Nancy E. Wolff provides a unique legal service for multimedia companies of all sizes. Experienced in copyright, trademark and digital media law, Nancy offers full legal support to a wide range of traditional and new media clients. Services include preparing all the necessary contracts and licensing agreements involved in the distribution or licensing of products and services in a multi-platform environment; offering branding, trademark and copyright protection strategy; reviewing content for potential legal issues; developing, negotiating and reviewing contracts or counseling clients on legal issues or business questions as they occur.

Operating almost as an in-house lawyer, Nancy advises her clients on the registration and protection of intellectual property in the area of copyright and trademark, advises when releases are necessary under various publicity laws, and how to promote the client’s products and services without running afoul of the many advertising and privacy rules that are developing. She advises on creative ways to structure deals, make acquisitions or sell properties; as well as offering support to resolve any kind of legal dispute. While she explores the potential to resolve disputes amicably, with the aim to reach a fair settlement as efficiently as possible, if the enforcement or protection of her clients’ rights requires legal intervention, she is a strong and dedicated advocate for her client.

SPEAKING AND PRESENTATIONS

She is a frequent speaker throughout the United States and Europe on issues relating to copyright, digital media,and licensing for many organizations including the American Bar Association, The Copyright Society, Practicing Law Institute (PLI), The Picture Archive Council of America, and the European Confederation of Image Libraries and Archives (CEPIC). She frequently speaks at design schools and photography classes on issues relating to copyright, trademark, and publicity as it relates to the licensing of digital media.

Additionally, she is often a guest speaker at Columbia Law School.

EMPLOYMENT

• Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard, LLP, 2005 - PRESENT

• Wolff & Godin LLP, 1998– 2005

• Cavallo,Wolf & Wolff, LLP (Formerly Cavallo & Wolff)

• Schulte, Roth & Zabel, LLP

BAR ADMISSIONS

• New York, New Jersey, California, and Pennsylvania.

• Admitted to U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, Central and Northern District of California, District of New Jersey, United States Courts of Appeal for the Second and Ninth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

EDUCATION

• University of Maryland, Magna Cum Laude, BS in Business Management.

• Rutgers School of Law in Newark, New Jersey; Business manager and editor of the Rutgers Law Review.

PUBLICATIONS

• Professional Photographer's Legal Handbook (Allworth Press).

• Fair use chapter for International Libel and Privacy Handbook, edited by Charles Glasser.

• Bi-monthly articles for Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) industry newsletter.

• Contributing author to journal published by American Society of Picture Professionals (ASPP).

• Contributing Author to PDNedu Magazine, published by PDN and Nikon.

   

BRIEFS

• Amicus brief filed in 9th Circuit, Perfect 10, Inc., v. Visa International Service Association
• Amicus brief for 9th Circuit on Chase Jarvis v. K2 Inc

ASSOCIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

• Treasurer and member of the Copyright Society of the USA.
• Chair of American Bar Association (ABA) Intellectual Property Section on Copyright Legislation; Member of Committee on Copyright and Technology and Visual Arts and Dramatic Works Committee.
• Member of ABA Intellectual Property Section Task Force on Piracy.
• Member of ABA CLE Committee.
• Member of Media Law Resource Center (MLRC).
• Member of New York City Bar Association Art and the Law Committee.
• Previous member of Section 108 Study Group, convened by the Library of Congress, and charged with updating the Copyright Act.
• Member of American Association of Picture Professionals.

NOTABLE CASES

• Represents a popular children’s series book author to navigate publishing agreements with increased e-publication rights.
• Negotiated the license for a start-up to use the works of a Hollywood fashion legend.
• Prepared and negotiated all the contracts for an international company that offers marketing and design templates, including, the acquisition of the domain name for its brand, trademark registrations, entity formation, licensing agreements, white-label distribution, printing agreements, and website terms and conditions. 
• Represents award-winning digital agencies that produce multi-platform online content for famous brands.
• Vets manuscripts for publishers on subjects as diverse as the financial crisis; illegally paying college athletes; the making of the top selling rock album; a collection of works on graffiti artists; and the history of a legendary English rock band. 
• Worked with a client in creating an iPhone app for model, property and talent releases for the stock photography and film industry.  
• Successfully negotiated settlements for alleged copyright infringement on behalf of several image libraries and educational publishers.
• Successfully resolved copyright cases on behalf of manufacture of lace designs in various copyright infringement cases against retailers and distributors.
• Successfully defended claims on behalf of a major photo library by models asserting defects in releases.
• Represents a publisher of works relating to MBTI testing in contract ad trademark areas.
• Assisted several stock libraries in acquiring complementary image libraries.
• Represents a photographers group in negotiations with a major publisher, with respect to their assignment contracts.
• Provides counseling to heirs of artists and assistance in offering advice to artists concerning gifting, loaning, or selling collections to institutions.
• Prepare social networking policies.
• Represent trade associations in the photography industry in filing amicus briefs in various federal court matters involving the validity of copyright registrations in photographs, the ability to offer editorial images in an online environment without violating California publicity laws, the liability of ISP’s and payment providers under the DMCA in hosting sites of pirated content, and the boundaries of fair use and visual images as it applies to appropriation art.
• Represented an internationally renowned artist in her contract with Louvre Gallery, and in the production of a film about the making of her work.

AWARDS

Martindale, AV Preeminent Lawyer

Named "Picture Professional of the Year" by The American Society of Picture Professionals (2007). 

PRO-BONO

Advisor to the Young Photographers Alliance (YPA). 

A founding legal advisor to the Copyright Alliance, providing legal services and advice to the organization.