Intellectual Property Strategy and Advice

Ellen counsels clients in formulating strategies to protect their ideas, proprietary business information, creative and scholarly works, and new technologies. Confidential disclosure and non-compete agreements are effective mechanisms for protection in many cases, but Ellen also advises on data security compliance and data collection and use practices, in light of the increasing vulnerability of businesses and individuals to data security threats in the Internet environment. With copyright also facing new challenges from the Internet, clients benefit from Ellen's expertise on issues such as "fair use," illegal downloading, file-sharing, and unauthorized brand use.

Business Transactions

Ellen has successfully negotiated hundreds of intellectual property transactions involving the development, publication, and licensing of print, digital, photographic, and multimedia works. Her background as technology transfer counsel to a large university system has made her invaluable also in negotiating technology licenses relating to scientific research. In representing institutional clients, her work has focused on collaborations involving museum, library and archival collections, and multi-center academic research projects.

The firm's representation of clients in the intellectual property area has spanned the United States and extended to companies and institutions in the UK, France, Ireland, Greece, Canada, Australia, South Korea, China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, and Jamaica.