Media
Our Media Practice team has comprehensive experience assisting a broad range of clients involved in the video, audio, print, and multimedia space. Our team understands this highly competitive, innovative, and fast-paced technology-driven industry, and we have the knowledge and experience to provide solid and forward-thinking representation for first-impression, precedent-setting business and legal issues that our clients face daily.
Our team possesses business and legal experience representing clients in radio, television, broadband, cable, and wireless broadcasting, including the creators, operators, and investors in emerging, non-traditional distribution channels for digital content, such as video on demand, wireless devices, webcasting, streaming video, and interactive games and television.
We provide counsel to authors and publishers of various literary and periodic publications, including novels, trade and educational publications and materials, newspapers, and magazines. From development through publication and beyond, our team successfully assists our clients in navigating through the legal and business obstacles unique to the publishing industry.
We also represent creative and innovative companies in the visual arts, including stock photography, publication, media, and marketing, including photographers, agencies, and other industry professionals.
Litigation:
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Copyright and trademark protection, enforcement and defense, infringement actions, right of publicity, false light, inappropriate use of name and likeness, and defamation and disparagement.
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Professional liability claims, including breach of fiduciary duty, First Amendment, censorship, privacy, and public figure implications.
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Employment liability claims, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, breach of contract, breach of restrictive covenants for competition, hiring, or distribution of confidential information.
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Commercial litigation involving breach of contract, performance or production delay or interruption, disputes over rights and obligations with respect to ownership, rights, and royalties.
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Crisis management and public relations counsel.
Intellectual Property:
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Advising individuals and companies on intellectual property rights, copyright content protection, social media, and rights to privacy and publicity matters.
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Global intellectual property issues, including domestic and foreign registration, protection, clearance, and enforcement litigation.
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Representation and protection of brands, talent, and product placement and publicity arrangements.
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Data privacy.
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Digital content ownership, delivery, production, sale, and licensing.
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Software licensing.
Employment:
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Negotiating employment agreements for media industry executives, writers, publishers, distributors, agents, consultants, and managers.
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Representation of a variety of media organizations for employee, consultant, and contractor hiring programs including:
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Drafting and negotiating offer letters, independent contractor and executive agreements, agency agreements, resolving employee disputes, and creating employment manuals, policies and procedures.
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Handling employee terminations, transitions, and misconduct claims; compensation and contract disputes; harassment and discrimination prevention and defense; non-compete and other restrictive covenants.
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Protection of ownership of materials and trade secrets created for your company.
Business Transactions and Contract Negotiations:
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Technology transfers and licensing.
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Business entity formation and governance.
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Capital raising and securities compliance.
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Development, distribution, management, and publishing agreements.
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Rights agreements, including literary options, purchase agreements, and life story rights agreements.
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Media entity formation.
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Mergers and acquisitions.
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Financial facility negotiation.
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Regulatory compliance.