Our attorneys have decades of experience in the areas of communications, media, information technology and intellectual property. We represent clients across all media, from traditional print media and established electronic mass media to the next generation of technology. We have received a No. 1 ranking in Media Law and First Amendment from “Best Lawyers in America,” and our nationwide media group has received an Award for Excellence from Chambers USA. Many of our individual lawyers also have been named as “America's Leading Lawyers” in their communications and media specialties by Chambers USA, and have been awarded the highest recognitions from the industries they serve. Our lawyers have worked as professional journalists, engineers and lawyers in these industries, as well as for the government agencies that regulate them. With these capabilities, we offer a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses.
Our clients
We represent clients across the media spectrum, including:
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Book publishers and authors
- Television and radio broadcasters
- Electronic publishers
- Cable television service providers
- Cable network programmers
- Film producers and distributors
- Theater professionals
- Telephone companies
- Telecommunications companies
- Wireless service providers
- Software and hardware developers and distributors
- E-commerce technology services
- Video game creators and publishers
- Technology procurement professionals
- Health care technology users and providers
- Webcasters
- Bloggers
- Other online creators
Media expertise
Our lawyers have expertise in established areas of media law, including:
- All aspects of acquiring and clearing rights, producing content, and protecting copyrights and intellectual property
- First Amendment protection and constitutional rights
- Defamation and privacy
- Misappropriation and rights of publicity
- Government regulation of “indecency” and other content
- Journalists’ access to information
- Reporters’ privileges
- Prior restraints
- Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP)
- Around-the-clock pre-publication and pre-broadcast content review
- Commercial agreements and workplace rules
- Advertising and NAD
Network expertise
We also have tremendous depth of experience in issues affecting cable television, broadcast, telecommunications, wireless communications and Internet, including:
- System deployment and operating rights (licenses, franchises, easements, tower siting, poles and infrastructure, access to premises and interconnection)
- Deals for the acquisition or sale of network ownership interests
- Competitive marketing and pricing issues
- Regulations and commercial agreements affecting broadcast television, telecommunications, cable television, wireless, voice over IP, navigation devices and the Internet, from basic compliance to strategic alliances and planning for regulatory battles on the horizon
- Piracy, theft of service, content and copy protections
- Lobbying and shaping of state and federal legislation and regulation
- State and local taxes and fees imposed on network revenues and services
- Federal pre-emption of state and local regulation
- Litigation with government and competitors, in federal and state courts, and before the FCC, PSCs, FTC, Justice Department, PTO and Copyright Office
- Counseling for operations and compliance
- International operations
Technology and digital media expertise
Our lawyers are leaders in developing strategies, agreements and practices for existing and emerging technologies, including:
- Software and technology development, collaboration, licensing and transfers
- Procurement agreements for software, equipment and professional services, including outsourcing
- E-commerce technology services and electronic payment systems
- Software as a service, hosting and co-location deals
- OEM and other volume licensing and channel distribution agreements for domestic and international deals
- Data security
- Privacy regulation and protection
- User-generated content
- Social networking
- Cross-platform and repurposed media
- Advanced and interactive advertising, co-promotion and sponsorships
- Music licensing
- Domain name disputes
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