From the leading video game publishers and software companies to television networks and movie studios, sports leagues, record labels, Internet companies and talent, Covington delivers sophisticated, full-service and multi-faceted representation to a wide range of entertainment industry clients.
As digital content, technologies and distribution platforms create new opportunities and challenges, Covington is there to help, with a unique understanding of the issues and a commitment to finding novel solutions to the most complex problems. When competitors clash, our seasoned litigators can help carry the day with savvy advice and counsel. As industries consolidate or new partners collaborate, our broad transactional expertise can ensure that the deal gets done smoothly. And in a time of ever-increasing government oversight of content and technology issues, both domestically and abroad, Covington is unparalleled in its ability to guide its clients through the legislative and regulatory minefields.
From our offices in San Francisco, New York, Washington, London and Brussels, our Digital Media and Entertainment practice encompasses multiple disciplines. Whether handling contract negotiations on cutting-edge content licenses and joint ventures or wrestling with the thorniest of intellectual property disputes, Covington is tuned in and ready to help.
Representative Matters
- Electronic Arts in its acquisition of a 19.9% stake in French game company Ubisoft Entertainment, in a transaction requiring the participation of multiple Covington offices on various corporate, antitrust and international issues.
- Sony BMG Music Entertainment in an ongoing class action lawsuit brought by the Allman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick on behalf of all artists whose contracts pre-date the era of digital downloaded music. Sony BMG pays the artists under the applicable royalty rate for album sales at brick-and-mortar record stores, while the artists claim that Sony BMG should be paying a much greater royalty rate for downloaded music.
- Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, eBay, and Interactive Corp. on Net Neutrality and related broadband policy issues in the US and with respect to the EU’s current review of its communications regulatory frameworks.
- The National Football League in negotiating its $18 billion eight-year programming agreements with ABC, CBS and Fox Television, its interactive media rights/online cross-promotion and marketing agreement with AOL, CBS and Sportsline.com, and its international content distribution deal with Yahoo!
Accolades
- Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading Telecom, Broadcast, & Satellite Regulatory practice (2004-2011).
- Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading Telecom, Broadcast, & Satellite Finance practice (2011).
- Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading Media and Entertainment practice (2007 - 2011).
- Eight attorneys recognized for Telecom, Broadcast, & Satellite and Media & Entertainment in Chambers USA (2011).
- One attorney recognized for First Amendment Litigation in Chambers USA (2011).
- Recognized by Chambers Asia in their ranking of foreign law firms active in the China Technology, Media & Telecom sector (2010-2012).
- Recognized by Legal 500 US as having a leading practice in Technology, Media & Telecoms, Telecoms and Broadcast (Regulatory), and Telecoms and Broadcast (Transactional) (2011).
- Recognized by Legal 500 UK in IT & Telecoms and Media and Entertainment (2012).
- Ranked by Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Beijing - Technology, Media & Telecoms - Foreign Firms (2009-2011).
- U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers, Communications Law and Technology Law: National and Washington, DC, first tier ranking (2011)
- Sports, Media and Entertainment Team of the Year (Intellectual Property Magazine Awards, 2010)
- Managing Intellectual Property Global Awards - Shortlisted in the pan-European category "New Media/Internet" (2010).
- Recognized by Practical Law Company in EU Telecoms, Media & Technology (2011).
- Ranked by Practical Law Company as a leading Telecommunications practice (2009).
- Three attorneys recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Communications Law (2011).
- One attorney recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Administrative/Regulatory Law (2011).
- Three attorneys recognized in The International Who's Who of Regulatory Communications Lawyers (2012).
- One attorney recognized in The International Who's Who of Internet & e-Commerce Lawyers for Internet & e-Commerce (2011).
- One attorney recognized in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers for Regulatory Communications (2011).
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