Copyrights
Protection for the creative work performed by our clients’ employees can be a critical element of their success. The significant investment of time and resources our clients make in computer software, creative design, written materials, recordings and the like warrants the most stringent level of protection available.
At Brooks Kushman, we are experienced in providing a broad range of copyright services—from perfecting copyright registrations and helping companies formulate policies designed to avoid charges of infringement, to litigating on behalf of copyright owners and defending against infringement claims. We also help clients put in place employment policies and procedures designed to ensure that the rights in employee work product are properly assigned to the client, and we can help structure work-for-hire agreements.
In addition, our attorneys provide the services clients need to maximize the value of their creative work, developing licensing arrangements and other contractual assignments of copyrights. Of course, we can assist on the other side of the table as well, negotiating and structuring agreements that allow our clients to acquire the rights of others.
Brooks Kushman can also help clients secure protection for their rights abroad, working with our global network of foreign associates to provide a full range of services, including the litigation of disputes.
Brooks Kushman Shareholders Erica Klein and Anna Robinson Published in ABA Landslide Publication on Combating Online Infringement
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman shareholders Erica Klein and Anna Robinson published an article for the American Bar Association’s Landslide® publication. Their article, “Combating Online Infringement: Real World Solutions for an Evolving Digital World,” they discuss how the rapid evolution of the internet-based technology in the past decade has introduced unprecedented...
Brooks Kushman Earns Gold Honors In World Trademark Review 1000 Listing
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman has been recognized as a gold-standard trademark firm for the second year by Intellectual Asset Management’s (IAM) annual World Trademark Review 1000, a guide that recognizes the world’s top trademark law firms and practitioners in key jurisdictions. Of the Michigan firms listed in the directory,...
Brooks Kushman Hosts Women in IP Global Networking Event
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman, Michigan’s largest intellectual property (IP) law firm, will host the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s (AIPLA) 2015 Cross-Country Women in IP Networking Event for the Detroit region. This is the fourth year that Brooks Kushman will host the event, which will take place May 21 from 6-9 p.m. at MEX...
Brooks Kushman Hosts Michigan's First Event to Help Girl Scouts Earn IP Patch
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman hosted an event on Saturday, March 21, 2015 for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Michigan Troop to earn their IP Patch. During the event, held at the Ypsilanti Ann Arbor Regional Center, Girl Scouts heard from six Brooks Kushman attorneys on the IP tools...
Brooks Kushman Adds Three Associates
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman, intellectual property (IP) and technology law firm, welcomes three new attorneys to the firm. David Coppiellie, Laura Ernst and Richard Leach will each join the firm as associates. Mr. Coppiellie is a registered patent attorney and focuses his practice on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in...
Brooks Kushman Announces Addition of Senior Attorney
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Building upon the firm`s expertise, Brooks Kushman, P.C. has hired Gary Donohue as a Senior Attorney. Donohue brings a wealth of expertise to better serve Brooks Kushman`s clients in the automotive and financial industries. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Donohue oversaw all aspects pertaining to trademarks, copyrights and...
Four Brooks Kushman Attorneys Recognized as 2014 Top Lawyers
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Recognized as leading Detroit lawyers, four Brooks Kushman attorneys were named to Dbusiness magazine`s “2014 Top Lawyers” list. Firm President Mark A. Cantor, Shareholder John M. Halan, Shareholder Kristin L. Murphy, and Associate Brian C. Doughty were all named to the Metro Detroit list. “Kristin, John, Brian and...
Four Brooks Kushman Shareholders Named 2013 Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars
Firm also recognized as a “highly recommended” Michigan IP law firm SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Four Brooks Kushman P.C. Shareholders have been honored as Michigan IP Stars for 2013 by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. Firm President Mark A. Cantor and shareholders Frank A. Angileri, Elizabeth F. Janda and Robert C.J. Tuttle were named...
Brooks Kushman Publishes Sixth Edition of Intellectual Property Primer Covering the Latest Changes in the IP Landscape
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Intellectual property (IP) has changed more in the last 10 years than ever before. To provide a basic understanding of the various aspects of current IP law, Brooks Kushman P.C. has issued the Sixth Edition of its IP Primer. The guide is written to help those who...
Brooks Kushman Hires Industry Veteran Daniel Stock, Enhances Corporate Transactions Expertise
Brooks Kushman announced today that Daniel M. Stock, former in-house counsel at Ford Motor Co., has recently joined the law firm. The announcement was made by Ernie L. Brooks, president and founding partner. Stock – who has practiced intellectual property (IP) law for nearly 35 years – has significant experience...
U.S. Supreme Court Rules Copyright Registration Required to Sue for Infringement
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a copyright owner must first obtain a copyright registration from the Copyright Office prior to filing a complaint for infringement of that work. This resolves a long-standing federal circuit court split regarding whether the Copyright Office must grant copyright registration before a copyright...
Supreme Court Expands Copyright Protection
On March 22, 2017, the Supreme Court established a standard for determining whether a design element incorporated into a useful article can be protected as a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work under the Copyright Act. The Court ruled that a feature is eligible for copyright protection if it “(1) can...
Four Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named to 2013 Super Lawyers List; Ten Attorneys Honored as Rising Stars
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman P.C. is proud to announce that several of the firm`s attorneys have been named to the 2013 Super Lawyers list for their work in the intellectual property arena. The annual Super Lawyers listing honors outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained...
Go Abroad for Cheap Tunes? Global Sites Offer Cheap Music But Questionable Legal Issues
Digital World MagazineThere are an increasing number of international sites offering music downloads at low prices with few copyright restrictions. Sites based in Russia and Spain claim to be legitimate, but Tom Lewry warns that bargain hunters should beware, “My advice would be stay away from them because you run...
Novell Will Pay Some Legal Costs for Linux Customers (Update2)
Publication:BloombergThis article notes that Novell Inc. will pay some clients if they are sued for copyright infringement to blunt the impact of threatened suits against Linux users. IBM and Intel pledged to contribute to a defense fund and Hewlett-Packard has agreed to indemnify its customers. Tom Lewry commented that, “The...
RIAA Can't Subpoena Identities of File Traders, D.C. Cir. Says
Publication:Intellectual Property Litigation ReporterA federal appellate court recently ruled that the RIAA cannot obtain the identities of file traders from their ISPs. Tom Lewry commented, "This is obviously going to put a huge monkey wrench" into the RIAA's plans to continue filing lawsuits against individual file traders. “However, the decision...
10 Things to Enhance Brand Protection at U.S. Borders and Ports
A recent report prepared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) describes the problem of counterfeit and pirated goods as having “intensified to staggering levels.” Statistics in the report detail a 154% increase in counterfeits traded internationally, rising from a value of $200 billion in 2005 to $509 billion...
Brooks Kushman Senior Attorney Featured in Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal
Brooks Kushman Senior Attorney, Hope Shovein was featured in the Winter 2014 issue of the Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal. Hope co-authored the article, “Hey, What’s the Big Idea?! Why Estate Planners Need to Understand the Basics of Intellectual Property,” with estate planning attorney Katie Lynwood.The article discusses the ways...
New Resource: Recent Developments in Information Technology Law Third Quarter 2013
Brooks Kushman patent attorney, Dave Syrowik, recently published a new legal resource titled “Recent Developments in Information Technology Law.” The document overviews key legal cases and opinions for the second quarter of 2013, including relevant cases from the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeal, U.S. District Courts, U.S. Patent...
New Resource: Recent Developments in Information Technology Law Second Quarter 2013
Information Technology Law Second Quarter 2013 Brooks Kushman patent attorney, Dave Syrowik, recently published a new legal resource titled “Recent Developments in Information Technology Law.” The document overviews key legal cases and opinions for the second quarter of 2013. To read the full article click here.
New Resource: Recent Developments in Information Technology Law First Quarter 2013
Brooks Kushman patent attorney, Dave Syrowik, recently published a new legal resource titled “Recent Developments in Information Technology Law.” The document overviews key legal cases and opinions for the first quarter of 2013, including relevant cases from the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeal, U.S. District Courts, U.S. Patent...
The State of the Computer and Internet Law - 2008
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Patent Law Under Siege: What Does it Mean?
Publication:2008-2009 Michigan Business Review[Read More...]
Michigan SuperLawyers 2006
Two of our lawyers - Ernie Brooks and Bill Abbatt - were recognized as "SuperLawyers" in the field of Intellectual Property, in the first Michigan SuperLawyers Listing published by Law & Politics, after a multi-step selection process. That process included a survey of all lawyers in Michigan who have been...
The State of Computer & Internet Law 2006
David Syrowik presents a comprehensive review of computer and Internet case law handed down in 2006. [Read More...]
Protection of Slogans - Part of Everyday Speech and Related Issues
Publication:Oakland County Legal NewsBill Abbatt, a partner at Brooks Kushman, highlights important issues surrounding the protection of slogans, including:- Can you assert exclusive rights to use a slogan that includes words taken from everyday speech?- Does, or should, an outside ad agency undertake a clearance search to ascertain whether the...
Protection of Slogans - Part of Everyday Speech
Publication:Detroit Legal NewsBill Abbatt, a partner at Brooks Kushman, highlights important issues surrounding the protection of slogans, including:- Can you assert exclusive rights to use a slogan that includes words taken from everyday speech?- Does, or should, an outside ad agency undertake a clearance search to ascertain whether the slogan...
Brooks Kushman Shareholder Erica Klein to Present at World Trademark Review Brand Protection Online Event
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman shareholder Erica Klein will be presenting at the World Trademark Review (WTR) Brand Protection Online event in Chicago on March 4, 2020. This event provides a unique forum for in-house counsel and expert advisers to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and risks faced by brands as...
Anna Robinson to Present Workshop at College for Creative Studies on Legal Issues and the Arts
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman shareholder Anna Robinson is speaking to students at the College for Creative Studies on Thursday, April 4, 2019 about legal issues for artists at the invitation of Creative Many, a statewide organization that works to develop and connect creative people, creative places and the creative economy. Robinson’s...
Anna Robinson to Moderate Panel on Copyright for Musicians Featuring the Acting Register of the Copyright Office
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman shareholder Anna Robinson is moderating a panel called Copyright for Musicians on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. The discussion will feature Acting Register of the Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, Karyn A. Temple, alongside industry...
Brooks Kushman Associate to Discuss IP Protection for Artists at Protecting Your Practice
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman Associate Anna Heinl will present during Creative Many Michigan’s “Protecting Your Practice” event at the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Arts in Detroit on August 27, 2015. Heinl will speak to Kresge Artist Fellows during the event, which will provide artists in the program legal and financial...
Brooks Kushman's Tong Discusses Intellectual Property Law at Los Angeles Paralegal Association's 37th Annual October Conference
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Roland Tong, Senior Attorney at Brooks Kushman P.C., will discuss “Intellectual Property Law Fundamentals” at the Los Angeles Paralegal Association`s (LAPA) 37th Annual October Conference. Tong will speak from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel. In his presentation, Tong will...
Brooks Kushman's Lewry Co-presents IP Webinar for U of M's College of Engineering
Trademark, copyright and patents lecture available on-demand now SOUTHFIELD, Mich., –, Brooks Kushman's Thomas Lewry, shareholder, recently co-presented a high-level online intellectual property (IP) lecture with Mohammed Islam, professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan (U of M). The webinar, titled “IP: Trademark, Copyright & Patents,” is now...
Legal Issues for Michigan Professional Engineers Seminar
On August 10th, 2006, John Halan and Marc Malooley gave a presentation to a group of engineers at the Legal Issues for Michigan Professional Engineers seminar in Ann Arbor, MI. The presentation focused on intellectual property rights for the professional engineer. Topics included protecting copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets.
Reverse Engineering in U.S., Japanese, and European Economic Community Copyright Law
Venue:ALI-ABA Course of Study: Antitrust/Intellectual Property Claims in High Technology Markets: Litigating & Advising, Boston, MA
Patenting or Copyrighting Software: Which to Choose
Venue:ALI-ABA Course of Study: Antitrust/Intellectual Property Claims in High Technology Markets: Litigating & Advising, Boston, MA
When Business Meets IP: Six Strategies for Mitigating Risk of IP
In many businesses, intellectual property assets, including patents, copyrights, trademark, and trade secrets, represent critical assets essential to success in the marketplace. Protecting IP assets often requires careful planning and oversight. Missteps can result in the loss of rights or, in some instances, liability for infringing the IP rights of...