Steven J. Metalitz - Attorneys - Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP ~ Full service entertainment law firm

Legal Expertise

Counsels clients in the publishing, recording, motion picture, software, music and database industries, and e-commerce companies, on international and domestic copyright, privacy, domain name and information law issues. Designs and executes advocacy campaigns for individual clients, trade associations, and coalitions on legal and policy issues before Congress and federal agencies, ranging from Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to Departments of State, Commerce and Justice, as well as with foreign governments. Experienced drafter and analyst of legislative materials on federal and state levels, and of treaty text and associated materials on international copyright and e-commerce topics. Prepared federal appellate amicus briefs on a wide range of copyright and high technology topics.

Representative Matters

Significant contributor to text and enactment of many federal copyright and e-commerce-related laws passed since 1983, first as senior Senate staff member (e.g., Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984, Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988), and later as lead counsel to copyright and other industry coalitions (e.g., Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 for Creative Incentive Coalition; PRO-IP Act of 2008 for Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy).
As counsel to the leading copyright industry coalition on international copyright law and enforcement matters (International Intellectual Property Alliance), coordinated industry advocacy and drafting efforts on major international agreements (e.g., WIPO Internet Treaties, Free Trade Agreements with Singapore, Australia and Korea), with special emphasis on Internet and digital piracy issues, and authored dozens of reports on copyright law and enforcement developments in major overseas markets.
As six-term president of Intellectual Property Constituency of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), led global advocacy efforts for transparency and accountability in the Domain Name System, in support of enforcement of copyright and trademarks online. Founded and represented Coalition for Online Accountability (formerly Copyright Coalition on Domain Names) to lead copyright industry advocacy before ICANN.
Drafted numerous state laws and federal legislation on issues impacting a leading e-commerce company, from tax and regulatory matters to liberalization of the secondary market in event tickets.
Organized and represented leading copyright industry coalition in all four Copyright Office rulemaking proceedings held since 2000 under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Partner - Washington, DC

Email Steven J. Metalitz

Phone:

(202) 355-7902

Fax:

(202) 355-7892

Practice Area

Intellectual Property & Technology

Industry Focus

Publishing, recording, motion picture, software and database industries, and e-commerce companies

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1977
University of Chicago, B.A., 1972; Phi Beta Kappa

Court Admissions

District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Recognition

Publications and Presentations

Guest Lecturer, Columbia Law School, American University Law School
Speaker, ICANN and Trademarks: Why Can't We Be Friends?, INTA Internet Conference (September 2011)
Speaker, “Land Rush in Cyberspace: Are Your Clients Ready for new gTLDs?”, PLI Webcast (August 2011)
Speaker, Practising Law Institute's (PLI) Advanced Seminar on Trademark Law 2011 (May 2011)
MDY Industries, LLC v. Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.: The Right to Prevent Circumvention of Access Controls Absent Copyright Infringement Under DMCA § 1201(a) (April 2011)
Speaker, Special 301 and the IP Enforcement Agenda: Competing Perspectives on U.S. Intellectual Property and Trade Policy, American University Washington College of Law (April 2011)
Speaker, The Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), Intellectual Property in the International Arena: WIPO Comes to Stanford (November 2010)
Speaker, ICANN: Developments and Updates, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Annual Meeting (October 2010)
Speaker, iPhone Jailbreaking Now Legal!! Does This (or any other DMCA Circumvention Decision) Really Matter?, National Association of Recording Merchandisers' Los Angeles Entertainment Law Conference (October 2010)
Speaker, The Next Generation of IP Protection: Enhancing Global Economic Growth and Prosperity, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (September 2010)

Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations

Vice President, Intellectual Property Constituency of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
Counsel, International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA)
Counsel, Coalition for Online Accountability (formerly the Copyright Coalition on Domain Names)

Other Career Experience

Partner, Smith & Metalitz LLP
Vice President and General Counsel, Information Industry Association
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (1982-1989)
- Chief Nominations Counsel
- Chief Counsel and Staff Director, Subcommittee on Patents, Copyright and Trademarks
Legislative Director to Senator Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. of Maryland