Services & Industries
Education
J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, Order of the Coif, Editor-in-Chief, Oregon Law Review, 1990
M.S., Oregon State University / Western Oregon University, 1980
B.S., Western Oregon University, 1975
Bar & Court Admissions
Oregon State Bar, Litigation and Intellectual Property Sections
Washington State Bar Association
Idaho State Bar
Idaho Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
U.S. District Court, District of Idaho
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jon specializes in resolving disputes for businesses and individuals. The disputes generally involve commercial matters. However, for many clients, the disputes involve intellectual property such as patent rights, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. His practice takes him into state and federal courts as well as arbitrations. Jon is a member of Tonkon’s Intellectual Property Practice Group.
As the lead trial lawyer, Jon has litigated patent infringement claims for an international distributor of health food products in multi-district litigation, manufacturers of machinery used in the wood products industry, manufacturers of parts for heavy trucks, and an inventor of electro-optic technology. He defended a national consulting firm accused of trademark and copyright infringement, and pursued copyright claims for a national senior housing company. He has litigated numerous misappropriation of trade secret and inevitable disclosure disputes between businesses or between a business and its former senior level employees.
Jon has been recognized as a leader in commercial litigation by the nationally trusted directories. Jon has received a 5 out of 5 Peer Review Rating on Martindale-Hubbell and is listed as meeting “very high criteria of general ethical standards.”
Jon started his post-college work life as a high school teacher, counselor, and coach. He, along with his then-young family, took a leap of faith to start a new career practicing law. He joined Tonkon Torp in 1990 and became a partner in 1996. In addition to his practice, he has been active in firm administration, including serving a three-year term on the firm’s Managing Board and serving as Chair of the Board from January 2004 to July 2005. Jon actively participates in pro bono matters where he represents indigent clients with a variety of legal needs, and serves on the board of Human Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing poverty and homelessness.
When Jon is not in the office, you can often find him on a country road on his road bike or on a mountain trail on his mountain bike. Or he may just be entertaining his grandchildren in Boise, Idaho, where he maintains an office and, of course, a mountain bike.
Representative Matters
Alternative Legal Solutions, Inc. v. Ferman Management Services Corp.
(USDC D.Or.) Summary judgment decision at 2008 WL 65584 — Represented Compli in a breach of contract and trade secret case related to defendants' misuse of Compli's customized software product to develop a competing product. The case settled after we defeated defendants' summary judgment motion.
GT Development Corp. v. Temco Metal Products Company
USDC W.D. Wash. — Following Markman hearing and plaintiff's dismissal of case, obtained substantial award of attorney fees for defendant in patent infringement action.
MSM Investments Company, LLC v. Carolwood Corporation
70 F Supp2d 1044 (N.D. Cal. 1999) — Successfully obtained summary judgment invalidating a patent that client was accused of infringing. Decision was affirmed on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Pacific Scientific v. Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions
Oregon state court — Represented defendant in a trade secret case involving the design and manufacture of handheld and portable particle counters for clean room applications. The client prevailed following a preliminary injunction evidentiary hearing.
Actech v. Thetford Corporation
USDC W.D. Wash. — Represented a manufacturer of recreational vehicle waste disposal systems against a competitor who has wrongfully asserted an invalid patent in the marketplace. The lawsuit sought a declaration of patent invalidity and antitrust violations. The case settled before trial.
CDR Assessment v. CDR International
USDC D. Ok. — Defended international consulting firm against copyright and trademark infringement claims related to a trade book and leadership style assessments. The matter settled after significant discovery and a pending summary judgment motion.
FMC v. Key Technology
Ohio state court — Represented Key Technology in a trade secret case involving the design and manufacture of optical sorters for food industry. The client prevailed following a preliminary injunction evidentiary hearing.
Key Technology v. Heat and Control
AAA arbitration — Represented Key Technology in a breach of contract case involving a license to a distributor/competitor of confidential know-how related to vibratory conveyors. The matter settled after some discovery.
Industrial Adhesives v. Linear Products
USDC D.Or. — Defended a client in a patent infringement lawsuit related to a high-tech machine for applying tempered string to plywood laminations. The case settled after we provided prior art that would invalidate the patent.
Ivey Performance Marketing v. Preston
Oregon state court — Successfully pursued trade secret misappropriation and breach of non-solicitation /non-disclosure claims. Obtained stipulated injunction after significant discovery just prior to the preliminary injunction hearing.
Product Liability Defense
Defended a national wearable device manufacturer against claims that one of its products was dangerously defective. Following an arbitration, we received a complete defense victory.
WordLogic v. Hewlett Packard
(USDC, N.D. Cal.) – Represented WordLogic in copyright infringement and contract dispute involving client's software product.
Blank Apparel v. Michael Fowler
(USDC, D. Or.) – Defended foreign seller of business against trade secret misappropriation, domain name conversion and breach of non-competition agreement. The matter settled favorably after paper discovery but prior to any depositions.
West Coast Tanning & Pacific Beach Tan
(Oregon state court) – Successfully defended a company accused of misappropriating a competitor's trade secrets, including obtaining a judgment dismissing the competitor's claims following a two-week trial.
Jerry Erwin Associates, Inc. v. Brousseau, et al.
(USDC, D. Tex.) – Represented Jerry Erwin and Associates, Inc. against eight defendants who were using the client’s copyrighted architectural plans to develop senior living facilities. The case was settled favorably for all parties with an ongoing business relationship between the client and defendants.
Counterfeiting and Patent Infringement Matter
Representing a Japanese manufacturer of office supplies against a U.S. retailer and Chinese manufacturer in a counterfeiting and design patent infringement matter.
Defense of Distributor Accused of Copyright and Trademark Infringement
Representing a U.S. distributor accused of infringing copyrights and trademarks arising from the purchase and importation of products from a Chinese manufacturer who was licensed to make and sell the products.
Somarakis, Inc. v. Dekker Vacuum Technologies
Representing an international manufacturer of industrial vacuum pumps against a competitor for misappropriating the client's trade secrets and using the trade secrets to interfere with the client's business. The case is filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
G. Loomis, Inc. v. Loomis, et al.
(USDC, W.D. Wash.) – Defended North Fork Composite in a trademark infringement matter against one of world’s foremost experts in the manufacture and design of fishing rods. The case was resolved when the plaintiff dismissed its case and North Fork filed a motion to dismiss.
Entercom v. Alpha Broadcasting
(USDC, D. Or.) – Defended trademark infringement and trade secret claim brought by competitor. The case ultimately settled.
Apeldyn v. Samsung and Sony (USDC Del)
Represents a patent owner to pursue claims that Samsung's and Sony's LCD TVs infringe a patent covering electro-optic technology.
West Coast Tanning v. Pacific Beach Tan
Oregon state court — Successfully defended a company accused of misappropriating a competitor's trade secrets, including obtaining a judgment dismissing the competitor's claims following a two-week trial.
Columbia Helicopters v. Boeing
Represented Columbia Helicopters in a dispute over Boeing’s refusal to sell Boeing helicopter parts to Oregon-based Columbia Helicopters, to allow Columbia to fulfill its contracts to repair Boeing-manufactured military CH-47 Chinook helicopters. To resolve threatened antitrust litigation, Boeing ultimately agreed to recognize Columbia Helicopters as an independent service organization provide Columbia with Boeing parts to perform CH-47 repair services.
VDIC
Horizon Radiology filed a complaint against VDIC in February of 2009 alleging antitrust violations under California law along with other California statutory and common law claims. The matter was resolved by settlement on in May of 2009.
Pixelvision v. Voxtel
(Multnomah County Circuit Court) – Successfully assert claims of breaches of contract and fiduciary duties seeking damages of nearly $4 million arising from failure to deliver securities.
Featured Work
The CLiF Project and Youth, Rights & Justice
It’s often the case that business attorneys shy away from justice-related pro bono work that requires appearing in court. Yet tax attorney Gwen Griffith has learned that stepping out of her lane returns value beyond measure.
Tonkon Torp Wins Dismissal of RICO Claims Attacking Cannabis Industry – First of its Kind in 9th Circuit
Tonkon Torp secured a dismissal of civil RICO claims filed in federal court based on defendants’ involvement in an Oregon Medical Marijuana Program grow operation. Four civil RICO cases have been filed this year in Oregon against nearly 300 businesses and individuals engaged in state-authorized cannabis activity.
Tonkon Torp Leads CamelBak to Victory at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and Federal Circuit
Tonkon Torp has won a significant patent case for its client, CamelBak Products. CamelBak, based in Petaluma, California and founded in 1989, invented the hands-free hydration category and is the global leader in personal hydration gear. In November 2014, CamelBak was sued for patent infringement on a lid assembly for a beverage container that included cleaning features.
Tonkon Torp Helps Human Solutions Secure New Family Shelter Site
Tonkon Torp is proud to have helped Human Solutions navigate a complex financing project to transform a shuttered commercial property into an emergency 24/7 family housing shelter. Find details and more featured cases here.
Tonkon Torp Wins Intellectual Property Judgment for AXTS and Rainier Arms
Jon Stride, lead trial lawyer for Tonkon Torp’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, successfully pursued trademark infringement and counterfeiting claims on behalf of AXTS (Salem, OR) and Rainier Arms. AXTS manufactures high-quality after-market firearm parts. It co-brands the RAPTOR charging handle part for AR 15 rifles with Rainier Arms (Auburn, WA) which is sold throughout the United States.
Community Involvement & Activities
Our Just Future
Member, Board of Directors
CLiF Project
Volunteer Attorney
Multnomah Bar Association
Past Member, CLE Committee
Past Member, Judicial Screening Committee
Oregon State Parks Trust
Past Member, Board of Trustees
Past Treasurer
City Club of Portland
Past Chair, Research Committee
Past Member, Board of Governors
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Former Board Member
Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
American Intellectual Property Law Association
The Best Lawyers in America
2001-2025, Commercial Litigation
2011-2025, Litigation – Intellectual Property
2017, 2019, Lawyer of the Year – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Portland
Chambers USA
2014-2019, Intellectual Property
2010-2013, Litigation: General Commercial Law
Super Lawyers
2014, 2021-2024, Oregon Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation
2009-2010, 2012-2013, 2015-2020, Oregon Super Lawyer – Business Litigation
Benchmark Litigation
2011-2018, Litigation Star
Recent News
46 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Included in 2025 Best Lawyers in America®
Forty-six Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025. Forty-five of the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.
33 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2024 Super Lawyers Lists
Thirty-three Tonkon Torp attorneys in 12 practice areas have been included in the 2024 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists.
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2024 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024. All of the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.
39 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2023 Super Lawyers Lists
Thirty-nine Tonkon Torp attorneys in 12 practice areas have been included in the 2023 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists.
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 53 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2023 List
Fifty-three Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 37 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023. Nearly all the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.
Recent Publications
There’s a New Domain Name in Town: DotAsia
The DotAsia community covers 73 countries in the Asia/Pacific region, including China, Japan, Australia, Philippines, India, Israel, Turkey.
Supreme Court Eliminates Obstacle to Declaratory Relief in Patent Cases
If you are a party to a patent license agreement, the U.S. Supreme Court just made it easier to go to court to test the validity of the patent or whether a licensed product would actually infringe the patent.
Publications & Presentations
Jon has lectured on numerous legal topics including:
- Arbitration
- Trademarks
- Noncompetition Issues
- Copyrights
- Idea Submission
- Patent Law
- Inventions and Trade Secrets
“Whose Idea Was It?” Daily Journal of Commerce, November 2012
“Cutting the Puppet Strings: Discovering Attorney Work Product Through Experts,” OADC Journal, 2008
“Ambush – Waiver of Privilege at Trial: Responsive Strategies and Recommendations for Reform,” OADC Journal, 2007
“Relevant Background Evidence is Swallowing the Rule: Applying FRE 404 in Discrimination Cases,” Litigation Journal, Vol. 25, Number 1, Spring 2005
“ADR: Quick, Easy and Inexpensive — Or Is It?” The Business Journal, 2004
“Personal Jurisdiction In A Foreign Forum: Where Will Your Website Take You?” The Litigation Journal, 2001
“Interpretation and Construction of Contracts.” 1994 Supplement to the Oregon State Bar “Contract Law in Oregon” Continuing Legal Education Handbook