ATTORNEYS
Rob Rader

Legal Expertise

Entertainment law representing studios, producers and distributors in all aspects of acquisition, development, production, promotion, distribution and licensing of interactive video games, television programs, consumer products, themed entertainment, videocassettes, DVDs, and web sites and online content production.

 

Representative Matters

  • Represents blogs and other interactive content producers such as Boing Boing, Ask A Ninja, Lonelygirl15, Epic Fu (f/k/a The Jetset Show), BuzzMedia as well as online ad sales companies like Federated Media, including negotiating content licenses, advising on copyright and publishing and setting up and dissolving LLCs.
  • Represents animation and children's programmers like Spiffy Pictures (Jack's Big Music Show), Backyard Productions (TurboDogs), including negotiating joint ventures and participations with studios and other producers.
  • Negotiates PPV, VOD and other licenses on behalf of producers and distributors, for both online/mobile, television and home video.
  • Drafts television co-productions for independent producers with cable television distributors.
  • Handled acquisitions, renewals and extensions and co-financings of motion pictures for United Artist, including all business, legal and financial aspects.
  • Head of Business Affairs for MGM Consumer Products, MGM Interactive and MGM.com. Negotiated deals with Owens-Corning for Pink Panther spokescharacter; Electronic Arts James Bond videogame co-production and licensing; Sony Computer Entertainment America license; Nintendo of America developer agreement. Advised on all themed entertainment deals, including Disney, Universal and Paramount Parks. 
  • Deputy Head of Business Affairs for MGM Home Entertainment. Negotiated acquisitions of video product and all aspects of production, distribution and clearance of DVDs and VHS product, including all revenue sharing deals (e.g., Blockbuster, Hollywood Entertainment). Oversaw transition from Warner Home Video to direct distribution in the domestic territory and to Fox Home Video in the international territory.
  • Represented Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer within the Motion Picture Association on technology and licensing issues.
  • Licensed MGM television and film product to U.S. and Canadian broadcast and cable networks.
  • Negotiated subscription-on-demand deal with cable system operator.
  • Acting Head of MGM Interactive. Produced and released interactive video game products, including GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Agent Under Fire, The World is Not Enough, Tiny Tank and WarGames. Licensed product to developers and publishers, including RoboCop. Released award-winning children's video game product, including All Dogs Go To Heaven, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Adventures in Tinker Town, and Babes in Toyland.
  • Represented independent producers of direct-to-video product in distribution and production deals.
  • Represented independent rights holders in negotiating license of interactive video game rights.
  • Represented developer in negotiations with video game publisher.
Rob Rader

Of Counsel - Los Angeles


Email Rob Rader


Phone:

  (310) 312-3716

Fax:

  (310) 231-8456
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Practice Area

Industry Focus

Motion picture, television, Internet, and video game industries

Education Collapse

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 1994; magna cum laude
  • Harvard College, B.A., 1990; magna cum laude, Highest Honors
  • Stanford University, M.A., 1992

Court Admissions Collapse

  • California

Publications and Presentations Expand

Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations Expand

  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Pepperdine University (2003-Present)
  • Former Vice President of Business Affairs for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (1997-2001; 2004-2005)
  • Senior Executive Business Consultant for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (2002-2004)
  • Advance Team Leader, Clinton/Gore Presidential Campaign (1996)
  • Assistant State Director, Dukakis/Bentsen Committee, Inc., Portland, Oregon (1988)