Shartsis Friese helps creators, businesses and technology innovators protect their original works from unauthorized use.
Protecting Creative Works and Digital Innovation
Our Copyright team combines deep industry experience with practical business insight to safeguard and commercialize creative assets across traditional and digital media.
Our attorneys handle all aspects of copyright registration and enforcement in the United States and coordinate international protection through foreign affiliates when needed. We assist clients in securing and enforcing copyrights for a broad range of works, including:
- Software
- Digital content
- Literature
- Photography
- Books
- Other original works of authorship
We represent individual artists, startups, publishers and large enterprises, tailoring our approach to the client’s creative and commercial goals.
Listening closely to our clients’ goals, our attorneys structure and negotiate copyright licenses, assignments and distribution agreements that help clients monetize their work while maintaining control over how it is used. We provide pragmatic advice on copyright ownership, derivative works and joint authorship, as well as fair-use and open-source issues that frequently arise in the digital economy.
We have particular experience advising technology companies, software developers and content creators on the interplay between copyright and contract rights, ensuring that intellectual property policies, website terms and user agreements reinforce copyright protection.
Online platforms, social media and AI-generated content present new challenges for creators and rights holders. We counsel clients on compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and assist in implementing effective takedown and counter-notice procedures.
Our attorneys also advise on secondary liability, user-generated content and copyright issues unique to e-commerce, SaaS platforms and digital distribution. We help businesses maintain compliance while minimizing disruption to innovation and customer engagement.
When disputes arise, our IP litigators protect client rights in federal court and before the Copyright Office. We represent both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving infringement, licensing disputes and claims under the DMCA. Our focus is on achieving efficient, business-oriented resolutions, through negotiation when possible and through litigation when necessary to preserve value.
