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Reported Cases and Representative Matters
  • Silkwood vs. Kerr-McGee Corp., 464 U.S. 238 (1984). One of the team of attorneys that represented defendant in a matter involving the scope of preemption under the Atomic Energy Act.
  • In re Amsted Industries, Inc., 972 F.2d 1326 (Fed. Cir. 1992). Represented Amsted Industries in an appeal of a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) ruling refusing to register a solid color trademark for thermoplastic encapsulated wire rope. Obtained such registration after successful appeal.
  • Roulo vs. Russ Berrie & Co., 886 F.2d 931 (7th Cir. 1989). Represented plaintiff in the trial and appeal of a case involving copyright and trade dress infringement of greeting card designs. The case resulted in a $4.3 million verdict for plaintiff.
  • Hot Samba, Inc. vs. Caterpillar, Inc., 2004 WL 609797 (N.D.Ill. 2004). Represented plaintiff in claim of copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation relating to e-commerce software package.
  • Storm Impact, Inc. vs. Software of the Month Club, 13 F.Supp.2d 782 (N.D.Ill. 1998). Represented plaintiff in a copyright infringement suit involving unauthorized use of computer shareware. The case resulted in an award of statutory damages and attorney’s fees to plaintiff.
  • Pioneer, Inc. vs. Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc., 74 U.S.P.Q.2d 1672 (2005). Represented Hitachi in a TTAB Opposition Proceeding, concerning registration of a mark for video and audio products.
  • Allstate Insurance vs. Olafsson. Represented petitioner, Allstate Insurance, in so-called “cyber-squatting” arbitration filed under the Uniform Domain Name Resolution Policy (UDRP).
  • Nightingale vs. Nightingale-Conant Corporation. Co-counsel for the publisher in an arbitration matter relating to copyright ownership and royalty claims on the entire body of works of radio personality and author Earl Nightingale.
  • La Preferida vs. Sun Garden Gangi Canning. Represented plaintiff in a claim for trade dress infringement arising out of defendant’s use of similar labels and packaging for Mexican food products.
  • Natkin vs. Winfrey, 111 F.Supp.2d 1003 (N.D.Ill. 2000). Filed a report as an expert witness for plaintiff in copyright infringement case dealing with issues of work-made-for-hire and joint authorship of photographs of Oprah Winfrey show.
Articles
  • "Film Clips and Fair Use: The King is Dead But His Copyrights Live On" IP Litigator 10.2 (Mar 2004): 31.
  • "Does the Copyright Act Preempt Right of Publicity Actions?" IP Litigator, 9.6 (Sept 2003): 27.
  • "Thin-Skinned Barbie Meets the Fair Use Doctrine" IP Litigator, 9.5 (July 2003): 37.
  • "Seventh Circuit Adds New Twist to Attorney Fee Issue" IP Litigator, 9.2 (Feb 2003): 23.
  • "Has the Day of State Court Copyright Infringement Litigation Arrived?" IP Litigator, 8.10 (Dec 2002): 19.
  • "Review of Bowker's Copyright: Its History and Its Law." Copyright World, 124 (Oct 2002): 12.
  • "Revenge of the Troll Dolls: Copyright Restoration for Foreign Works." IP Litigator, 8.8 (Sept 2002): 23.
  • "The 'Publication' Puzzle in Copyright Law." IP Litigator, 8.7 (Aug 2002): 22.
  • "Copyright Infringement and the De Minimis Doctrine." IP Litigator, 8.5 (May 2002): 18.
  • "Independent Creation and the Case of the Competing Doll Heads." IP Litigator, 8.3 (Mar 2002): 20.
  • "U.S. Copyright Case Law Developments in 2001." Copyright World 117 (Feb 2002): 18.
  • "Answered Prayers and Jury Trials: Mr. Feltner's Lesson." IP Litigator, 8.2 (Feb 2002): 24.
  • "The Presumption of Irreparable Harm in Copyright Infringement Cases." IP Litigator, 8.1 (Jan 2002): 19.
  • "The Case of the Inchoate Copyright Registration." IP Litigator, 7.10 (Dec 2001): 14.
  • "Exceptions to the Copyright Infringement Suit Registration Requirement." IP Litigator, 7.8 (Sept 2001): 23.
  • "Funky Eyewear Helps Second Circuit See Actual Damages More Clearly." IP Litigator 7.8 (Aug 2001): 22.
  • "U.S. Copyright Case Law Developments in the New Millennium." Copyright World 110 (May 2001): 16.
  • "Copyright: A Historical Perspective." InFocus Magazine. Oct., 2000.
  • "Are You Ready? New Federal Legislation Protects Some Y2K Readiness Disclosures." Computer Litigation Journal 5.8 (Jan 1999): 14.
  • "Drafting Software License Agreements on the Eve of the Millennium." Publ. in newsletter of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago. Aug., 1998.
  • "The Night I Learned The Essence of Copyright." CBA Record, 12.2 (Feb 1998).
  • "High Court's 'Lotus' Ruling Will Stifle Innovation." National Law Journal, Feb. 12, 1996, C8.
  • "Copyright and the Public Domain." National Law Journal, May 8, 1995, C23.
  • "Fair Use in the High-Tech Arena." National Law Journal, Feb. 20, 1995, C29.
  • "Copyright and Typeface: Can A Letter Design Be Protected?" HOW Magazine. Feb., 1994.
  • "Written Deals Have The Right Stuff." SCREEN Magazine (Apr 1992).
  • "Do You Own The Copyright In Your Customized Software?" Corporate Legal Times. March, 1992.
  • "Feist v. Rural Telephone Service Co. -- White Pages Not Entitled to Copyright Protection." Editor & Publisher Magazine. June, 1991.
  • "Copyright Protection For User Interfaces In The 90's." Software Law Journal. Dec., 1991.
  • "Digital Manipulation and The Law." HOW Magazine. Jan., 1991.
  • "Copyright Ownership in Computer Programs Developed By Independent Contractors." BYTE Magazine. April, 1990. Repr. in KNOWLEDGEBASE (Int'l Assoc. of Knowledge Engineers); AISP Newsletter (Association of Information Systems Professionals); HUG Int'l, Inc. Journal.
  • "The Cost of Copyright Infringement." HOW Magazine. May, 1990.
  • "U.S. Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision On Work Made For Hire." Feature. APA Magazine. Nov., 1989.
  • "Group Exemptions For Exclusive Distribution Agreements in the Common Market." 9 N.C.J. of International Law 231 (1984). Repr. in Laws of International Trade, Business Laws, Inc. (1987).
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Presentations
  • "Copyright Issues For Theater and Dance Companies." Presented at the New Athenaeum Theater. Apr 2004.
  • "Developments in Copyright Law -- 2003." 48th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 2004.
  • "Fair Use: Is It or Isn't It?" Panel Discussion. Copyright Society of the U.S.A., Midwest Chapter. Dec 2003.
  • "Developments in Copyright Law -- 2002." 47th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 2003.
  • "Fair Use." Copyright Society of the U.S.A., Midwest Chapter. Jan 2003.
  • "Copyright Basics." Chicago Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Seminar. Sept 2002.
  • "The Fair Use Doctrine in U.S. Copyright Law." Intellectual Property Law Association of Brazil (ABPI). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Aug 2002.
  • "Developments in Copyright Law -- 2001." 46th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 2002.
  • "Protecting the Art and Artists of Gallery 37." Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Jan 2002.
  • "Copyright Case Law Developments in 2001." Chicago Bar Association Annual Copyright Seminar. Jan 2002.
  • "Copyright Basics." Chicago Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Seminar. Sept 2001.
  • "Developments in Copyright Law -- 2000." 45th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 2001.
  • "Copyright Issues for Creative Professionals." Chicago Creative Coalition. Feb 2001.
  • "Music and the Internet: The Napster Litigation." Chicago Bar Association YLS Intellectual Property Law Committee. Sept 2000.
  • "Copyright Basics." Chicago Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Seminar. Sept 2000.
  • "Copyright Issues for Non-Profit Organizations." Chicago Bar Association Committee on Exempt Organizations. Mar 2000.
  • "Developments in Copyright Law -- 1999." 44th Annual Conference Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 2000.
  • "Copyright Law Developments." Chicago Bar Association Annual Copyright Seminar. Jan 2000.
  • "Copyright Issues in the Publishing Industry." Chicago Women in Publishing. Nov 1999.
  • "Copyright Law -- Recent Case Law Developments." Chicago Bar Association Annual Copyright Law Conference. Jan 1999.
  • "Legal Aspects of the Year 2000 Problem: Litigation and Legislation" presented to The Lincoln American Inn of Court. Oct 1998.
  • "Year 2000 Problem." Chicago Bar Association Computer Law Conference. Oct 1998.
  • "Copyright Basics." Chicago Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Seminar. Sept 1998.
  • "Legal Issues Relating to the Year 2000 Problem." Devon Bank. June 1998.
  • "Copyright Law Developments." 42nd Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1998.
  • "Copyright -- The Year in Review." Chicago Bar Association Copyright Law Conference. Feb 1998.
  • "Copyright Litigation and Remedies in the Entertainment Industry." Chicago Bar Association Entertainment Law Committee. Dec 1997.
  • "Database Protection in Europe and the United States." Chicago Bar Association Computer Law Committee. Oct 1997.
  • "Copyright Restoration in the United States." Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA) Philadelphia Congress. Sept 1997.
  • "Legal Aspects of Publishing Contracts and Electronic Rights." Catholic Book Publishers Assn. May 1997.
  • "Copyright Law Developments." 41st Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1997.
  • "Online Copyright Issues." Center For Information Technology Annual Seminar, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1997.
  • "Protecting Your Intellectual Property." Women In Design Seminar. Jan 1997.
  • "Copyright Protection for Computer Software after Lotus v. Borland." Chicago Software Association. Apr 1996.
  • "Music Licensing and Copyright." National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts. Apr 1996.
  • "Copyright Restoration under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act." 40th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1996.
  • "Copyright Issues for Libraries and Archives." The Newberry Library. Nov 1995.
  • "Debate on Lotus v. Borland." Copyright Society of the USA. Nov 1995.
  • "Copyright Basics." Chicago Bar Association Intellectual Property Basics Seminar. Sept 1995.
  • "Copyright Protection For Joint Works." AIPLA Mid-Year Meeting. Seattle, WA. Apr 1995.
  • "Copyright and the Information Superhighway." 39th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1995.
  • "Copyright Developments in 1994." 18th Annual Copyright Seminar of the Chicago Bar Association. Feb 1995.
  • "Fair Use Issues Relating to Software and Information Technology." John Marshall Law School Center for Informatics Law. Oct 1994.
  • "Understanding Basic Copyright Law." Practicing Law Institute. July 1994.
  • "Copyright Reform Bill of 1993." Patent, Trademark & Copyright Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Apr 1994.
  • "Copyright and the Public Domain: Implications For Multimedia, Commercial and Entertainment Uses." 38th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1994.
  • "Copyright Developments in 1993." 17th Annual Copyright Seminar of the Chicago Bar Association. Feb 1994.
  • "Copyright Basics.." Chicago Bar Association Intellectual Property Basics Seminar. Sept 1993.
  • "Legal Issues Relating To Computerized Imaging." Graphic Artists Guild. Apr 1993.
  • "Fair Use: Copyright Update For Academia." UIC Intellectual Property Symposium. Mar 1993.
  • "Legal Issues Affecting Photographers." Photo Midwest '93. Mar 1993.
  • "Software Copyright Law: A Tumultuous Year in Review." 37th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1993.
  • "Copyright and Trademark Issues For Stock Photo Agencies." Picture Agency Council of America. Oct 1992.
  • "Copyright Issues For Magazine Publishers." Livestock Publications Council. July 1992.
  • "Legal Issues Affecting Professional Photographers in the '90's." Photo Midwest '92. June 1992.
  • "Digital Sound Sampling and Copyright." CBA Entertainment Law Committee. May 1992.
  • "Licensing and Transfer of Computer Software Copyrights." IPLAC Copyright Seminar. Apr 1992.
  • "Fame, Fortune and Copyright Law." CBA Intellectual Property Seminar. Mar 1992.
  • "Copyright Law and The Picture Professional: Current Issues In The Protection, Use, and Ownership of Copyrighted Images." American Society of Picture Professionals. Feb 1992.
  • "University/Industry Relations In Research and Technology: Ownership and Licensing Issues." 36th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1992.
  • "Copyright Issues Affecting Librarians For Audiovisual Works." Art Librarians Society Conference. Feb 1992.
  • "Copyright Protection For Computer Programs." CBA Intellectual Property Seminar. Oct 1991.
  • "Living On The Wild Frontier: The Ownership, Authorship, and Sharing of Ideas and Creative Works in Academe." University of Illinois at Chicago Symposium on Information Exchange in Academe. Oct 1991.
  • "Copyright Protection For Software." CBA Intellectual Property Basics Seminar. Oct 1991.
  • "Copyright Protection For User Interfaces In The 90's." 35th Annual Conference on Developments in Intellectual Property Law, John Marshall Law School. Feb 1991.
  • "Copyright Litigation -- Developments in 1990." 14th Annual Copyright Seminar of the Chicago Bar Association. Jan 1991.
  • "Copyright Ownership In Computer Programs." Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago. Sept 1990.
  • "Copyright Issues For Collectors and Dealers of Photographic Prints." Chicago Photographic Print Fair. Sept 1990.
  • "Obscenity Laws and The Photographer." Advertising Photographers of America. Chicago. Aug 1990.
  • "Copyright Issues In The Computer Industry." Office Automation Society International, McLean, Va. June, 1990.
  • "Recent Developments in Copyright Law." Society of Professional Artist's Representatives. Nov 1989.
  • "Work Made For Hire Doctrine: Panel Discussion Of CCNV v. Reid." Intellectual Property Law Center of John Marshall Law School. Oct 1989.
  • "Copyright and Trade Dress Infringement -- Roulo v. Berrie." CBA Patent, Trademark and Copyright Committee. Oct 1989.
  • "Computer Imaging And The Copyright Laws." PLAC Copyright Seminar. Apr 1988.
  • "Antitrust Issues in International Trade." ISBA Seminar. Apr 1987.
  • "Copyright and Trademark Issues in the Designs of Frank Lloyd Wright." Unity Temple Foundation. Oct 1986.
  • "Legal Aspects of International Letters of Credit." World Trade Week Seminar of the International Trade Association of Greater Chicago. May 1986.


wmcgrath@davismcgrath.com
(312) 332-4748