Jonathan has over 30 years’ experience in litigation, licensing and counseling matters in copyright, trademark, unfair competition, and right of publicity law, particularly for clients in the entertainment industry.

World Trademark Review 1000 recognizes him as a leader in trademark matters, calling him “[h]ighly experienced” (2023) and noting that he performs very well “for market leaders in the media, entertainment and internet fields” (2022) and has specific experience “in protecting rights related to fictional characters” (2016). He is recognized by Legal 500 United States for Trademarks: Non-Contentious (2020-2021), Trademarks: Litigation (2020), and Copyright (2014-2019). He has also been ranked by Chambers USA in the area of Intellectual Property: Trademark & Copyright (2014, 2016-2019). In addition, Jonathan has been recognized as a leading intellectual property lawyer by New York Super Lawyers (2006-2022) and a leader in the area of copyright law by The Best Lawyers in America (2012-2021).

A major aspect of Jonathan’s practice involves the protection, defense, enforcement, licensing, and exploitation of rights vested in fictional and animated characters. He has handled complex IP issues concerning such characters and properties as Spider-Man, X-Men, Superman, Batman, Barbie, Peanuts, Strawberry Shortcake, Babar the Elephant, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teletubbies, The Berenstain Bears, Inspector Gadget, Franklin The Turtle, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Mr. Bill, and The Woodstock Festivals. His work includes advising on trademark and copyright matters both in the context of traditional goods and services and in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFT or NFTs), as well as for use in the metaverse.

Jonathan also represents the estates of well-known entertainers, authors, and artists. He is knowledgeable regarding name, image, and likeness (NIL) statutes, and has handled copyright, right of publicity, and trademark matters for such estates as Joseph Campbell, Mary McCarthy, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Rube Goldberg, W.C. Fields, and Abbott & Costello.

In 2014, he served as an advisor to the New Jersey State Senate in connection with Senate Bill No. S2212 (The Commercial Identity Protect Act).

For many years, Jonathan served as a member of the Advisory Board of Bloomberg BNA’s Patent, Trademark and Copyright Journal. He is currently on the Advisory Board of The Licensing Journal. He has written on copyright, trademark and publicity law topics, and lectured for such organizations as The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Columbia University School of Law, Columbia University School of Fine Arts, New York Film Academy, The New School for Social Research, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and the Institute for International Research. He has taught entertainment licensing as an adjunct professor at New York Law School, and been interviewed by such prominent media outlets as The New York Times, Dateline NBC and New York Newsday. He was a regular commentator on copyright and trademark law topics for the NPR radio program “Soundcheck.”

Memberships

  • Copyright Society of the U.S.A., Member and former Trustee
  • New York State Bar Association, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Committee
  • Bloomberg BNA's The Licensing Journal, Advisory Board

Awards & Recognition

  • Recognized as a Leading Trademark Professional in Enforcement & Litigation and Prosecution & Strategy in New York (2015, 2018-2024), World Trademark Review 1000
  • Named a Trademark Star in the IP STARS Handbook (2022-2023), Managing Intellectual Property
  • Recommended for Trademarks: Non-Contentious (2020-2021, 2023), Trademarks: Litigation (2020), and Copyright (2014-2019), Legal 500 United States
  • Recognized as a Leader in Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets in New York (2014, 2016-2019), Chambers USA
  • Recognized as a Super Lawyer for Intellectual Property (2006-2023), The New York Times Magazine
  • Recognized as a Best Lawyer for Copyright Law (2012-2024), The Best Lawyers in America
  • Recognized as a “Local Litigation Star” in New York (2012, 2014), Benchmark Plaintiff

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