Intellectual Property & Internet

The firm works with many of its nonprofit clients on a variety of publishing and media matters.  We advise on copyright, libel, invasion of privacy, and licensing issues, and draft contracts for all phases of media projects, including print, audio, film, television, and multi-media.  We also negotiate with major publishers and producers for the sale and distribution of the publications and subsidiary works of our nonprofit clients.  The firm drafts and negotiates licensing and royalty agreements involving corporate assets and intellectual property.  In addition, the firm advises nonprofit clients on trademark and trade name protection, prosecutes trademark applications before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and has litigated infringement claims on behalf of our clients.  Gail Ross, co-author of The Writer's Lawyer: Essential Legal Advice for Writers and Editors in All Media, and Laura Possessky take the lead on the firm's work in this area.

We assist nonprofits on many facets of dealing with the exploding world of the Internet.  We represent several clients whose mission is to address policy issues arising from new technologies.  We also negotiate contracts for creating and servicing World Wide Web sites, ranging from those for individual organizations to complex forums sponsored by numerous nonprofits.  We handle disputes over domain names and advise on protection of trademarks and service marks used in electronic media.  We counsel on the application of traditional laws and regulations to lobbying and political activities carried out on the Internet and to charitable solicitation on the Internet.  As part of the firm's publishing practice, we also negotiate the sale of electronic and related rights and advise on libel and other liability issues as applied to on-line publishing.