Clients in the media and entertainment world rely on Mary Ellen Roy to protect their rights when they come under scrutiny. With clients ranging from chart-topping entertainers to local news media reporters, Mary Ellen is a sought-after litigator of intellectual property, First Amendment and other media-related issues. She works with musicians, publishers, advertising agencies, television and film producers, and other content providers to address their current legal issues as well as their longer-term artistic and business interests. That ability to maintain a career-long perspective cements the trust between Mary Ellen and her clients.
For more than three decades, Mary Ellen has advised media and entertainment companies in the areas of intellectual property, defamation, privacy and business litigation. She handles copyright and trademark advice and counseling, licensing, prosecutions and disputes before the U.S. Copyright Office, the Patent and Trademark Office and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Experience
Media and First Amendment Law
- Obtained voluntary dismissal of defamation and invasion of privacy action brought against true crime series podcasting producers.
- Won appellate decision, and substantial lawyers’ fees award, holding no inheritable right of publicity in Louisiana.
- Obtained dismissal of misappropriation of likeness claims brought by heirs of subject of motion picture docudrama.
- Obtained dismissal of privacy misappropriation claims arising out of reality television police procedural series in Mississippi state court.
- Obtained voluntary dismissal of defamation and privacy claims against national social media company in action arising out of dispute between celebrity influencers.