Copyright

The copyright matters that we handle include infringement, litigation, ownership disputes, licensing, publishing, distribution and related transactions, legislative and regulatory policy analysis, royalty negotiations, and applications for registration. Virtually all of HKW lawyers have counseled clients in copyright matters and participated in copyright litigation, including federal jury trials and appeals.

Registration

Most of HKW’s clients handle their own copyright registrations because, unlike with trademarks and patents, the registration process is not an adversarial process, and the cost of attempting to register is negligible. In some cases, we have been asked to assist in the process of registering, usually where the work in question is unusual, or where there are complexities in the circumstances of authorship of the work in question. Above all, we do counsel clients to consider filing for copyright protection through registrations in order to protect their rights to the fullest extent under U.S. Copyright Law.

Licensing and Related Counseling

HKW counts among its clients some of the most technologically sophisticated firms in the U.S. As a result, HKW is frequently asked to consult, and in some cases, provide legal opinions on matters relating to copyright licensing, particularly in the field of licensing computer software.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

HKW attorneys have been actively involved in copyright trials and appeals. For example, HKW attorneys have handled two successful copyright appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. We have also managed international copyright litigation for our clients that have this need.

Copyright Practice Group:

Steven G. Hill
Douglas R. Kertscher
Scott A. Wharton
Blake H. Frye

Major Cases:

Urantia Foundation v. Maaherra, 114 F.3d 655 (9th Cir. 1997)

Michael Foundation v. Urantia Foundation, 2003 WL 986723 (10th Circ. 2003