2:2018-cv-00114 (C.D. Cal. July 11, 2018), aff’d 753 Fed. Appx. 501 (9th Cir. 2019)
We obtained judgment on the pleadings for Defendant AMC Networks in connection with a claim concerning the use of a hip-hop concept for television program. The 9th Circuit affirmed.More
802 F.3d 1012 (9th Cir. 2015), cert. denied, 136 S.Ct. 1390 (2016)
On behalf of client DC Comics, the Firm prevailed in a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit holding that the Batmobile, Batman’s famous car, was subject to copyright protection as a character.More
2018 WL 3529479, Opp. No. 91200616, Canc. No. 92053622 (T.T.A.B. July 19, 2018)
After a seven-year battle before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the Firm prevailed on behalf of client UMG Recordings, Inc. (“UMG”)—owner of the JACKSON 5 trademark—in its challenge to an attempt to register the mark J5 for clothing and related merchandise by Siggy Music,More
The firm was part of the defense team for clients Time Warner Inc., Warner Communications, Inc., Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. and DC Comics in the ongoing litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California over the copyright termination interest in certain works featuring the Superman and Superboy characters allegedly owned by the heirs of co-creator,More
430 F.3d 1036 (9th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 2969 (2006)
In the first judicial treatment of the new termination right enacted in the U.S. Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, 17 U.S.C. § 304 (d), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s decision rejecting an attempt by Disney and Clare Milne to cut off client Stephen Slesinger,More
483 F.3d 150 (2d Cir. 2007)
In case of first impression involving restored copyrights in works of foreign authors, won affirmance of preliminary injunction on behalf of owner of U.S. copyright in the famous Good Luck Troll doll against distributor of Wish-nik dolls, successfully arguing that defendant was not a reliance party entitled to continue selling copies of the Good Luck Troll because 9-year gap in sales showed it did not make continuous exploitation of the work from before it was restored.More
2015 WL 4464694, Opp. No. 91194716 (T.T.A.B. July 17, 2015)
On behalf of DC Comics, the Firm successfully opposed two applications to register GOTHAM BATMEN and a batwing design in connection with entertainment and business networking services. In sustaining the opposition, the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board held that BATMAN was “a famous mark in connection with .More
82 U.S.P.Q.2d 1319 (S.D.N.Y. 2007); No. 01 Civ. 3192 (CLB) (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 11, 2001), aff’d, 2002 WL 31303241 (2d Cir. Oct. 11, 2002)
The Firm successfully defended Cab Calloway’s grandson, Christopher Brooks, against multiple attempts by his step-grandmother, her family, and their company to prevent him from performing his grandfather’s music under the name “The Cab Calloway Orchestra.”More
Opp. No. 91224082 (T.T.A.B. July 26, 2017)
The Firm prevailed in an opposition brought by a company affiliated with the seminal hip-hop group Cypress Hill against an application to register the mark GREENE THUMB in connection with music based on our client’s rights in the mark DR. GREENTHUMB.More
No. B153518, 2003 WL 1861585 (Cal. App. 2d Dist. Apr 11, 2003)
We successfully defended an appeal in the California Court of Appeal of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.’s lower court victory dismissing the claims of American First Run Studios. American First Run had claimed that Disney’s 1994 animated “Tarzan”More
