Fandom and the Intersection With IP: Copyright and Trademark Infringement, Fair Use, Protecting IP Rights

Ms. Sarnow has over 25 years of experience in a broad-based transactional practice with a specific focus on IP and technology, providing IP protection and general corporate strategies to artists, inventers and innovative entrepreneurial ventures. She has developed a distinctly creative and problem-solving approach to address client plans and issues.  As a young attorney, Ms. Sarnow learned that focusing on what a client can’t do and shouldn’t do is unnecessarily limiting and seldom helps the client maximize corporate opportunities.  Her approach of looking for ways to accomplish corporate goals within an informed legal framework is more valuable for growth focused, technology forward companies than a stereotypical corporate counsel who instinctively thwarts innovation. Early in her career she worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group and in IP Licensing with traditional clients, as well as some unusual NASCAR and Professional Bull Rider representation thrown in from time to time. This gave her an appreciation for creative clients. Ms. Sarnow is an Adjunct Professor at Emory University School of Law.

Ms. Tandy has handled matters involving the internet, social media, privacy, intellectual property and tech law issues, for large and small corporate clients and individuals, from retail stores to groundbreaking online content creators, as well as hotels, restaurants, jewelry designers, educators, podcasters, website and app developers, novelists, theatrical producers and an Emmy-award winning makeup artist. She’s worked with content creators, technology builders, individual business owners, and large corporations to successfully protect websites, apps, copyrights and trademarks. Since the 1990s, Ms. Tandy’s work has included the creation of terms of service and privacy policies and best practices, as well as creating website accessibility policies and general internet policies and procedures. She has filed hundreds of trademark applications, litigated before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in federal and Florida courts, created and negotiated license agreements and assignments, and protected the rights of clients around the world.