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George Borkowski

Litigation

gborkowski@onellp.com
(650) 999-3967
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Practice Areas
Litigation
Patent Prosecution & Litigation
Patent Prosecution & Counseling
Entertainment Transactions
IP Transactions
IP Prosecution & Counseling
Trademark Prosecution & Counseling

George is a seasoned lawyer with extensive experience representing leading intellectual property, technology, and entertainment clients on diverse issues, both as a litigator and as a trusted strategic advisor. He has deep expertise in copyright, gained from directing seminal cases on behalf of major record companies during a transformational period in the music industry. George has substantial expertise on a broad range of other intellectual property, technology, entertainment, and general business issues in various industries, including trademark, patent, and trade secrets, with an emphasis on high-stakes litigation, both domestic and international.

George was Senior Vice President, Litigation and Legal Affairs, at the Recording Industry Association of American (RIAA), where he directed music industry litigation on behalf of major record labels. George developed and executed litigation strategies on novel copyright and related issues driven by rapidly developing technological changes. George also participated in Copyright Office and Patent and Trademark Office rulemaking proceedings. He oversaw the drafting of amicus briefs to the United States Supreme Court and federal appellate courts on critical intellectual property issues. He also collaborated with government affairs personnel on legislation and worked closely with sister organizations in Europe, Australia, and elsewhere.

Some of George’s notable matters include A&M Records v. Napster, a seminal case establishing secondary copyright liability for online peer-to-peer networks; MGM Studios v. Grokster, a landmark case against decentralized peer-to-peer networks responsible for secondary infringement of copyrights, culminating in a unanimous victory in the United States Supreme Court establishing a legal standard for inducement of copyright infringement; Mattel v. MCA Records, a trademark infringement litigation resulting in a favorable Ninth Circuit ruling establishing important precedent in fair use and parody; Capitol Records v. Sirius XM and Capitol Records v. Pandora Media, major record industry litigation over the public performance right in pre-1972 sound recordings, resulting in a significant settlement and passage of the Music Modernization Act, which extended the protection of pre-1972 sound recordings from state to federal law.

In addition, George has also represented music companies in royalty disputes with artists, including one of the greatest funk performers of all time, represented a renowned photographer in copyright infringement litigation against one of the largest athletic footwear brands in the United States, represented a legendary Formula One racing constructor in an international licensing dispute, represented one of the largest insurance companies in the country in patent litigation brought by a nonpracticing entity over telephone networking technology, represented a major manufacturer of household  products in false advertising litigation against its largest competitor, and represented the music publisher of an iconic American composer in a partnership dispute.

George graduated from The State University of New York at Buffalo Summa Cum Laude and Harvard Law School Magna Cum Laude. After law school, George served as a law clerk to the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

George has moderated or participated on numerous legal panels on intellectual property and technology issues and has been recognized by several legal publications for his expertise.

23 Corporate Plaza Drive, Suite 150
Newport Beach, CA 92660
T:  949.502.2870

400 Corporate Point, Suite 300
Culver City, CA 90230
T: 310.866.5157