinction

Admissions

  • State of North Carolina (1999)
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (2002)
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2003)
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (2003)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2006)
  • U.S. Supreme Court (2006)

Professional

  • Wake County Library Commission (former member)

Services

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