Senior Motion Picture Attorney and Rising Litigator Join Alter Kendrick & Baron

November 13, 2019, New York, NY – Copyright and music boutique Alter Kendrick & Baron has added senior intellectual property attorney Dean Marks and litigator Jennine Nwoko to serve its growing roster of entertainment industry clients.

Marks, a respected expert on copyright and digital rights, previously served as Executive Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Chief, Global Content Protection for the Motion Picture Association of America ("MPAA"). At MPAA, Marks headed a global team to safeguard film and television content from piracy on behalf of the major Hollywood studios. Prior to that, Marks held senior in-house roles at Warner Bros. and Time Warner.

Nwoko’s practice focuses on copyright law, with an emphasis on music. She handles both litigation and transactional matters for music clients. Prior to joining AKB, Nwoko helped litigate cases on behalf of several Fortune 500 companies at a national law firm. She has also worked at an artist development company and represented artists in deals with major record labels.

“We are thrilled to have Dean and Jennine join our firm,” says Lisa Alter. AKB partner Jacqueline Charlesworth adds: “What a privilege it is to be working with Dean, with his tremendous expertise in intellectual property issues, and Jennine, whose music and litigation capabilities will be invaluable to our team.”

Alter Kendrick & Baron is at the forefront of music copyright law, handling both litigation matters and complex transactions involving significant music assets. The firm also advises on matters involving film, software and other types of intellectual property.

Primary Wave Acquires Rights to Bob Ezrin Portfolio

In a new deal, Primary Wave Music Publishing will acquire the music publishing and other rights of legendary producer, arranger and songwriter Bob Ezrin. Ezrin has worked with a multitude of classic artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Andrea Bocelli, and more; and has produced several number one albums, including Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Andrea Boccelli’s Sí.

Lisa Alter Quoted in Washington Post on Lizzo Plagiarism Accusations

Lisa Alter was recently quoted in Bethonie Butler’s Washington Post article “Who wrote Lizzo’s ‘Truth Hurts’? Breaking down the complicated songwriter drama.” The article discusses recent plagiarism claims that accuse Lizzo of borrowing the hit song’s “DNA test" lyric from a viral tweet. According to Lisa, copyright protection may extend to tweets “to the extent that what’s being tweeted constitute original work of authorship”.

Jacqueline Charlesworth Quoted in Bloomberg News on ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Infringement Lawsuit

Jacqueline Charlesworth was recently quoted in Edvard Pettersson’s Bloomberg News article “‘Stairway to Heaven’ Judges Asked to Give Songwriters a Break.” The article details the growing epidemic of lawsuits claiming infringement of well-known songs. Jacqueline explained that there are “a lot of unsettled issues” in music copyright law, citing the “Stairway to Heaven” case as a prime example. “The Ninth Circuit recognized the significance of the ruling and the impact it had on the music industry,” says Jacqueline. “The industry doesn’t want artists and songwriters to live in fear of infringement lawsuits.”

Dave Navarro Strikes Publishing Deal With Primary Wave

Primary Wave Music Publishing has acquired a stake in singer-songwriter-guitarist Dave Navarro’s publishing catalog, master revenue streams and writer’s share royalties. Navarro is credited as a songwriter on such hit songs as Jane’s Addiction “Been Caught Stealing” and “Jane Says” as well as the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Aeroplane.” The worldwide publishing deal also includes a co-publishing agreement for Navarro’s future output.

Lisa Alter Speaks to Billboard, USA Today on Taylor Swift, Scooter Braun Dispute

Lisa Alter was featured in three Billboard articles and one USA Today piece on the public feud over Taylor Swift’s master recordings. In the articles, Lisa discusses the valuation of the Big Machine Records deal and whether or not Swift’s reaction will impact the music industry.

The full articles can be found below.

Lisa Alter Explains the Tangled Taylor Swift-Scooter Braun Drama to Elle

Lisa Alter was featured in Rose Minutaglio's Elle story “A Music Attorney Explains the Tangled Taylor Swift-Scooter Braun Drama.” In the article, Lisa discusses the feud that is brewing between Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun. The heart of the disagreement stems from Braun’s company, Ithaca Holding, purchasing Big Machine Records, which owns the rights to Swift’s first six records, for $300 million. Lisa explains, at length, everything from Swift’s angry Tumblr post to the viability of Swift re-obtaining her masters.