Copyright Alliance recruits 14 law firms for new advisory board

The Copyright Alliance, a non-profit group which counts the MPAA and the RIAA as members, is taking new steps to achieve old goals. The organization announced this week the formation of a new legal advisory board that consists of 14 law firms. Collectively, the firms boast decades of experience fielding intellectual property and piracy cases around the world.

The move will enhance the Copyright Alliance’s ability to interact with its own members according to a press release. Additionally, the new legal board will help “advance copyright strategy” for the group. Specifics are sparse, but avenues including hosting educational web seminars and conducting research will be explored.

“This Board will be invaluable to the Copyright Alliance and its members,” said Sandra Aistars, Copyright Alliance Executive Director. “Closer engagement with colleagues and thought leaders in the legal community will bring an important new perspective and talent pool to the Alliance, and allow us to serve the needs of the creative community better.”

Aistars said that the group’s new-found man-power (lawyer-power?) should enhance its previous efforts to educate the public through grassroots campaigns. The director added that she was “particularly pleased” to work with the 14 top-tier law firms, whom she views as “a trusted source of legal guidance.”

One of the law firms – Jenner & Block – was involved in the Grokster case. The P2P file-sharing service was shut down in 2005. Loeb & Loeb’s IP Entertainment Litigation Practice Group is also a member of the board. Barry Slotnick, a partner and chair at the firm, has previously represented the MPAA, Sony Pictures and HBO.

“We are looking forward to interacting directly with The Copyright Alliance to develop and share information and analysis of the critical legal issues facing copyright owners today,” said Slotnick. “We are also especially excited about the opportunity to develop educational programs for the policy-making community and for future attorneys.”

The MPAA was also pleased by the announcement.

“Copyright protection is a complex and rapidly evolving sphere, and it will make an enormous difference for artists and creators to have the country’s brightest legal minds on their sides as they, and we, work to protect their creations,” wrote Jessica Garcia at the MPAA blog following the announcement. “We welcome these experts’ willingness to contribute their knowledge to our endeavors to strengthen copyright protection for the millions of Americans in the creative community.”