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Computer scientist, intellectual property attorney, and blockchain specialist with 20 years of experience in advising high tech companies and startups in software patents, software product development, software licensing, open source software licensing compliance, trademark branding, and intellectual property strategy. Giovanna is the executive producer of TEDx Berkshires and she serves as a Board Member at the Berkshire Innovation Center.

Giovanna’s legal practice focuses in all areas of intellectual property law with an emphasis on technologies related to blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), esports and gaming, wearables, artificial intelligence, recycled materials innovations, biometrics, cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges, augmented reality (AR), crypto processors, video compression / codecs, trusted computing and encryption, object-oriented software, analytics, video on demand (VOD) systems, VoIP and video conferencing systems, integrated development environments (IDEs), compilers and interpreters, iPhone™, Android™ and tablet applications, and semi-conductor manufacturing systems.

Giovanna also advises clients on open source software and OpenChain compliance, open source patent issues, and developing and implementing corporate policies on use of open source software. Giovanna assists clients with positioning their IP portfolios for Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and for acquisition.

She has also handled patent post grant proceedings, patent litigation, copyright and trademark infringement litigations, trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, and breach of contract actions. Giovanna has prepared validity and infringement opinions, open source software compliance opinions, and software license agreements, non-fungible token (NFT) royalty agreements, technology transfer agreements, copyright publishing agreements, film production agreements, website terms of use agreements, and employee intellectual property agreements.

Giovanna has experience programming several programming, scripting, and modeling languages including Java, C++, C#, Perl, CGI, Lisp, C, C Music, Javascript, XML, HTML, and Unified Modeling Language (UML).

As a Communications Systems Analyst for the International Co-operative Alliance Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, Giovanna worked on software development, GUI and database development, application programming, server maintenance, database driven website creation and network administration. Giovanna has also worked as a Technology Consultant to the United Nations Committee for Advancement of Cooperatives in Geneva, Switzerland, where she worked in software development and animation. As a Programmer at Harvard University, she developed Java Applets and performed Flash ActionScript programming for an e-learning project.

While studying for her law degree, Giovanna held an internship at the United States Copyright Office where she assisted with the promulgation of regulations concerning webcasting transmissions and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

In addition to working with our other clients, Giovanna helps our firm to maintain our presence in western Massachusetts and services our clients in that area. Since 2018, Giovanna has received distinction in The Best Lawyers in America® for her patent law expertise.  For the past 5 years, she was also ranked by Super Lawyers®, a rating of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Bar Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Massachusetts

Education

  • B.A. in Art History and Computer Science, Smith College
  • M.A. in Intellectual Property, University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly the Franklin Pierce Law Center)
  • J.D., University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
  • Berkshire Innovation Center - Serving on their Board of Directors
  • Berkshire Bar Association
  • Black Duck Certified Open Source Legal Professional

OpenChain Linux Foundation Partner