Metalitz, Steven
Metalitz, Steven
Partner
Intellectual Property & Technology
Legal Expertise
Counsels clients in the publishing, recording, motion picture, software, music and database industries, and e-commerce companies, on international and domestic copyright, privacy, domain name and information law issues. Designs and executes advocacy campaigns for individual clients, trade associations, and coalitions on legal and policy issues before Congress and federal agencies, ranging from Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to Departments of State, Commerce and Justice, as well as with foreign governments. Experienced drafter and analyst of legislative materials on federal and state levels, and of treaty text and associated materials on international copyright and e-commerce topics. Prepared federal appellate amicus briefs on a wide range of copyright and high technology topics.
Industry Focus
Publishing, recording, motion picture, software and database industries, and e-commerce companies
Key Professional Accomplishments
* Significant contributor to text and enactment of many federal copyright and e-commerce-related laws passed since 1983, first as senior Senate staff member (e.g., Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984, Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988), and later as lead counsel to copyright and other industry coalitions (e.g., Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 for Creative Incentive Coalition; PRO-IP Act of 2008 for Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy).
* As counsel to the leading copyright industry coalition on international copyright law and enforcement matters (International Intellectual Property Alliance), coordinated industry advocacy and drafting efforts on major international agreements (e.g., WIPO Internet Treaties, Free Trade Agreements with Singapore, Australia and Korea), with special emphasis on Internet and digital piracy issues, and authored dozens of reports on copyright law and enforcement developments in major overseas markets.
* As six-term president of Intellectual Property Constituency of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), led global advocacy efforts for transparency and accountability in the Domain Name System, in support of enforcement of copyright and trademarks online. Founded and represented Coalition for Online Accountability (formerly Copyright Coalition on Domain Names) to lead copyright industry advocacy before ICANN.
* Drafted numerous state laws and federal legislation on issues impacting a leading e-commerce company, from tax and regulatory matters to liberalization of the secondary market in event tickets.
* Organized and represented leading copyright industry coalition in all four Copyright Office rulemaking proceedings held since 2000 under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations
* Vice-President, Intellectual Property Constituency of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
* Counsel, International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA)
* Counsel, Coalition for Online Accountability (formerly the Copyright Coalition on Domain Names)
Court Admissions
* District of Columbia
* U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
* U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
* U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
* U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
* U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
* U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1977
University of Chicago, B.A., 1972; Phi Beta Kappa
