Robert is a highly accomplished, results-focused intellectual property attorney, with significant experience in both litigation and transactions involving copyright, especially in entertainment and new media related fields.Representative Current Litigation Matters:Representing small record labels in pre-1972 recording litigationRepresenting photographers and photograph catalog owners in copyright litigation against infringers. Representative Transactional Matter:Represent the Estate of Jack KerouacRepresent the Estate of Dr. John

Robert E. Allen is a principal in McKool Smith Hennigan's Los Angeles office. Robert is a highly accomplished, results-focused intellectual property attorney, with significant experience in both litigation and transactions involving copyright, especially in entertainment and new media related fields.Litigation MattersRepresent Quincy Jones against Michael Jackson's company, MJJ Productions regarding Quincy's masters on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad.Represent Owners of pre-1972 recordings against CBS Corp. for unlicensed copying.Represent photographer against Osram Sylvania for copyright infringement.Represent Luis Coronel in copyright infringement action.Prior to joining MS: Represented the Turtles against Sirius XM in class actions around the country concerning misappropriation of their pre-1972 recordings.Represented the writers of the first G.I Joe film in a copyright infringement action against Paramount Pictures for misappropriation of treatments & pitch materials in the $350M grossing sequel.Represented Mort Stevens for reversion of copyright to the Hawaii Five-0 theme song.Represented Berry Oakley, Jr., son of Raymond Oakleywho was one of the original members of The Allman Brothers, in a claim for reversion of copyrights to the artist’s songs.Defended entities owned by Jerry Goldstein against claims by Sylvester Stewart p/k/a “Sly and the Family Stone.”

Providing digital entertainment, new media, intellectual property and outside counsel solutions, where he consults in the music, television, motion picture and internet fields. Recent matters include:• Business Affairs for start-up television network on DirecTV, including motion picture acquisitions and licensing, original programming production, web development and regulatory compliance.• Content licensing, software development, white label product and marketing support for consumer electronic company’s digital media service.• Movie and TV content licensing, and software application licensing to consumer electronics products, for entertainment digital distribution company, including electronic sell through, digital rental, Ultraviolet and Disc to Digital distribution.• Negotiations for prominent recorded music and publishing companies.• Negotiations for prominent professional voice recording services company.• Represented prominent musical artist in negotiations with Multichannel network for the digital distribution of such artist's music videos.• Protection and enforcement of renewal term copyrights for the heir of a famous musical artist.

Handled numerous high profile cases including a series of class actions around the country on behalf of The Turtles against SiriusXM for misappropriation of pre-1972 recordings, claims for copyright infringement on behalf of singer/song writer Aimee Mann against online music provider MediaNet Digital, against Paramount Pictures on behalf of the writers of the original G.I Joe film for use of their treatments and pitch materials in the sequel, and reversion of copyrights to the songs of rock legend Marc Bolan of T.Rex on behalf of his son, against Stone Temple Pilots on behalf of frontman Scott Weiland for being “fired” by the band, breach of contract and accounting dispute on behalf of Quincy Jones against Michael Jackson Productions, and defending Jerry Goldstein's companies in a suit by Sylvester Stewart of Sly and the Family Stone, in addition to numerous other matters on behalf of individuals, corporations and other business entities in a variety of intellectual property, entertainment and commercial disputes.

General Counsel, reporting to the worldwide Chairman and CEO, responsible for advising on both domestic and international acquisitions, initiatives, policies and challenges. Hired, mentored and directed a team of professionals in accelerating the competitive edge of the company by creating, drafting and negotiating proposals, licenses and agreements relating to digital media, asset acquisition, publishing, joint venture, film/TV, gaming, work-for-hire, print, production music and internet licensing. Mitigated corporate risk and exposure by expertly negotiating and resolving copyright, royalty and administration disputes. Leveraged a career of extensive legal expertise to coordinate litigation with internal and external counsel. Coordinated policy directives with international affiliates and corporate parent management. • Head of the New Media Business Development Committee, charged with setting the direction and execution of cutting-edge digital space and internet exploitation strategies to maximize company profitability. Built partnerships with key new media companies, including Apple, Google/YouTube, Microsoft, MTV, Myspace, Sony Music, Warner Music, EMI Music, TouchTunes and VEVO, generating millions of dollars in revenue.• Pioneered the licensing framework for original programming channel encompassing masters, compositions and video footage; successfully gained consensus with key stakeholders and negotiated music licensing terms for publishing on VEVO, the premiere video hosting service.• Integrated the business and legal departments at UMPG and BMG Music, after the world's largest merger of music publishing assets.• Member of the five person transition management committee after the departure of UMPG’s chairman in early 2011, which committee was responsible for all new business of UMPG in North America, with extensive personal signing authority.• Personally handled, negotiated and/or signed deals with the company’s high-profile, major writers.

Expanded the organization’s competitive edge by supervising one attorney in negotiating and drafting various deal memorandums, agreements, amendments and complex multi-party licenses. Maximized corporate value and mitigated loss by conducting due diligence on catalog acquisition agreements. Thoroughly researched copyright infringement claims, preparing related correspondence and negotiating settlements and release agreements.

Negotiating and drafting recording agreements and amendments, producer agreements, songwriter agreements, co-publishing agreements, administration agreements, settlement and release agreements, management agreements and intra-band agreements; preparing and filing minor’s contract court-approval agreements, pleadings and affidavits; drafting conflict letters, retainer agreements and correspondence and other documents relating to trademark and copyright infringement; negotiating and drafting soundtrack agreements, score composer agreements, mechanical, synchronization, performance and master use licenses.