Overview

Ray specializes in the procurement and enforcement of intellectual property. With over twenty-one years of legal experience and over seven years of engineering experience, Ray has advised and resolved complex intellectual property matters. Patent infringement, trademark opposition litigation, freedom-to-practice opinions, non-infringement opinions, patent preparation and prosecution matters, trademark preparation and prosecution matters, intellectual property licensing and patent portfolio management, are a few of his practice areas. 

Ray has counseled and advised some of the largest Automotive Companies and original equipment manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive industry. Prior to establishing Vivacqua Law, now Vivacqua Crane, Ray was an intellectual property attorney at some of the largest firms in the Midwest. Over his career, Ray has successfully defended claims of infringement saving his clients millions of dollars in potential damages and has created intellectual property assets that have been the subject of multi-million dollar licensing deals. Moreover, Ray’s portfolio management counseling and patent procurement strategies have secured intellectual property assets that have enabled his clients to hold leadership positions in their respective industries. 

While our firm does not routinely provide litigation services, we have counseled clients regarding litigation. Additionally, Ray has participated a jury trial in an intellectual property matter, settled intellectual property litigation matters, and provided local council assistance for intellectual property matters.

Before attending law school, Ray was a product design and release engineer at Ford Motor Company where he designed the crash sensing and airbag actuation system. Ray also worked for Kelsey-Hayes as an anti-lock brake sensor engineer where he implemented design changes that significantly improved the reliability and performance of the anti-lock brake sensors. While attending law school, Ray worked as an electronic sensor system engineer for Allied Signal, where he was responsible for the design and release of the single point sensing system for actuating vehicle airbags in Fiats and other foreign automobiles. Ray is an inventor on several automotive safety related patents.