Ben Sheffner

Ben Sheffner Email and Phone Number

Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Law and Policy @ Motion Picture Association
Los Angeles, CA, US
Ben Sheffner's Location
Los Angeles, California, United States, United States
Ben Sheffner's Contact Details
About Ben Sheffner

Experienced copyright/media/entertainment attorney and government affairs/policy advocate with unique background comprising over two decades in law, policy, journalism, and politics. Legal expertise in copyright, anti-piracy, trademark, right of publicity, defamation, privacy, media access, and related First Amendment issues, entertainment transactions, as well as general litigation matters. Former political journalist. Experience working at motion picture/television studios and networks, trade association, major law firm, newspaper, specialized political publication, and presidential campaign. Currently based in Motion Picture Association's Los Angeles office, with frequent visits to Washington, DC.

Ben Sheffner's Current Company Details
Motion Picture Association

Motion Picture Association

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Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Law and Policy
Los Angeles, CA, US
Employees:
442
Ben Sheffner Work Experience Details
  • Motion Picture Association
    Senior Vice President And Associate General Counsel, Law And Policy
    Motion Picture Association
    Los Angeles, Ca, Us
  • Motion Picture Association
    Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Law & Policy
    Motion Picture Association Apr 2022 - Present
    Washington, District Of Columbia, Us
    Member of MPA's Legal and Government Affairs departments with dual role as attorney and policy advocate. Advise association and its members (the six major US motion picture studios) on copyright, right of publicity, trademark, First Amendment, and other issues, including playing a lead role in developing, implementing, and communicating motion picture industry's positions on artificial intelligence. Manage MPA amicus brief program. Represent MPA and member studios before the US Congress, state legislatures, and US Copyright Office and Patent and Trademark Office, including by submission of written comments in response to Federal Register notices and testimony at public hearings. Work closely with MPA Legal, Federal and State Government Affairs, and Communications, and counterparts at member studios, to formulate policy and coordinate press and legislative strategy and tactics. Represent MPA at legal/policy organizations including American Law Institute and Uniform Law Commission. Speak frequently in public fora to promote MPA and motion picture industry legal and public policy positions. Manage MPA's US political/ethics compliance. Serve as counsel to MPA Title Registration Bureau.
  • Motion Picture Association
    Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Copyright & Legal Affairs
    Motion Picture Association Mar 2017 - Apr 2022
    Washington, District Of Columbia, Us
  • Motion Picture Association
    Vice President, Legal Affairs
    Motion Picture Association Apr 2012 - Feb 2017
    Washington, District Of Columbia, Us
  • Motion Picture Association
    Content Protection Counsel
    Motion Picture Association Feb 2011 - Mar 2012
    Washington, District Of Columbia, Us
    Managed domestic and international anti-piracy litigation for the MPA's six motion picture studio members. Provided legal advice on non-litigation content-protection measures (e.g., notice-sending programs).
  • Nbc Universal
    Senior Counsel, Legal Affairs
    Nbc Universal 2010 - 2011
    New York City, Ny, Us
    Drafted and negotiated program and talent contracts, primarily for Bravo and other NBCU cable networks. Responsible for production services agreements, talent agreements, back-end definitions, quitclaim/reversion agreements, program licenses, vendor agreements, and various other production-related contracts.
  • Nbc Universal
    Counsel, Legal Affairs
    Nbc Universal 2009 - 2010
    New York City, Ny, Us
    Provided legal advice regarding production of scripted television programming. Vetted scripts and counseled producers and writers on copyright, trademark, right-of-publicity, privacy, defamation, and related matters.
  • Attorney And Freelance Journalist
    Attorney And Journalist
    Attorney And Freelance Journalist Dec 2008 - Jul 2009
    London, Gb
    Attorney in private practice. Represented U.S. State Department in connection with "Democracy Video Challenge" contest to ensure compliance with copyright law. Founder and Editor, Copyrights & Campaigns blog, which was twice named by the ABA Journal to its list of "100 best legal blogs." Freelance journalist published in Billboard, Slate, Ars Technica, and San Jose Mercury News.
  • John Mccain 2008
    Special Counsel, Election Day Operations And Litigation
    John Mccain 2008 Jul 2008 - Nov 2008
    Us
    Supervised 25 attorneys preparing for potential pre-election and election-day litigation. Served as in-house attorney on litigation matters including constitutional challenges to Senator McCain’s eligibility for presidency and copyright suit involving use of Jackson Browne song. Vetted all campaign advertising for copyright, trademark, right-of-publicity, defamation, and privacy issues. Counseled media team and other campaign staff on IP and related issues. Conducted legal analysis of eligibility of potential vice-presidential nominees. Supervised and conducted extensive factual investigation of circumstances surrounding Senator McCain’s birth in Panama Canal Zone.
  • Fox Entertainment Group
    Senior Counsel, Content Protection Litigation
    Fox Entertainment Group 2006 - 2008
    New York, Ny, Us
    Copyright/anti-piracy litigation, policy, and strategy. Litigated copyright actions for motion picture and television studio and affiliated broadcast and cable television networks. Formulated and implemented copyright strategies and tactics, including litigation, legislative advocacy, public relations, education, and technical measures. Provided copyright advice for business units and high-level executives across company, including film and TV studios, TV and cable networks, and Fox Interactive Media (MySpace). Worked closely with other major studios, networks, MPA, and law-enforcement authorities to further industry-wide copyright objectives.
  • Nbc Universal, Inc
    Litigation Counsel
    Nbc Universal, Inc 2005 - 2006
    New York City, Ny, Us
    Defended television network, production studio, and affiliated cable networks in disputes including copyright, idea-theft, contract/license, defamation, invasion-of-privacy, and employment matters. For NBC News and owned-and-operated stations, litigated camera access to courts, access to sealed documents, and demands by third parties for production of unbroadcast material. Duties consisted primarily of hands-on litigation tasks, including writing briefs, arguing motions, propounding and responding to written discovery, taking and defending depositions, and interviewing and preparing witnesses. Supervised outside counsel. Assisted in formulating NBCU response to proposed anti-child-pornography legislation.
  • O'Melveny & Myers Llp
    Associate
    O'Melveny & Myers Llp 2001 - 2005
    Global, Us
    Litigation associate. Represented movie studios, record companies, and television networks in complex copyright, trademark, contract, and antitrust disputes. Prosecuted misdemeanors pro bono for Redondo Beach City Attorney’s Office.
  • Chambers Of Judge M. Margaret Mckeown
    Law Clerk
    Chambers Of Judge M. Margaret Mckeown 2000 - 2001
    Law clerk, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  • Roll Call Newspaper
    Staff Writer
    Roll Call Newspaper 1994 - 1997
    Washington, District Of Columbia, Us
    Covered Congressional elections, term limits, reapportionment, redistricting, campaign finance, and various aspects of the internal organization and politics of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Wrote approximately seven articles per week. Appeared on air as expert on Congressional elections on CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, NPR, and numerous talk radio shows.
  • The Cook Political Report
    Assistant Editor
    The Cook Political Report 1993 - 1994
    Covered races for the U.S. House as reporter/editor for nonpartisan newsletter. Conducted interviews with hundreds of candidates, campaign staffers, political consultants, and party officials. Edited Senate, governors, and national politics copy. Provided analysis and research to reporters for major news organizations, including the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and CNN.

Ben Sheffner Skills

Copyright Law Intellectual Property Entertainment Law Licensing Trademarks Litigation Legal Writing Entertainment New Media Legal Research Television Trade Secrets Appeals Commercial Litigation Public Speaking Film Anti Piracy Contract Negotiation Digital Media Public Policy Negotiation

Ben Sheffner Education Details

  • University Of California, Berkeley - School Of Law
    University Of California, Berkeley - School Of Law
    Law
  • Harvard University
    Harvard University
    Government
  • Groton School
    Groton School
  • Newport Harbor High School
    Newport Harbor High School
  • Harbor Day School
    Harbor Day School

Frequently Asked Questions about Ben Sheffner

What company does Ben Sheffner work for?

Ben Sheffner works for Motion Picture Association

What is Ben Sheffner's role at the current company?

Ben Sheffner's current role is Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Law and Policy.

What is Ben Sheffner's email address?

Ben Sheffner's email address is be****@****paa.org

What schools did Ben Sheffner attend?

Ben Sheffner attended University Of California, Berkeley - School Of Law, Harvard University, Groton School, Newport Harbor High School, Harbor Day School.

What skills is Ben Sheffner known for?

Ben Sheffner has skills like Copyright Law, Intellectual Property, Entertainment Law, Licensing, Trademarks, Litigation, Legal Writing, Entertainment, New Media, Legal Research, Television, Trade Secrets.

Who are Ben Sheffner's colleagues?

Ben Sheffner's colleagues are Arlen Valdivia, Elizabeth Ellis, Kate Bedingfield, Minjoo Kim, Seth Whittaker, Urmila Venugopalan, Harsh Ajwani.

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