Steinberg, David
Partner
Entertainment Litigation
Intellectual Property & Technology
Litigation
Legal Expertise
* Copyright, trademark, unfair competition, entertainment, and general business litigation in state and federal courts, courts of appeal, and in numerous arbitration tribunals.
* Extensive experience representing clients in right of publicity, right of privacy, First Amendment and misappropriation claims.
* Extensive jury and bench trial, arbitration, and mediation experience.
Industry Focus
Internet content distributors, motion picture/television, music, music publishing, video game
Key Professional Accomplishments
* Represents one of the largest internet entertainment content providers in all aspects of trademark, copyright, First Amendment, right of publicity and litigation matters.
* Represents Activision Blizzard in contract and fraud lawsuit brought by Axl Rose.
* Prevailed in anti-SLAPP motion on behalf of Take2 Interactive and Rockstar Games against claims of fraud and misappropriation of likeness regarding the lead character in their hugely popular video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."
* Generally represents film/TV production companies in a variety of disputes, including royalty disputes, licensee issues, copyright and trademark matters.
* Represents record companies in all types of litigation matters, including royalty disputes, copyright claims, related business disputes, and class actions.
* Represented plaintiffs and defendants in various right of publicity, right of privacy, and misappropriation matters, involving musicians, recording artists, athletes, actors and personalities.
* Obtained multi-million dollar verdict after trial for insurance company in international fraud case.
* Represented well-known television personality in dispute with management/production company, successfully terminating management contract.
* Successfully defended well known entrepreneurs and their companies from wrongful termination lawsuits.
* Successfully defended (after trial) major record company in dispute over ownership of sound recordings, rights of publicity, and credit issues.
* Achieved summary judgment for well-known musicians against claim for royalties and breach of contract.
* Successfully represented record companies/producers/songwriters in copyright dispute and “sampling” issues.
* Represents musical groups and their members in litigation over group names.
* Prevailed at numerous arbitrations for international film distributors in disputes over foreign distribution rights.
* Represented several law firms in successful defense of malpractice claims.
* Successfully represented musical group in contract claim by former manager.
Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations
* American Bar Association, Litigation Section
Court Admissions
* California, 1987
* USDC, Central District of California, 1987
* USDC, Southern District of California, 1987
Education
University of California Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1987
State University of New York at Binghamton, B.A., 1984; with Honors
