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Litigation Counsel, Intellectual Property & Licensing

San Francisco Bay Area

Discord is used by over 200 million people every month for many different reasons, but there’s one thing that nearly everyone does on our platform: play video games. Over 90% of our users play games, spending a combined 1.5 billion hours playing thousands of unique titles on Discord each month. Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We are focused on making it easier and more fun for people to talk and hang out before, during, and after playing games.

We’re seeking an experienced Litigation Counsel, Intellectual Property & Licensing to develop and execute on our strategy regarding patent disputes and IP litigation. This role will be responsible for managing complex patent licensing negotiations, pre-litigation matters, and patent litigation, while also handling third-party trademark and copyright claims. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in technology software patents and a proven track record of successfully managing high-stakes IP matters for technology companies.

What You Will Be Doing

  • Lead patent litigation matters globally from initial assessment through resolution, including coordinating with outside counsel and managing litigation budgets
  • Develop and refine comprehensive patent litigation framework and strategies aligned with business objectives, develop and refine patent licensing strategy, together with outside licensing counsel and, as needed, Discord’s IP team.
  • Handle patent pre-litigation activities including assessments of demands, prior art searches, invalidity analyses, infringement analyses and settlement negotiations
  • Manage, together with outside counsel, incoming patent licensing demands and assertions, including initial assessment, response strategy, and negotiations of patent licensing and, in collaboration with Discord’s IP team, cross-licensing agreements.
  • Handle trade secret litigation and misappropriation claims
  • Handle copyright infringement matters, including Digital Millennium Copyright Act compliance and enforcement actions, and provide guidance regarding and collaborate with cross-functional partners on workflows and policies relating to Discord’s compliance with the DMCA and enforcement of the Copyright and IP Policy applicable to Discord users.
  • Collaborate with Discord’s IP team colleagues responsible for setting and executing on Discord’s IP portfolio and brand protection strategy .

Required Qualifications

  • J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials and active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
  • 7+ years of intellectual property litigation experience, with significant focus on patent matters, including familiarity with international patent litigation 
  • In-house counsel experience at a technology company
  • Experience with technology patents covering software, networking, real-time communications including video technologies, or gaming 
  • Strategic mindset that balances proactive protection with pragmatic risk management within resource constraints
  • Proven ability to translate complex IP concepts into concise, actionable advice for engineering teams and cross-functional executive leadership

Preferred Qualifications

  • Patent bar admission (USPTO registration)
  • Experience with standard essential patents (SEPs) and FRAND licensing
  • Background in gaming, social media, or communications technologies
  • Experience with IP aspects of open source software and developer platforms
  • Experience in patent licensing negotiations  

"Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties). Relocation assistance may be available.” 

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $248,000 to $279,000 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity, or benefits.

Why Discord? 

Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We're a multiplatform, multigenerational and multiplayer platform that helps people deepen their friendships around games and shared interests. We believe games give us a way to have fun with our favorite people, whether listening to music together or grinding in competitive matches for diamond rank. Join us in our mission! Your future is just a click away!

Please see our Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy for details regarding Discord’s collection and usage of personal information relating to the application and recruitment process by clicking HERE.

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