Practice Areas & Industries: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.

Practice/Industry Group Overview

Acting to protect original works
Finnegan has a dedicated and seasoned copyright practice, with experience at the U.S. Copyright Office, the U.S. Customs Service, and in district courts throughout the country. Our experience is broad—from software, databases, audio recordings, film and video productions, and technical and architectural designs to books, music, sculptures (such as toys), fabric designs, and motion pictures. We work with each of our clients to evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and to determine the most durable method of protecting their valuable works. Our lawyers have also played an active role in shaping U.S. copyright law.

With popular sentiment currently shifting against copyright owners and the rise of Internet technology, copyright protection has taken on even greater importance. We assist clients with registering copyrights, expediting applications, recording documents, and performing title searches. While we have the expertise to help a client avoid a trial, we also proceed in all phases of litigation when copyrights are threatened or questioned. Once in litigation, we accurately calculate damages and argue the finest details of copyright and licensing law.

Representative Engagements

Represented developer of wireless networking technology after joint venture failure
When the developer of a wireless networking technology found that its relationship with a joint venture partner had failed, Finnegan represented the developer in a copyright litigation in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Represented plaintiff between two social networking website in Federal Court over copyright claims
Finnegan represented the plaintiff in a long-running copyright battle between two social networking websites in Massachusetts and California federal courts, which established new law on subject matter jurisdiction over copyright claims in federal court.