Shawn K. Leppo
Helps businesses protect and leverage innovation. Guides IP protection and portfolio strategy. Advises on patent risk avoidance, enforcement, and transactions.
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Copyright protects the expression of original content by a creator. We help clients establish ownership, obtain registrations, manage use, commercialize their work, and respond when rights are challenged.
Our focus
Copyright questions often begin with ownership. Businesses may commission creative work without clearly defining who holds the rights and where the law assigns those rights by default, depending on a variety of factors. We help clients clarify ownership and establish appropriate protections from the outset.
Our attorneys advise on copyright registration, licensing, and the use of protected works. We also counsel clients on fair use, rights clearance, and the use of third-party content in marketing, websites, software, publications, and other materials.
Copyright assets frequently play a role in commercial relationships and business transactions. We draft and negotiate licenses, development agreements, and other contracts that govern how content may be created, shared, modified, or distributed. When copyrights are part of a merger, acquisition, or investment, we help confirm ownership and identify restrictions that could affect their value.
When a client receives an infringement claim or discovers unauthorized use, we assess the work and the available response. Some matters can be resolved through negotiation or licensing, while others require enforcement or defense in federal court.
We advise clients that create, publish, license, or use original content, including:
- Businesses and nonprofit organizations
- Educational and research institutions
- Marketing and advertising teams
- Technology and software companies
- Publishers and media organizations
- Creators, authors, artists, and photographers
- Website owners and digital-content providers
- Buyers, sellers, and investors evaluating intellectual property assets
Our work includes:
- Copyright ownership and authorship
- Copyright registration
- Work-made-for-hire and assignment agreements
- Copyright licenses
- Content development and creative-services agreements
- Software and technology agreements
- Website and digital content matters
- Fair-use analysis
- Rights clearance and use of third-party content
- Advertising, marketing, and social media content
- Copyright due diligence in business transactions
- Infringement demand letters and negotiated resolutions
- Copyright enforcement and defense
- Federal court litigation
Key Contacts
Brian Gregg
Represents businesses on IP protection and licensing. Advises on trademark, copyright, franchising, technology, and artificial intelligence matters.
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