Goodwin Procter helps clients acquire, manage, protect and commercialize copyright assets. We focus on the intellectual property and legal issues presented by classical copyright issues, as well as those created by emerging technologies, and help clients develop and implement strategies to address these issues proactively.

We structure and execute complex development, assignment and licensing agreements, regularly addressing ownership issues, such as “work made for hire,” to ensure clients have the necessary combination of rights to protect and exploit copyrighted materials.

Our litigation attorneys litigate infringement disputes at all judicial levels, and have extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration and mediation. We have even argued cases before the Chinese Copyright Tribunal.

As a component of an overall intellectual property strategy, our copyright work addresses all aspects of registration, tracking and renewal of copyrights. We provide counsel on critical matters such as implementation of the fair use doctrine and “clean room” practices, the legal issues involved in reverse engineering of software and other technology, and the proper use of copyright notices. We also help clients evaluate whether particular materials may be in the public domain.

The 1998 enactment of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) represents the most comprehensive reform of U.S. copyright law in a generation. In addition to our counseling function related to copyright legislation generally, we counsel clients on the DMCA’s provisions concerning the circumvention of copyright protection systems, “fair use” in a digital environment, safe harbors, online service provider liability and “notice and takedown” procedures.

Contacts: Stephen G. Charkoudian and Ira J. Levy