Hara K. Jacobs

Litigation, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Litigation, Trademarks, Copyrights

Hara K. Jacobs is a partner in the Litigation and Intellectual Property Departments and a member of the Trademark and Copyright Group and Intellectual Property Litigation Group. She has litigated a wide variety of intellectual property matters, including trademark, trade dress, copyright, right of publicity, trade secret, misappropriation, false advertising, and patent cases. Ms. Jacobs also represents clients in business and estates litigation. She regularly litigates in federal and state courts and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Jacobs develops and implements global branding and enforcement strategies for clients. Her intellectual property counseling practice includes advising clients in the areas of copyright, trade secrets, domain names, trade dress, advertising, and right of publicity. Representative client industries include electronics, software, financial services, e-commerce, entertainment, fashion, pharmaceuticals, and professional sports.

Professional Activities

International Trademark Association 
Ballard Spahr's Hiring Committee

Recognition & Accomplishments

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, intellectual property, 2010-2011

Publications

Co-author, "IP Twitter-Style: Understanding Practical And Legal Risks in Promoting A Brand Through Social Media," The Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly, Volume LXXXI, No. 2, April 2010

Co-author, "Do Not Be Blindsided by SideWiki," myCorporateResource.com, November 20, 2009

Co-author, U.S. Trade Dress Law: A Primer for the New Millennium, with Glenn Mitchell, Steven J. Wadyka, Jr., and Melissa J. Lee, 2002

Speaking Engagements

"Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging…Oh MySpace! Legal Issues with Social Networking Sites," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, December 2010

Program planner and presenter, "IP Law and Its Intersection with Social Media," Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Intellectual Property Defense in an Age of Social Media CLE Program, Philadelphia, October 6, 2010; and Pittsburgh, September 29, 2010

"Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging…Oh MySpace! Legal Issues with Social Networking Sites," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, March 2010 and November 2009; Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, April 2010

"IP and the Internet: The story of GROW AND GO, the Fictional Drink of the Summer Games," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, November 2008, and at a Ballard Spahr CLE Program, Philadelphia, June 2008

"Hey, Knock It Off: Protecting Fashion Designs," University of Delaware (guest lecturer), February 2007

"Trial Advocacy," Villanova Law School (guest lecturer), November 2005

"Parody: Barbie is a Slut and Other Slurs Against Iconic Marketing Figures," University of Delaware (guest lecturer), Spring 2003

"Role of Counsel in Copyright Infringement: Download This! The Latest in Online Copyright Infringement," Ballard Spahr program, December 2003

"Right of Publicity," Intellectual Property Breakfast Seminar, Ballard Spahr, November 2002

"Protecting Websites and Graphical User Interfaces with Trade Dress Law," Intellectual Property Breakfast Seminar, Ballard Spahr, November 2001

Board Memberships

ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter

Duke University School of Law (J.D. 1994)

University of Michigan (B.A. 1991, with high distinction)
Member, Phi Beta Kappa

New Jersey

New York

Pennsylvania