Copyright Infringement
In the copyright arena, our lawyers have represented numerous clients in high profile cases that have tested the boundaries of copyright law, from the clash between intellectual property rights and First Amendment interests, the scope of fair use rights on the internet, and the application of foreign copyright law in American courts to the limits of the work-for-hire doctrine, the exercise of copyright termination rights and the boundaries of the first sale doctrine. Our clients include major Hollywood studios, producers, screenwriters, artists, architects, musicians, computer programmers, publishers and photography agencies.
Some of our more notable copyright litigation experience includes:
- Representing Hollywood photography agency X17 in an infringement and misappropriation suit against prominent celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton
- Defending Chuck DeVore, a candidate for the United States Senate, against infringement claims by Don Henley of The Eagles over a politically themed song parody
- Representing renowned artist Josh Agle (aka Shag) in claims of copyright infringement against several multinational corporations
- Defending the creator of a well-known peer-to-peer client against infringement claims leveled by Kazaa, the world’s largest peer-to-peer file trading system at the time
- Representing Wall Street Reporter in claims of copyright infringement against several multinational corporations
- Defending a leading publisher of university coursepackets against infringement claims by the world’s largest academic presses
- Representing a songwriter in an infringement suit against best-selling hip-hop superstar Daddy Yankee and Universal Records
- Defending a celebrity architect in an infringement suit involving two multi-million dollar Tuscan mansions
- Representing studio New Line Cinema in a title dispute over a forthcoming summer blockbuster
- Defending a Hollywood producer and agent in a copyright ownership dispute over a contested literary property
- Representing a British recording label in a copyright ownership dispute over the rights to the last major concert recorded by Jimi Hendrix
Our lawyers have served as expert witnesses in several copyright infringement suits. We have counseled numerous clients through the thorny minefield of fair use issues in the digital age and the challenges posed by such recent legislation as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Our lawyers have also successfully litigated copyright licensing-related disputes for entertainment, media, and hi-tech clients. All told, our copyright experience runs the full gamut of protected works, from such traditional subject matter as music, literature, art, photography, film and television to such novel subject matter as computer object and source code, web pages, and architecture.
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