Lisa T. Oratz
- Firmwide Co-Chair, Film and Television
- Bellevue
- Seattle
Lisa provides innovative counseling on technology, intellectual property, and entertainment law, including advising on cutting-edge issues relating to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
For more than 35 years, Lisa Oratz has represented clients at the intersections of technology, intellectual property (IP), and entertainment law. Lisa counsels clients in such areas as IP, content liability, and privacy and regulatory compliance. Co-lead of the firm’s Film & Television industry group, Lisa also represents clients in the publishing, athletics, arts, and entertainment industries, as well as game companies and technology platforms, on a wide variety of entertainment, sports, and marketing-related matters.
Lisa is known for her innovative legal work in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). Her extensive work in generative AI includes product counseling and developing IP protection and risk mitigation strategies. She advises technology, digital media, AI, augmented reality/virtual reality, and traditional companies on privacy; name, image, and likeness; content liability; social media issues; site terms; and contracts.
Clients seek Lisa’s counsel when drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts, as well as collaboration, strategic partnerships, master services, and license agreements. She helps clients obtain, maintain, and enforce copyright and trademark rights and registrations in addition to other IP rights.
Lisa’s clients range from cutting-edge startups to Fortune 500 companies and other industry leaders, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Adobe Systems, Nintendo of America, The Seattle Mariners, and The Seattle Storm. Lisa is a frequent writer and speaker on technology, IP, and entertainment-related issues.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- UCLA School of Law, J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1986
- University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., magna cum laude, 1982
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
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California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Related Employment
- Williams, Kastner & Gibbs, Bellevue, WA, 1992-1996
- Bogle & Gates, Bellevue, WA, 1988-1991
- Irell & Manella, Los Angeles, CA, 1986-1988
Impact
Community Involvement
- Seattle Repertory Theater, Board of Trustees, 2019-present
- Seattle Children’s Theatre, Board of Trustees, 2002-2016
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Technology Transactions & Privacy Law
Internet, Digital Media and E-Commerce Agreements
Prepared and negotiated web development and hosting agreements, advertising, linking, and co-branding agreements, strategic partnering agreements, content agreements, site terms and user agreements for a wide variety of internet, digital media and e-commerce companies.
Social Media
Advised social media companies, technology companies, and traditional companies on legal issues related to social media platforms and the use of blogs, community features, and other social media marketing; drafted social media policies.
Privacy
Drafted privacy policies and advised clients regarding privacy compliance including compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Content Liability: Provided advice and counseling regarding content liability issues for websites, online services, software, games, and media companies and regarding Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA), the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM Act), and advertising regulation.
Software Agreements
Prepared and negotiated numerous software licensing, acquisition, development, support, and distribution agreements and represented clients in the acquisition and licensing of content for use in software products, online services, and video games.
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreements
Prepared and negotiated domestic and international distribution and manufacturing agreements for game and pharmaceutical companies.
Intellectual Property Law
Copyright and Trademark Counseling and Registration
Advised clients on variety of intellectual property issues including copyright, trademark, domain name, trade secret, and right of publicity; assisted clients in a wide variety of industries in obtaining copyright and trademarks registrations.
Rights Clearance Services
Obtained necessary rights clearances for over 300 images for use in a board game; clear content rights for various video games, ads, books, corporate uses, online services, and other media and projects; conduct trademark searches.
Intellectual Property Licensing
Drafted and negotiated copyright, trademark, and patent licenses.
Pre-Litigation Dispute Resolution
Represented various clients in disputes involving copyrights, trademarks, domain names, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights.
Trademark Usage Policies
Developed trademark policies and usage guidelines.
Sports and Entertainment Law
Music
Drafted and negotiated music licenses, recording contracts, publishing agreements, online music distribution agreements, podcasting agreements, and composer agreements; concert and tour support agreements; advise clients regarding music clearance issues.
Publishing
Drafted and negotiated publishing agreements, literary option agreements, screenwriting agreements, and ghostwriting agreements.
Film and Television
Drafted and negotiated series development agreements, DVD distribution agreements, life story agreements, talent agreements and production agreements; script reviews; rights clearance.
Sports
Drafted and negotiated athlete endorsement agreement, advertising and sponsorship agreements, event agreements, and content and music licenses; advised on issues relating to youth engagement programs and camps, sports analytics, and training programs.
Interactive Entertainment
Drafted and negotiated talent agreements, content acquisition and licenses, and publishing and distribution agreements for video game and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) clients; light stage and volumetric capture agreements; rights clearance.