OVERVIEW   |   LITIGATION   |   TRANSACTIONS   |   ENTERTAINMENT

Overview

Our Intellectual Property group works as a strategic business partner to help clients of all sizes protect, monetize, and defend their intellectual work and creative endeavors. Our team has decades of collective experience in representing individuals and companies of all sizes across most industries in complex patent, trademark, trade secrets, copyright, entertainment, and other matters.

This includes technology companies, businesses engaged in manufacturing, distribution and retail, hospitality and entertainment, agriculture, food and beverage, authors, artists and entertainers, entrepreneurs, and many others.

When our clients are threatened by allegations of infringement or breach of contract suits or pursuing action against someone who has infringed upon their rights, we take an aggressive stance on litigation to protect their interests.

Litigation

We help clients protect the valuable work and intellectual property into which they have invested their time, energy, and resources. Our team works closely with senior leadership to analyze the opportunities and risks of each matter that arise, develop a litigation strategy that aligns with broader business goals, and execute that plan to achieve the desired outcome.

We have extensive experience litigating matters, representing claimants and defendants across numerous industries consumer products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, manufacturing, distribution and retail, hospitality, insurance, and media and entertainment. Our team has litigated in numerous U.S. District Courts.

Media & Entertainment Litigation

We represent clients across all facets of the media and entertainment industry, including artists, agents, producers, managers, writers, entrepreneurs, and companies involved in film, TV, recording, advertising, digital services, gaming, and catalogue publishing. We work with clients on entity formation, brand recognition, transactions, contracts, copyright, trademark, due diligence, defamation, First Amendment issues, and new and emerging technologies.

Patent Litigation

Defending patented work can be one of the most valuable — and often overlooked — ways to enhance the value of that intellectual property. Our team provides legal, business, and technical guidance to help clients leverage and monetize their patented assets.

Post-Grant Proceedings

We represent clients in post-grant proceedings such as inter partes review (IPR) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board that challenge the validity of patent claims.

Technology Litigation

Litigating complex technology disputes presents unique challenges, and our attorneys have technical degrees in fields such as computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics. Our previous career experience in software development and design, database systems, Internet architecture, manufacturing, textiles, and telecommunications gives us valuable insights into the technical aspects of technology litigation.

Trademark & Copyright Litigation

We counsel clients on brand strategy, due diligence, registrability opinions, registration, trademark policing, licensing, and asset and technology transfer. Our team has closed thousands of trademark, copyright, and entertainment deals for businesses, and we are active members of various industry societies including NARAS, CMA, and industry non-profit organizations.

Trade Secrets Litigation

Shortened product cycles and job-hopping by employees have raised the stakes in trade secrets claims, and our team works closely with clients to protect their trade secrets and litigate matters that threaten their intellectual assets.

View Our Intellectual Property Litigation Team

Transactions

Understanding, protecting, and monetizing the value of intellectual assets requires a strategic, thoughtful, and purposeful approach. We assist clients with all types of intellectual property transactions including assignments, licensing, copyright, trademark and patent portfolio analysis and valuation, due diligence, trademark and copyright application registration and maintenance, and trade secret protection.

Assignments

We assist clients with acquiring or transferring intellectual property rights (copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets), including deal negotiation and contract drafting.

Due Diligence Review

Our team has extensive experience in IP due diligence, including researching existing bodies of patented, trademarked, or copyrighted works and writing opinions on validity and invalidity.

Infringement/Non-Infringement Opinions & Analysis

We help clients save time and money by advising them on whether there is an infringement to be pursued, defended, or otherwise resolved.

IP Portfolio Analysis & Valuation

Our attorneys have analyzed, valued, and managed IP portfolios for many businesses, including the patent portfolios of major technology companies, and bring valuable insights and first-hand experience to this unique area of IP law.

Licensing

We help clients negotiate favorable terms, pricing, and contracts to license their patented, trademarked, and copyrighted assets as well as negotiate rights to market products licensed from others.

View Our Intellectual Property Transactions Team

Entertainment

Our Entertainment Law team represents individuals and companies across the entire industry and on all sides of transactions. We work with artists, producers, managers, talent agents, entrepreneurs, and companies involved in music, film, TV, recording, digital streaming, advertising, on-line services, gaming, intellectual property exploitation, publishing catalog transactions, due diligence, and both new and emerging technologies.

Entity Formation

We assist clients on day-to-day needs such as forming new entities and choosing a structure that limits liability.

Brand Strategy

Our team counsels clients on brand strategy and protecting brands, registrability opinions, copyright and trademark services, licensing, and policing.

Litigation

We aggressively litigate claims of infringement including copyright, trademark, right of publicity, defamation, advertising, First Amendment, cyber, and insurance.

Opportunity Assessment

We work closely with clients to protect their business interests and ensure fair monetization or compensation on a wide variety of proposed transactions, contracts, and other business endeavors.

View Our Intellectual Property Entertaiment Team

Leadership

Karl Braun

Karl Braun

Partner | Nashville Office

T: 615.313.9911
E: kbraun@hallboothsmith.com

Joel Henry

Joel Henry

Partner | Missoula Office

T: 406.317.0082
E: joelhenry@hallboothsmith.com

Full Team

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