Copyright Law

Doniger / Burroughs

Copyright Law

Copyright law grants the author of original creative works, such as film, literature, fine art, and music, exclusive rights to control the use of those works. These rights include the right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works. Copyright protection is automatic upon the creation of a work and generally lasts for the creator’s lifetime plus a certain number of years after their death.

However, copyright law also allows for certain limitations and exceptions, such as fair use, which may permit use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

Violating copyright law can lead to legal consequences, including injunctions, financial damages, and in some cases, criminal penalties.

For over 20 years the attorneys at Doniger / Burroughs have been a preeminent copyright law firm, handling thousands of copyright infringement claims for musicians, film makers, fine artists, photographers, writers, fashion industry clients, and others with unparalleled success.

And we don’t just enforce the law, we make it. Our long string of appellate victories have resulted in a series of published opinions developing copyright law on topics including (1) the scope of protection afforded to works (LA Printex v. Aeropostale), (2) the defendant’s burden of proof to challenge registered works (UFI v. C&J Wear), (3) the proper standard to plead a copyright infringement case (Malibu Textiles v. H&M), (4) the proper standard for granting a plaintiff summary judgment (Unicolors v. Urban Outfitters), (5) the heavy burden a defendant has to invalidate a copyright registration (Unicolors v. H&M), and (6) the contours of fair use and implied license defenses (Griner v. King).

If you have a copyright case, you will not find better counsel.

  1. L.A. Printex Indus., Inc. v. Aeropostale, Inc., 676 F. 3d 841 (9th Cir. 2012)
  2. United Fabrics Int’l, Inc. v. C&J Wear, Inc., 630 F.3d 1255 (9th Cir. 2011)
  3. Malibu Textiles, Inc. v. Label Lane Int’l, Inc., 922 F.3d 946, 952 (9th Cir. 2019)
  4. Unicolors, Inc. v. Urban Outfitters, Inc., 853 F.3d 980 (2017)
  5. Unicolors, Inc. v. H&M Hennes & Mauritz, L.P. is 595 U.S. ___ (2022)
  6. Griner v. King for Congress, No. 23-2117 (8th Cir. 2024)

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