Overview

Jessica Friedman is an intellectual property and media lawyer who focuses her practice in trademark, copyright, publishing, advertising/marketing and privacy. With more than three decades of experience, Jessica advises large corporations, non-profit organizations, smaller companies and individuals in a variety of sectors. Jessica’s work spans the technology, publishing, e-commerce and entertainment industries. Her clients appreciate the individual attention and high-level expertise she delivers through industry-appropriate fee structures. Jessica’s practice includes:

• Software and other content development and licensing agreements
• Commercial transactions and agreements (MSA’s, NDA’s, joint venture agreements)
• Copyright and trademark infringement analysis and dispute resolution
• Copyright “fair use” and “work for hire” matters
• Domestic and international privacy compliance
• Domestic and international trademark clearance and prosecution
• Publishing/literary agency/media services agreements

Jessica’s clients benefit from her well-rounded perspective and experience representing both content owners and content users. Her ability to see content deals and disputes from both sides and her first-hand understanding of how the other side is likely to respond to particular strategies or proposals enables her to position her client for the best possible outcome. Also, for 14 years, Jessica was General Counsel to a healthcare communications company and its various affiliates, which gave her special insight into internal business risks and issues of which outside counsel may not be aware but that inevitably influence the resolution of legal concerns.

Speaking Engagements

Jessica has extensive public speaking experience in panels and lectures. Throughout her career, she has spoken on and chaired many panels on copyright, trademark and publishing issues in various venues. Presentations over the past few years include the following:

• Speaker, Practicing Law Institute’s Fundamentals of Copyright Law in the Data Era 2021, “Basic Principles of Copyright Law and Copyright Office Practice” (6/21 – 10th year)
• Speaker, New York City Bar Association’s An Introduction to Intellectual Property (“IP”) Law for the Small Law Firm Practitioner: When Might Your Client Have an IP Issue and How to Start to Think About It, Basic Trademark and Copyright Overview (4/21)
• Speaker, NY Tech Alliance’s Your Ownership & Rights – IP for Startup Founders, Trademark and Copyright Tips and Traps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXnfc6ra__I (2/21)
• Speaker, Practicing Law Institute’s Advanced Copyright Law 2019: Current Issues, “ReDigi, The First-Sale Doctrine, and the Sale of ‘Used’ Digital Works” (3/19)
• Panelist, NY Tech Alliance’s IP Bootcamp for Startups (5/17)
• Panel Chair and Speaker, New York City Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, Copyright Basics, “Transfers and Termination” (5/15)
• Speaker, Practising Law Institute’s Fundamentals of Copyright Law in the Data Era 2014, “Basic Principles of Copyright Law and Copyright Office Practice” (7/14)
• Guest expert, Today’s Verdict, speaking about book publishing contracts (5/14):
  https://www.bronxnet.org/tv/bronxlegal/viewvideo/4131/todays-verdict/todays-verdict–may-19-2014
• Speaker, Practising Law Institute’s Advanced Copyright Law Annual Review 2014, “Current Statutory Termination Issues in Print and Music” (4/14)
• Panel Chair and Speaker, New York City Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, Domestic Trademark Clearance  & Prosecution: Pointers and Pitfalls, “Substantive Issues in Domestic Trademark Applications: Primarily But Not Merely an Overview” (4/13)

News & Articles

Jessica has authored numerous articles on intellectual property and publishing matters, including the following:

• “Memoirs: When is it Safe to Tell All?,” Authors Guild Bulletin (Winter/Spring 2020)
• “Titles and Trademarks: What can you do to make sure that you pick a title that you can claim as “yours” and that isn’t likely to result in a trademark infringement claim against you?,” Authors Guild Bulletin (Winter 2018/Spring 2019)
• “Writers, Take Warning: Things Every Writer Should Know Before Signing a Book Contract,” Authors Guild Bulletin (Summer 2016)
• “Don’t Get Caught in a Web(site),” Authors Guild Bulletin (Winter 2015)
• “Web Site Checklists: Minding Your Company’s Virtual Storefronts,” Inside, Journal of the New York State Bar Association Corporate Counsel Section (Fall 2013/Vol. 31, No. 2) (with Paul Ellis)
• “Will Anyone Crack the Used E-Book Market?, ” Authors Guild Bulletin (Spring/Summer 2013)

Community & Professional Involvement

• The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Member: Copyright and Literary Property Committee, 1993-1996, 2002-2005, 2006-2009, 2012-2015; 2018-2021; Trademark and Unfair Competition Committee, 2009-2012, 2015-2018; Information Technology Law Committee, 1999-2002; Entertainment Law Committee, 1996-1999; Ad Hoc Information Superhighway Working Group, 1993-1994)
• New York State Bar Association (Member: Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section; Former Member, Committee on Literary Works and Related Rights)
• Copyright Society of the U.S.A. (1993-2021)
• Princeton University History Department Advisory Council (2000-2004)

Awards & Recognition

• AV® Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating (5.0 out of 5)
• New York Super Lawyer® (2010 -2021)

Prior Work Experience

• Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
• Deutsch, Klagsbrun & Blasband (previously Linden and Deutsch; now McLaughlin & Stern)
• Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt, Maynard & Kristol (now Ropes & Gray)
• Jobson Healthcare Communications LLC (now part of WebMD)