MARK D. PASSIN

Represented Cher in an action against a major record company. 

Represented the creators and producers of a hit television series in a profit participation case against Disney. 

Represented the Ray Charles Foundation in an argument before the Ninth Circuit in which the Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s dismissal of the action for lack of jurisdiction, holding that the Foundation had standing to challenge copyright termination notices served by Ray Charles’ children. 

Represented the members of the group Poison in a royalty audit case against Capitol Records. 

Represented Axl Rose before the Second Appellate District of California on appeal of a summary judgment motion granted against him.

Defended the members of the group Poison in a copyright infringement action.

Represented 5.1 Label Group LLC in a fraud and breach of contract action brought against Sanctuary Records Group, Inc. and Sanctuary Group PLC.

CBS, Inc. v. Donald Thomas Scholz et. al.: Obtained judgment on behalf of Donald Thomas Scholz of the group “Boston” following a six week jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

Defended a television company in a copyright infringement action brought against it by a major television network.

Obtained a summary judgment for $13.6 million for a motion picture producer against a bonding company in an action filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Obtained judgement against major motion picture studio in excess of $10 million following a six week jury trial of a breach of contract action in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Represented Clint Black in an action against his personal manager.

Defended heirs at jury trial in an action brought against them by the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences relating to the sale of Oscar statuettes.

Represented Lucy Lawless in a profit participation lawsuit regarding “Xena.”

Represented Meat Loaf in a royalty audit case against Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.

Defended a music publishing company against various actions brought against it for fraud and securities violations in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee relating to its default on a multi-million dollar bridge loan.

Obtained civil harassment restraining orders against stalkers on behalf of recording artists.

Represented Aisha Tyler in a Labor Commission proceeding; prevailed in talent agency dispute.

Represented Trista Rehn in a Labor Commission proceeding; prevailed in talent agency dispute.

Represented Cher in a Labor commission proceeding; prevailed in talent agency dispute.

Earl S. Burroughs aka Jack Hammer v. Pepsico, Inc., BBDO Worldwide, Omnicom Group, Inc.: Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Pepsico, Inc., BBDO Worldwide, Inc. and Omnicom Group, Inc. in copyright infringement action.

Brett R. Spackman v. Agencycom Ltd., Miller Brewing Company, Skyworks Technologies, Inc., Starcom Media Vest Group and Young and Rubicam, Inc.: Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Agency.com Ltd. in copyright infringement action.

Represented an advertising agency and its client in a breach of contract, right of publicity and Lanham Act case. 

Represented an advertising agency in a copyright infringement action brought against it by an illustrator.

Defended film companies in various arbitrations governed by the Independent Film & Television Alliance.

Obtained a preliminary injunction in the United States District Court for the Central District of California for a record production company against the sale and distribution of an extended play album.

Defeated a motion for preliminary injunction filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California by Odyssey Partners and Odyssey Television Partners Ltd. against Odyssey Film Partners Ltd. for violation of Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act and represented Odyssey Film Partners Ltd. in connection with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the decision.