Silverline Legal

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405-353-0869
Silverline Legal

405-353-0869

Silverline Legal Operates Where Clients' Technology And Legal Interests Intersect

Oklahoma Copyright Infringement Lawyer: Assertive Protection For Software Assets

Has a competitor or a former developer copied your source code, SaaS architecture or digital content unlawfully? Do you face accusations of infringing on a competitor or former employer’s intellectual property? If so, you need a fast legal response. Silverline Legal represents individuals and business entities in Oklahoma and nationwide.

Our software litigation attorneys, Tynia McQuigg, Drew Palmer and Josh Burns, bring more than 50 combined years of legal practice. As a small firm, we eliminate the friction, excessive overhead and rigid bureaucracy of traditional big law. You work directly with partner attorneys who leverage modern technology to protect your proprietary software and stop infringement swiftly. Tynia McQuigg was named the 2026 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Copyright Law in Oklahoma City, and Drew Palmer was named the 2027 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Technology Law in Oklahoma City.

Providing Sophisticated Software Litigation And Copyright Enforcement

We represent technology companies, software developers and digital content creators in complex federal copyright infringement and software litigation cases such as:

  • Software copyright theft
  • SaaS platform copying
  • Open-source compliance violations
  • Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedowns
  • Infringement on social media and online marketplaces

Our intellectual property attorneys litigate claims under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 501. They know how to conduct thorough source code audits to show nonliteral copying and find infringing derivative works. Partner Drew Palmer argued the Tenth Circuit appeal in Paycom Payroll, LLC v. Richison, 758 F.3d 1198 (10th Cir. 2014), where the court vacated an infringement finding against his clients because the analysis did not apply the abstraction-filtration-comparison test the Tenth Circuit requires for software. Partner Tynia McQuigg also represented an Instagram content creator in JulieKay, Inc. v. Nars Cosmetics, Inc. (N.D. Okla.), a federal copyright and right of publicity case over a national cosmetics brand’s use of her video. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. When competitors pirate proprietary systems, our SaaS copyright lawyers in Oklahoma City can file emergency federal lawsuits to stop unauthorized distribution.

Can You Sue For Software Code Theft If You Have Not Registered Your Copyright?

You own the copyright in original source code the moment you write it. Under 17 U.S.C. § 411(a), however, you must register a copyright before you can file an infringement lawsuit. You cannot sue until the U.S. Copyright Office issues a formal registration certificate or refuses your application. Registration gives you a great deal of leverage. If you register your code before infringement occurs or within three months of publication, you can seek statutory damages and attorney fees. Our Oklahoma copyright infringement lawyers can request expedited registration from the Copyright Office before filing a federal lawsuit.

What Is The Difference Between Trade Secret Theft And Copyright Infringement When Someone Steals Software Code?

The basic differences are as follows:

  • Copyright law: Protects the tangible expression of your software code, including specific lines of source code and user interface elements. It stops competitors from copying or redistributing your code, even if the code is publicly available.
  • Trade secret law: Protects underlying concepts, proprietary algorithms and commercial ideas under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1836, and the Oklahoma Uniform Trade Secrets Act, 78 O.S. § 85. Trade secret claims require that you use reasonable security measures to keep data confidential.

We often combine both legal claims in federal court lawsuits for maximum protection of your software.

How Do DMCA Takedown Notices Work For Proprietary Software And Digital Content Hosted Online?

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act allows you to remove infringing materials from online servers and third-party cloud hosts. To do this, we draft and serve takedown notices to internet service providers, host platforms and software repositories. The host must promptly remove or disable access to the infringing material to keep its safe harbor protection. If the infringer files a counter-notification, the host may restore the material in 10 to 14 business days unless you file suit, so we prepare the federal court filing needed to keep it down.

Discuss Software Copyright Enforcement And Defense With An Oklahoma Copyright Infringement Attorney

Defend your digital intellectual property rights in federal court with our experienced team at Silverline Legal.  We deliver strategic, cost-effective advocacy designed to safeguard your corporate assets. To set up a consultation, please call our Oklahoma City-area office in Edmond at 405-353-0869 or send us an email today.