Working in the fast-growing field of video games? Learn more about protecting your intellectual property and what it means to license your content to gaming companies. Whether you're specifically designing for games or if you're looking to collaborate with a gaming company to further develop your IP, this workshop will broadly cover the ways IP can be incorporated into titles and franchises.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series* on the gaming industry with Morrison Rothman LLP. Learn more about Part 2, "Anatomy of a Developer/Publisher Relationship & Agreement," taking place on May 27 at 4 PM PST.
* Taking both workshops is recommended, but not required
This workshop is eligible for 1.5 MCLE Credit Hours. If you are registering for credit, please notify Los Angeles Program Coordinator Renée Reizman: renee.reizman@calawyersforthearts.org
About Online Workshops:
Registrants will be emailed a link to register for the Zoom seminar online after booking through the CLA website. Please make sure to register both via this page and on the Zoom registration page.
About the Speakers
Allison Rothman, Founding Partner, Morrison Rothman LLP
Allison has represented players across all of the top titles in esports. From her extensive background of working directly with and acting as outside counsel for the world’s largest fashion, luxury goods, jewelry, and entertainment brands in order to protect their intellectual property rights, the expansion of her practice to esports and digital entertainment was not an obvious one. However, Allison took her strong intellectual property background and turned it into a mechanism to fight for player rights and bolster these athletes’ position within the industry. Now, as a Founding Partner of Morrison Rothman LLP, Allison actively provides legal services in all aspects of video games and esports, as well as other areas such as digital entertainment, fashion, and consumer goods. She is passionate about educating others and advocating for proper representation, whether through handling countless pro bono deals, showing players the power of having an attorney, or teaching clients about the value of securing, maintaining, and enforcing their IP rights.
Keith Cooper, Partner, Morrison Rothman LLP
Keith L. Cooper practices business and entertainment law. Although he has extensive litigation experience, including matters involving contracts, copyrights, trademarks, defamation, privacy rights and business disputes, his primary focus over the last decade has been dedicated to representing clients in transactional, financial and intellectual property matters.
Mr. Cooper’s entertainment practice includes negotiating and drafting agreements related to recording, publishing, licensing, merchandising, authorship, songwriting, production, management, filmmaking, television and distribution. He has represented musicians, songwriters, arrangers, actors, directors, producers, photographers and designers.
Mr. Cooper has also represented a number of entities and individuals in business matters. This includes representing start-ups, technology and software companies, game developers, esports teams, production entities, design studios and general business companies. Here, Mr. Cooper has established (or facilitated dissolution of) numerous corporations, LLCs and Partnerships. He has worked with clients on corporate governance and compliance, capital and business acquisitions, equity grants, business plans, private placement memorandum, investor/disclosure documents and employment matters; as well as negotiating and drafting myriad contracts related to all of the above. His work also includes intellectual property acquisition, protection and licensing; as well as drafting privacy policies, GDPR compliance, and terms of use.
Douglas Nabors, Founder, Fun Train
Douglas Nabors is a 15 year veteran of the entertainment industry and the founder of Fun Train. Previously Douglas produced network television and independent features. His passion for technology led him to seek out new interactive opportunities for audiences and since 2016 he and his team have pioneered episodic virtual reality products for the in-home consumer market.
Fun Train:
Fun Train is a producer and publisher of episodic, premium virtual reality experiences based on licensed cinematic franchises. The company’s first title, The Exorcist: Legion launched worldwide in 2017 across all major VR platforms.Their 2nd title, Tarzan VR, launches later this year. More information about Fun Train can be found at www.funtrainvr.com.
Jordan Marks, Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Annapurna Interactive
Jordan Marks is Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Annapurna Interactive, a video game publisher and subsidiary of Annapurna Pictures. Titles include What Remains of Edith Finch, Donut Country, Florence, and Outer Wilds.
These workshops are made possible, in part, from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles Department of Arts and Culture; The City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs; and the California Community Foundation. Additional support provided by the California Arts Council.
