Intellectual Property & Music Business Attorney Ronald S. Bienstock, known for Success in High Profile Entertainment Issues, will lead two roundtables at Summer National Association of Music Merchants – NAMM Conference.
Lyndhurst, NJ – June 8, 2016 – Ronald S. “Ron” Bienstock, Scarinci Hollenbeck partner and co-chair of both the firm’s Entertainment, Media and Sports Group, and its Intellectual Property Group, will lead two roundtable discussions at the summer conference of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). The NAMM conference, held at Nashville’s Music City Center from June 23 through 25, showcases the biggest ideas and best practices for the retail music industry, covering hot topics, such as marketing, store design, websites, music lessons, customer experience, finance, and more. Bienstock will lead two roundtable discussions: Product Configuration Trademarks (on June 23), and Copyright, Artists and Music Publishing (on June 24).
At the Product Configuration Trademarks session, Bienstock will discuss the trademark process for protecting intellectual property, such as guitars. “Trademarks and product configurations are definitely a hot topic,” said Bienstock. “Guitar headstocks, body shapes, and generally the ‘shape of things’ in the music industry has changed so much in the past five years that it’s essential to stay on top of what’s going on.”
Bienstock gained prominence in this area after his unprecedented trademark opposition victory against Fender Musical Instruments. In that matter, Bienstock represented 17 guitar manufacturers in a trademark opposition proceeding against Fender, successfully arguing that Fender should not be allowed trademark registrations for three guitar and bass body shapes.
At the roundtable discussion for Copyright, Artists and Music Publishing, participants will learn the basics of the music publishing industry. Bienstock will lead a discussion on pressing copyright issues, including licensing and royalty agreements, facing musicians today. As Bienstock explained, “Copyright, artists, and music publishing have always been hot topics, and this has evolved even further with so many artists putting out their own products across the country. So many NAMM members are musicians themselves, along with their customers, and they really crave the right information.”
For more information about Summer NAMM or to register, go to https://www.namm.org/summer/2016.
About Ron Bienstock:
Ronald S. Bienstock, Partner, is one of the most prominent and influential lawyers in legal and music circles, widely regarded as the “go-to” attorney for some of the most hard-fought intellectual property issues. He has worked with businesses, musicians, and music manufacturers, including Simple Plan, Living Colour, Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, Dream Theater, Peavey, ESP and Dean Guitars. A performing and recording musician himself, Ron has appeared with various major recording artists. Throughout the course of his career, he has represented many gold and platinum-selling recording artists, as well as internationally-known actors, writers, producers and directors, handling an array of intellectual property and entertainment business-related concerns for their clients, including transactional and litigation matters. He has worked with plethora of creative individuals, artists, and companies within the entertainment industry and beyond, representing clients in federal and state courts across the country, as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.