Robert C. Harris
		Special Professor of Law
		B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook J.D., New York University

Biography

Robert Harris is a graduate of New York University School of Law and has been practicing entertainment and intellectual property law in New York City for nearly three decades. He is a founding partner of Lazarus & Harris LLP and represents clients in a broad range of entertainment media. He counsels and handles transactional matters for theatrical producers and creative personnel on various Broadway and Off-Broadway productions which have included Beauty and the Beast, Crazy for You, Chicago, Cabaret, Mamma Mia!, Movin’ Out, Monty Python’s Spamalot and Spring Awakening, represents writing and acting talent, and has represented film studios with respect to their grant or acquisition of stage rights in various properties. He represents publishers, authors, and agents in the publishing and theatrical fields, clients in independent film and television production, and has extensive experience negotiating and drafting programming and network affiliation agreements for cable television. Mr. Harris counsels clients regarding the protection, licensing, acquisition, use and misuse of content in a broad range of contexts and media.

Mr. Harris has substantial experience in copyright and trademark law, including clearance, prosecution and licensing, and advises clients regarding ownership of copyright, licensing of copyrights, and analysis of rights under copyright in both traditional media and new media. In the area of trademarks, Mr. Harris advises clients regarding the selection and use of trademarks, service marks, and Internet domain names, in prosecuting trademark applications, and in negotiating and drafting licensing agreements. He has represented the heirs of both Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald with respect to trademark prosecution and merchandise licensing, and has done copyright and trademark enforcement and prosecution for a number of stage properties, including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Miss Saigon. He also has extensive experience representing advertisers of children’s products.

Mr. Harris is former Chairman of the Entertainment Law Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law and has chaired its Subcommittee on Copyright Formalities, and is a member of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. He is an adjunct professor at Hofstra University School of Law, where he teaches entertainment law (including instruction in copyright, trademark, defamation, privacy and publicity law, and various media). Mr. Harris is also a member of the Professional Advisory Board of the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal, and has appeared as a guest commentator on Court TV. He has also lectured for PLI on intellectual property and entertainment law.