Client Services / Intellectual Property, Media & Technology / Legislation - IP, Media & Tech

Legislation - IP, Media & Tech

Our lawyers offer representation on related and ancillary issues and proceedings in industry standards groups, trade associations, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office and U.S. delegations to the World Intellectual Property Organization. The services we provide to our clients include, planning industry coalition campaigns for or against legislative proposals; drafting Congressional testimony, preparation of witnesses, and delivery of testimony when appropriate; counseling and intervention in industry standard and FCC proceedings pertinent to legislative intellectual property objectives; representing clients in administrative rulemaking proceedings before the Copyright Office; and organization, planning and governance of legislative coalitions.

The legislative projects undertaken by our lawyers include long-term involvement in coalitions and licensing entities with respect to home recording issues, the transition to digital television, and regulatory issues posed by the Internet. The legislation our lawyers have helped shape includes the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992, the Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act of 1995, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (re cable compatibility), the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, and the Music Online Competition Act (introduced August 2001). Our lawyers are continually involved in ongoing activities and issues related to legislation, including the Copy Protection Technical Working Group, technology licensing for digital home networks, FCC resolution of licensing issues bearing on cable compatibility of consumer electronics and computer devices, resolution of royalty issues as to internet radio, prospective legislation as to the DTV transition and prospective legislation addressing consumer fair use rights. Our lawyers also are retained to provide ongoing monitoring and analytical services as to legislative and administrative intellectual property, media and technology issues.

Contacts

Intellectual Property, Media & Technology Client Services

McDermott Will & Emery

McDermott Will and Emery