Entertainment — Recent Engagements

Orrick has been engaged in matters involving traditional motion pictures, television and music, online video and music, video games on every platform, animation, visual and sound effects and content distribution through both digital and conventional channels. Orrick has particular experience in legal issues involving the Internet, software, digital content and other new media, and our depth also extends to all aspects of traditional entertainment law as well. Examples of Entertainment matters we have handled include:

Videogame

• LucasArts. Orrick represented LucasArts in a trademark action to prevent unauthorized use of its corporate logo and defended it in a videogame-related trademark action involving the term "Starfighter." Orrick has also advised LucasArts regarding videogame licensing and distribution agreements and patent-related matters.
• Sony Online Entertainment, Inc. Orrick represents Sony Online Entertainment in a copyright, trademark and contract action involving videogames related to the motion picture Starship Troopers.
• Sennari Entertainment, Inc. Orrick advises Sennari, a leading provider of mobile entertainment products and services, on corporate, transactional, financing, licensing and intellectual property matters. Orrick has also represented Sennari in litigation regarding a license dispute.
• NVIDIA Corporation. Orrick advises NVIDIA on numerous intellectual property matters related to its industry-leading graphics processing technology. Orrick has represented NVIDIA in commercial litigation matters and provided employment advice as well.
• Microsoft Corporation. Orrick has advised Microsoft on patent and transactional matters relating to its X-Box videogame technology.
• Linden Lab. Orrick represents Linden Lab, creator of the extraordinary online virtual reality product Second Life, in a variety of corporate, transactional and financing matters.
• Electronic Arts, Inc. Orrick represented EA, the world's largest videogame publisher, in a variety of employment and corporate matters. Orrick represented EA in its class action litigation regarding the exempt classification of computer graphics artists and software engineers, the first of a wave of new cases in the videogame industry challenging employee classifications.
  
• Majesco Entertainment Corporation. Orrick has advised Majesco, a long-established videogame developer and publisher, on matters related to executive compensation, including negotiation and preparation of agreements regarding US- and UK-based executives.
• Hands-On Mobile, Inc. Orrick advises Hands-On Mobile, a leading publisher of mobile games and content, on corporate, licensing and other contractual matters.
• Radical Entertainment. Orrick represented Radical in a patent, copyright and unfair competition action involving screen display elements of Radical's The Simpsons' Road Rage videogame.
• Entertainment Software Association. Orrick has advised ESA, a U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that publish video and computer games, on intellectual property issues relating to Massively Multiplayer Online Games.
• GameFly, Inc. Orrick has advised GameFly, the leading online video game rental subscription service, on corporate, transactional, financing, employment and intellectual property issues.
• Logitech, Inc. Orrick has advised and represented Logitech, an industry leader in videogame and other computer peripherals, in a number of patent matters involving input devices, software and gaming technology.
• Priceplay. Orrick advises Priceplay, provider of an online interactive pricing platform for games, on corporate and intellectual property licensing issues with respect to its patented gaming technology.
• Full Armor Studios, Inc. Orrick has advised Full Armor, a videogame developer, on a variety of corporate, financing, employment and transactional matters.
• Mindscape, Inc. Orrick represented Mindscape and Grolier in litigation of copyright and trademark infringement claims involving multimedia software programs.
• International Game Technology. Orrick represented IGT, which specializes in design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sales of computerized gaming machines, in a patent infringement action involving networked casino gaming technology. Within a year of the filing of the complaint against IGT, Orrick filed a successful summary judgment motion which led the Court to invalidate the two asserted patents.

Film

• The Walt Disney Company. Orrick has advised The Walt Disney Company on copyright and trademark issues and has represented Disney in lawsuits involving issues of copyright, trademark and unfair competition law. Orrick also has advised Disney on compensation matters.
• TriStar Pictures, Inc. and Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. Orrick represents these companies in a copyright, trademark and contract action involving the Starship Troopers motion picture and merchandising.
• Lucasfilm, Ltd. Orrick attorneys have assisted Lucasfilm in combating on-line piracy of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and preventing infringement of Star Wars characters.
• Lucasfilm Ltd., Lucas Digital, Ltd. and Universal Studios. Orrick attorneys represented these companies in a copyright and contract dispute against other parties involving the film The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. Orrick provides advice and serves as litigation counsel to MGM on a variety of trademark and copyright matters involving its valuable characters.
• Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. Orrick represented Columbia Pictures in litigation of copyright claims involving motion pictures.
• DVD Copy Control Association. Orrick has represented this film industry organization in matters relating to copy protection technology.
• Hart Sharp Entertainment. Orrick has advised Hart Sharp in the formation of film development and production entities.
• Helium Productions, Inc. Orrick represented Helium Productions, an animation studio specializing in 3D digital productions and visual effects for feature films, in an unfair competition and false advertising action against departing employees.
• Technicolor Entertainment Services. Orrick has advised Technicolor on patent matters concerning motion picture and film-related technologies.
• Manex Entertainment. Orrick assisted Manex with the prosecution of patents on motion picture special visual effects technology.

Music

• Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. Orrick has advised Sirius on a number of transactional matters related to its satellite radio service and its website.
• Cellular Records, Inc. Orrick has assisted Cellular Records with recording artist agreements, trademark and copyright matters, as well as corporate issues.
• Peermusic. Orrick has advised Peermusic with respect to its investment in various other music companies and general corporate matters.
• Live Nation. Represented company in various joint venture projects established in China to promote live entertainment events, venue management, merchandising and related businesses
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• Mesa Boogie, Inc. Orrick represented Mesa Boogie in a trademark and unfair competition action involving digital copying of its trademark guitar amplifier sound.
• Another Planet Entertainment LLC. Orrick advises Another Planet on a variety of matters relating to concert production and promotion, including promotions, sponsorship and concessions agreements as well as corporate, intellectual property and insurance matters.
• Great American Music Hall. Orrick has assisted Great American Music Hall in leasing arrangements and corporate matters and guided the company through a merger.
• Triad Broadcasting Co. LLC. Orrick advised Triad, a radio broadcasting company, in connection with its acquisition of the broadcasting assets of a radio cluster, including refinancing of bank debt and an equity infusion.

Television

• E! Entertainment Television, Inc. Orrick has advised E! on a variety of issues, including sweepstakes matters and the right of publicity.
• Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Orrick successfully defended TBS in a preliminary injunction trial brought by a competing television company to restrain TBS from employing an executive from the competitor.
• G4 Media, Inc. Orrick has advised G4 on a variety of intellectual property issues.
• LivePlanet. Orrick has advised LivePlanet with respect to licensing, production and distribution arrangements as well as a variety of financing, corporate and compensation matters.
• Intelsat. Advised the company on the establishment of a joint venture to provide broadband and satellite services in Hong Kong and China, including advice relating to pay TV investments.
• Galaxy TV Broadcasting. Advised Hong Kong-based pay TV company in its corporate restructuring and television programming arrangements with a variety of multinational service providers
• DreamWorks. Advised the company on various projects in Asia, including a series of production agreements and financial arrangements with a Hong Kong special effects company for computer graphics animated television programs and the review of intellectual property regimes in eight countries in Asia.
• Anschutz Entertainment Group. Advised one of the world's largest sports and entertainment presenters in its operations and investments in China, including the development of the company's Asia expansion strategy and key elements of its strategy to bring top-quality international events to Asia.
• Lifetime Entertainment Services. Orrick has assisted Lifetime with a variety of employment matters.
• OpenTV, Inc. Orrick advised OpenTV in agreements regarding satellite dish facilities, awide-range of corporate matters and executive compensation matters. Orrick also represented OpenTV in an employment dispute.
• BBC Technology Orrick represented BBC Technology in a significant software and hardware licensing transaction with ESPN, involving a BBC Technology product supporting High Definition Digital Television and enabling ESPN to migrate its programming to HD television standards.
• American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. and KGO Television, Inc. Orrick represented ABC and KGO in a dispute concerning attempts to compel testimony of a news reporter, which involved California's "shield law" protecting against intrusions into the newsgathering process.
• Impact Television, Inc. Orrick advised Impact Television regarding talent agreements, intellectual property licensing, trademark, copyright, right of publicity and corporate matters.
• Columbia TriStar. Advised Columbia TriStar International Television ( now "SONY Pictures Television International") on its investments and activities in Hong Kong and China.
• Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. Orrick successfully prosecuted patent litigation concerning an interactive on-screen television guide on behalf of Gemstar.
• DIRECTV.com. Orrick represented DIRECTV in a multibillion-dollar antitrust case in federal court in Denver brought by EchoStar Communications, Inc.
• BBDO. Orrick represented BBDO in litigation involving a popular national television advertisement involving claims of false implied endorsement under the Lanham Act, common law copyright and a variety of New York state law claims.
• Banco BPI SA. Orrick attorneys negotiated a license from the Chelsea Football Club for the image rights of Chelsea Football Club manager and sports personality Jose Mourinho, for advertising and promotion of products and for use in TV and radio commercials, as well as cinema exhibition, internet advertising, print advertising, publicity material, editorial, direct mail and in-flight ads.
• Classic Communications, Inc. Orrick assisted this cable television provider with bankruptcy reorganization.

Online, New Media & New Technologies

• MySpace, Inc. Orrick represents MySpace, a social networking website as the plaintiff, in lawsuits involving trademark, breach of contract and computer crime issues.
• Virgin Digital. Orrick advised Virgin Digital, a leading digital entertainment platform, on a marketing and distribution deal regarding its digital music service.
• Pandora Media, Inc. Orrick has advised Pandora Media, provider of the Pandora automated music recommendation and Internet radio service, on a variety of corporate matters.
• Affinity Engines, Inc. Orrick has represented Affinity Engines, provider of an online social networking platform, in a trade secret dispute involving social networking technology and a number of corporate matters.
• VideoEgg, Inc. Orrick advises this web-based video publishing company on intellectual property and online liability issues, content licensing and corporate matters.
• PureVideo Networks. Orrick advises PureVideo on corporate, litigation and online liability issues associated with its website, www.stupidvideos.com.
• CNET Networks, Inc. Orrick represents CNET, a leading technology news and information portal, in a trade secret dispute.
• Evolution Artists, Inc. Orrick advises Evolution Artists on a variety of corporate and licensing matters with regard to its www.garageband.com website, an online community for musical artists and bands.
• Gracenote, Inc. Orrick represented Gracenote, a leading provider of music recognition and related solutions, in a patent, trademark and contract action involving online music recognition technology.
• iVillage, Inc. Orrick has represented iVillage, the leading on-line destination for women, in a number of major strategic partnership/licensing transactions. Orrick lawyers also oversee iVillage's worldwide trademark portfolio and advise iVillage with regard to intellectual property litigation matters. Orrick employment lawyers also have handled employment related matters for the past ten years.
• MX Entertainment. Orrick has advised MX Entertainment, a leader in interactive technology and application development for DVD, next-generation disc and networked digital video, in a variety of corporate, licensing, contractual and intellectual property matters.
• Netpickle, Inc. Orrick advises Netpickle on corporate, litigation and online liability issues related to its online slideshow service, www.rockyou.com, which is used with social networking websites.
• MP3.com. Orrick successfully represented MP3.com in litigation brought by several recording artists, as a purported class, who asserted various copyright claims against MP3.com and the major record labels.
• JetAudio LLC. Orrick advised JetAudio regarding patents relating to digital music technology and trademark matters.
• IFILM, Corporation. Orrick represented iFilm with respect to online contests, intellectual property matters and corporate issues.
• Vivendi Universal. Orrick advised Vivendi in a wide variety of tax, corporate and finance matters. Orrick also represented Vivendi in a dispute involving the sale of a Polish mobile company to Deutsche Telekom.