Ambika Kumar Doran

Representing national media and licensors of photographic imagery in amicus brief challenging district court's ruling that the subject of a photograph may assert a viable right-of-publicity claim based merely on a licensor's offer to license the copyright in the photograph. (9th Circuit Ongoing)

Defending the free speech rights of the Yes Men against trademark claims filed after the Yes Men performed a political parody of the Chamber's controversial position on global climate change. USDC D.C. 09cv0214 (Ongoing)

Secured dismissal of libel by implication claim brought against local television station stemming from investigative report about halfway house’s requirement that its residents–some of them criminals–perform door-to-door solicitations on its behalf. Representing station in appeal. (Wash. App. Ongoing)

Represented Accor Technology, Inc., manufacturer of plumbing valves, in lawsuit against competitor alleging trademark infringement. Case successfully settled. (W.D. Wash. 2011)

In arbitration, successfully obtained dismissal of breach of contract claim arising from statement made in the defendant’s book. Arbitrator found that anti-SLAPP statute applied and dismissed the complaint because it failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. (2011)

Obtained dismissal of defamation and related claims and award of attorneys' fees and costs under Washington's recently enacted anti-SLAPP statute, where claims arose from statements a public employee allegedly made to her superiors, a co-worker, and a local television station. 2011 WL 219671, 39 Media L. Rep. 1601 (W.D.Wash. 2011)

Represented crash sled patent holder in a patent infringement, breach of contract, and unfair competition litigation against former contractor. Won partial summary judgment of infringement; case settled. (W.D. Wash. 2011)

Represented manufacturer of architectural glass in lawsuit against former distributor alleging trademark infringement. Case successfully settled. (2011)

Defended Amazon.com against privacy claims raised by subject of book that was self-published by third parties through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing program. Court found Amazon.com immune from liability under Section 230, granting its motion for judgment on the pleadings. (2011)

Handled clearance of expanded use of prior-used trademark for entire operations and business name, with registration of marks and addressing of potential conflicts via proceedings and/or negotiation of agreements. (2010-2011)

Represented Rawlings, a major sporting goods manufacturer, in litigation arising from competitor's use of trademark in advertising and promotional materials. After the court entered a preliminary injunction ordering competitor to stop and issue corrective notices, the case successfully settled. (2011)

Successfully defended award-winning investigative reporting center, its veteran reporter, and the San Francisco Chronicle in libel action brought by an Alaska Native Corporation challenging news article that raised questions about its receipt of millions in federal stimulus money for a construction project in Napa Valley. The bulk of Suulutaaq's implication claims were dismissed by the Court as a matter of law, after which Suulutaaq voluntarily dismissed the action with prejudice. __ F. Supp. 2d __, 2010 WL 6243320 (D. Alaska 2011)

Represented major news provider before administrative law judge in NLRB proceeding in effort to ensure procedure regarding sealed documents comported with First Amendment right of access. Judge issued opinion recognizing that right applied even in the context of a federal administrative proceeding, a subject on which federal appellate courts are split. (2011)

Defended the U.K., Canadian, and U.S. publishers of Penguin Books, and their corporate parent, against a copyright infringement claim in Alaska arising from use of photo on the cover of a book that had not been published or sold in the U.S. The case settled satisfactorily after extensive jurisdictional discovery and filing and arguing a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. (D. Alaska 2010)

Represented the world's leading provider of stock photography in arbitration and litigation with two image partners regarding Getty Images' licensing of their images through a new product. The case centered on the image partners' claims that Getty Images breached its contracts with them and violated their, and their contributors', copyrights by licensing the images. After significant discovery and motion practice, the case settled satisfactorily. (2010)