The Alderman Law Office

Law Firm Overview

Nature of Practice:

The firm has a dynamic, sophisticated information technology and entertainment law practice, representing individuals and start-up companies, as well as large institutions. We work with songwriters, musicians, and visual and performance artists, in addition to software, multimedia and Internet companies. With extensive legislative and policy experience, we also provide lobbying and related support to institutions and industry groups. Although the firm's work involves primarily transactional, counseling and policy assistance, we also have broad litigation experience and can call upon a network of other attorneys. Finally, we have performed numerous intellectual property audits.

Examples of the types of work the firm does include: advising clients on intellectual property and entertainment issues, including consulting in multimedia, Internet and other online environments; litigation copyright, trademark and related intellectual property and commercial disputes; providing registration and enforcement advice, and obtaining and enforcing copyrights and trademarks; negotiating contracts, licenses and other documents, particularly involving entertainment, software licensing, Internet and technology transfer issues; and performing intellectual property audits for both content providers and users.

The firm strives to provide high-quality, cost-effective assistance to our clients, with the personal attention and care of a small firm and the benefits of an extensive network of relationships with other firms and attorneys. Clients receive the advantages of a seamless web of expertise in a broad range of practice areas -- including administrative law, bankruptcy, business, civil and criminal litigation, entertainment, estate planning, intellectual property, tax and telecommunications -- without the associated costs of retaining a larger firm.

Publications:

Author:

Copyright Questions, Washington Post, Outlook Section p. C6 (June 7, 1998) (GATT restoration and copyright term extension)

The Return of the Native Product: Supreme Court Will Analyze Reach of Copyright Owner's Importation Right, Legal Times Intellectual Property Supplement (March 23, 1998)

Copyright Issues: Be Careful With Older Artwork, D.C. Bar Arts, Entertainment and Sports Law Newsletter (Spring 1995)

Resale Royalties in the United States for Fine Visual Artists: An Alien Concept, 40 Journal of the Copyright Society 265 (1993) (cited in Nimmer copyright treatise) (available on WESTLAW)

Co-author:

Droit De Suite: The Artist's Resale Royalty, A Report of the Register of Copyrights (December 1992) (recipient of Special Achievement and cash prize for this report)

Copyright Liability of States and the Eleventh Amendment, A Report of the Register of Copyrights (June 1998) (legislation based on this report holding states liable for monetary damages in copyright infringement suits was subsequently signed into law by then President Bush)

Areas of Practice

• Intellectual Property Law
• Copyrights
• Trademarks
• Computer Law
• Science & Technology Law
• Entertainment
• Sports
• Litigation & Appeals
• Administrative Law
• Business Organizations

Representative Cases

• Ramsey v. Derwinski, 787 F. Supp. 8 (D.D.C. 1992)
• Suss v. Stone, 91-2753 (D.C.D.C. 1991)
• Homer Laughlin China Co. v. Oman, WL 154540 (D.D.C. 1991)
• Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility v. U.S. Secret Service, 72 F.3d 897 (D.D.C. 1991)
• Beverly Hills Design Studio v. Oman, WL 85867 (S.D.N.Y. 1989)

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Licensing, Antitrust & Trade Regulation, Deceptive Trade Practices, Business & Commercial Law, Consumer Protection, Contracts, Joint Ventures, Business Organizations, Business Successions, Dissolution, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, Communications & Media Law, Advertising, Internet, Print Media, Television & Film, Constitutional Law, Freedom of Speech, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Contracts -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Employment Contracts -- Employer, Entertainment, Sports & Leisure Law, Art, Entertainment, Sports, Intellectual Property Law, Copyrights, International Intellectual Property, Technology Licensing, Trade Dress, Trade Secrets, Trademarks, Internet -- Cyberspace, Computer Law, Electronic Commerce, Litigation & Appeals, Science & Technology Law, High Technology