Robert E. Allen

Robert E. Allen is a partner in Glaser Weil’s Intellectual Property Department. As a highly accomplished, results-focused attorney, Robert has significant experience in both litigation and transactions involving copyright and trademark, specializing in entertainment- and new media-related fields. Robert formerly served as senior vice president, head of business and legal affairs, for Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), and led its new media business development.

Robert’s litigation practice focuses on representing creators and copyright owners in the protection of their works, including photographers, recording artists, songwriters, actors and authors, as well as ensuring they are properly accounted to and paid. Complementing his disputes work, his transactional practice focuses on providing counsel on both domestic and international acquisitions, negotiating licenses and agreements relating to music, film, television, digital media, production, television exploitation, on-demand media delivery, gaming and software.

Robert is particularly sought after for:

• Copyright and trademark litigation
• Entertainment and media breach of contract disputes
• Right of publicity litigation

Robert’s recent notable experience includes his representation of:

• Jeffrey Sedlik, a world-renowned, award-winning professional photographer, in a case involving the unlicensed use of his copyrighted photographic portrait of world-famous jazz musician Miles Davis by tattooist Kat Von D of “Miami Ink” and “LA Ink.” Robert successfully convinced the court to grant reconsideration and hold that the tattoo inked by Von D did not make transformative use of Sedlik’s photograph of Davis.

• D’Pergo Custom Guitars, Inc., a custom maker of high-end handcrafted guitars, in a copyright and trademark infringement case against Sweetwater Sound, Inc.
• Full Count, Inc., and Hollywood producer Karyn McCarthy in a breach of contract and wrongful termination lawsuit against “Star Wars” production company Lucasfilm after the client was hired to be executive producer of “The Acolyte” and then fired without cause or pay.
• A beauty model and social media influencer as plaintiff in a successful rights of publicity and copyright infringement lawsuit against four Fortune 50 defendants.
• Brittney Gobble Photography in successfully challenging a copyright infringement case against the defendant, Sinclair Broadcast Group, a large publicly traded American broadcast television company.

• Michael Gaffney, Muhammad Ali’s personal photographer, as the plaintiff in a copyright infringement case against Authentic Brands Group LLC.

• A production company that created and produced a groundbreaking science fiction thriller, in a breach of contract dispute and arbitration with a major streaming service.

Additional significant matters include Robert’s representation of:

• Quincy Jones, an American record producer, in litigation against Michael Jackson’s company, MJJ Productions, regarding Quincy’s masters on the albums “Off the Wall,” “Thriller” and “Bad.”

• Various actors in SAG-AFTRA disputes involving union election violations, union officials’ breach of fiduciary duties and pension benefit discrimination.

• Evox Productions in its copyright infringement actions against various online infringers of its catalog of automobile photographs.

• Navarro Photography in its copyright infringement action against The Procter & Gamble Company.

• Photographic Illustrator’s Corp. in its copyright infringement actions against Osram Sylvania, one of the largest lighting manufacturers.

• Several record companies in their class action suits against radio and Internet stations owned by CBS Radio, Cumulus and iHeart regarding the license or payment for the use of sound recordings created prior to 1972.

• The Estate of Jack Kerouac and Kerouac’s heirs in their successful recapturing of Kerouac’s renewal term copyrights in his famous novels “On The Road” and “The Dharma Bums.”

• Mikely Adam, a co-writer and co-producer of many famous songs, in his copyright infringement suit against the producer DJ Mustard.

• Luis Coronel, the “Latin Justin Bieber,” and Empire Productions against copyright infringement claims by a producer.

• The Turtles against Sirius XM in class actions around the country concerning misappropriation of their pre-1972 recordings.

• The writers of the first G.I. Joe film in a copyright infringement action against Paramount Pictures for misappropriation of treatments and pitch materials in the $350,000,000 grossing sequel.

• A famous composer for reversion of copyright to the “Hawaii Five-0” theme song.

• Aimee Mann in her copyright infringement claims against MediaNet.

• Berry Oakley Jr., son of Raymond Oakley, who was one of the original members of The Allman Brothers, in successfully recapturing his renewal term copyrights to the songs written by his father.

• A startup television network on DirecTV/Verizon FIOS in business affairs, including motion picture acquisitions and licensing, original programming production, web development, and regulatory compliance.

• An electronics company in content licensing, software development, white label product and marketing support for the electronic company’s IPTV digital media service.

• A digital distribution company in movie and TV content licensing and software application licensing to consumer electronics products, including electronic sell-through, digital rental, Ultraviolet and Disc to Digital distribution.

• A major music company in handling negotiations with (1) Apple, YouTube, Google and Amazon for song digital distribution; (2) high-profile, major writers, including Prince, Eminem, U2, Justin Bieber, Chris Daughtry, R Kelly, Mariah Carey, the Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Jack Johnson, Gloria Estefan, Chris Brown, 50 Cent, 3 Doors Down, Babyface and Diane Warren, among many others; and (3) major studios for the licensing of high-profile music in film and TV.

Results

News

Awards and Recognition

“500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2024-25

“Top Intellectual Property Lawyers in California,” Daily Journal, 2023 

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