Expert Witness
Dr. Diana Hawkins Manuelian provides clear, research-grounded testimony on the technologies and business practices that shape personalized media, interactive television, and user-interface design. Drawing on more than 25 years of hands-on product development and academic scholarship, she translates complex technical details into language that judges and juries understand.
Disney v. ACTV
Pennie & Edmond, New York
Validity and infringement issues in early interactive-television patents
- Analyzed claim charts and prior-art references to assess novelty and obviousness of synchronization algorithms and metadata schemas
- Conducted lab demonstrations showing how user events were processed in competing systems (ABC Enhanced TV vs. HyperTV)
- Authored a 90-page expert report distilling technical distinctions for non-engineer fact-finders
- Sat for deposition and prepared counsel for cross-examination of opposing experts
Outcome / Impact
Case settled after Markman hearing; Disney licensed portions of ACTV’s technology for ESPN and ABC “Enhanced TV” roll-outs. Dr. Hawkins Manuelian’s report was cited in settlement discussions as clarifying scope of enforceable claims.
Amazon.com v. Barnes & Noble
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, New York
Comparative analysis of e-commerce UI and one-click purchasing workflows
- Reconstructed both parties’ purchase workflows, mapping GUI steps to patent claim elements
- Performed timing tests on cookie-based session persistence versus Amazon’s patented single-action ordering
- Provided declaration explaining how consumer-behavior research influenced UI choices and why certain steps constituted “a separate confirmation” under the patent language
online option
Outcome / Impact
Amazon obtained an initial injunction; BN’s accelerated appeal led to partial reversal and a remand. The parties later reached confidential settlement terms. Dr. Hawkins Manuelian’s usability analysis was referenced in the appellate briefing to illustrate functional—and psychological—differences between the two systems.
Why Attorneys Choose Diana
Media background
Firsthand knowledge from co-founding and advising multiple video-tech startups.
Academic credibility
Harvard Ed.D. and MIT post-doctoral research on interactive media.
Clear communication
Proven ability to simplify intricate systems for non-technical audiences.
Balanced perspective
Experience on both plaintiff and defense teams across IP and licensing disputes.