Stephen E. Gillen

Counsel

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Stephen Gillen counsels clients in publishing and entertainment transactions and disputes, Internet issues, advertising law, computer law, copyrights, and related matters. His clients have included publishers, authors, artists, photographers, videographers, independent producers, Internet service providers, multimedia developers, and software programmers from Maine to California. Steve has written and spoken nationally on various publishing and copyright topics and teaches courses in Media Law at the University of Cincinnati. Earlier in his career, Steve served as in-house counsel for a South-Western Publishing Company, a publisher of high school and college educational materials.

Areas Of Practice

Advertising
Licensing
Copyrights
Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Publishing/Media
Software/Computer/Internet

Bar Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 2008
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1996
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1980

Education

Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky

J.D. – 1980

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

B.S.B.A. – 1975
Major: Finance

Published Works

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FAIR USE, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, DECEMBER 2016
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COPYRIGHT MANDATORY DEPOSIT, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, OCTOBER 2016
GETTING THE ROYALTY TREATMENT, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, SEPTEMBER 2016
A CRASH COURSE ON ROYALTY AUDITS, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, MAY 2016
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DEALING WITH?, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, MARCH 2015
THE ATTORNEY AUTHOR: WRITING TO GROW YOUR PRACTICE, The CBA Report – trade monthly of the Cincinnati Bar Association, JANUARY 2016
A CHECKLIST FOR FOREIGN RIGHTS DEALS, PART 2: DISTRIBUTION CONTRACTS, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, DECEMBER 2015
A CHECKLIST FOR FOREIGN RIGHTS DEALS: PART 1, TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION LICENSES, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, NOVEMBER 2015
PAYING LESS FOR SMALL COPYRIGHT CASES, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, DECEMBER 2013
USE SOURCE WORKS SAFELY, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, OCTOBER 2013
TOOLS TOR DEALING WITH PIRACY – INCLUDING A BRAND-NEW ONE, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, NOVEMBER 2013
THE LEGAL SIDE OF ENDORSEMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, SEPTEMBER 2013
WHEN GETTING RIGHTS CLEARANCE IS TOUGH, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, JULY 2013
FAIR USE IN PATENT APPLICATIONS, The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter, JUNE 2013
E-BOOKS & EVOLVING LAW, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, JUNE 2013
COPING WITH A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER, IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, APRIL 2013
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT USING THIRD-PARTY PHOTOS, IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, FEBRUARY 2013
CONTESTS, SWEEPSTAKES, AND LOTTERIES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW IT, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, DECEMBER 2012
THE BOOK PUBLISHER’S TOOLKIT: 10 PRACTICAL POINTERS FOR INDEPENDENT AND SELF PUBLISHERS, Independent Book Publishers Association, NOVEMBER 2012
THE WORK-FOR-HIRE MINEFIELD, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, OCTOBER 2012
WHAT PUBLISHERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRICING, TERMS, AND ANTITRUST, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, SEPTEMBER 2012
MINIMIZING LIBEL RISKS: PART 2 – ISSUES YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, AUGUST 2012
MINIMIZING LIBEL RISKS: PART 1 – THE BASICS, The IBPA Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, JULY 2012
AVOIDING LITIGATION: THE TRUTH ABOUT-AND ALTERNATIVES TO-ARBITRATION, IBPA Independent, JUNE 2012
APPLE’S IBOOK AUTHOR: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW (WHETHER OR NOT YOU PUBLISH TEXTBOOKS), The Independent — trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, APRIL 2012
BEST PRACTICES FOR PERMISSIONS, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, MARCH 2012
FACEBOOK CASE SHINES LIGHT ON ISSUE, Cincinnati Enquirer, MARCH 9, 2012
TRADEMARKING AND YOUR BRAND STRATEGY, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, DECEMBER 2011
REVERSION IN THE DIGITAL AGE: IS OUT-OF-PRINT OUT OF STYLE, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, NOVEMBER 2011
ACQUIRING THE RIGHT RIGHTS: WILL YOUR CONTRACT KEEP UP WITH THE MARKETS FOR YOUR BOOKS?, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, SEPTEMBER 2011
HAS YOUR COPYRIGHT ESCAPED NOTICE? SIX QUESTIONS YOU PROBABLY NEVER THOUGHT TO ASK, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, AUGUST 2011
FAIR USE AND OTHER ASPECTS OF COPING WITH COPYRIGHT LAW, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, JUNE 2011
AUTHOR WARRANTIES: OPTIONS FOR CONTRACT CLAUSES, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, APRIL 2011
PRINTERS’ TERMS: WHAT THE BOILERPLATE MEANS AND WHERE THERE’S WIGGLE ROOM, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, MARCH 2011
RIGHTS OF, AND WRONGS ABOUT, JOURNAL PUBLISHING: THE TRUTH ABOUT COPYRIGHT TRANSFER, Advanced Materials & Processes, an ASM International Publication, JANUARY 2011
ADD POWER TO YOUR PURCHASE ORDER FORM: A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION WORTH KEEPING, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, JANUARY 2011
POLLYANNA, TITLES, AND TRADEMARKING, The Independent, DECEMBER 2010
CONTRACT UPDATES FOR THE E-BOOK ERA, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, AUGUST 2010
NEGOTIATING STYLES: ZERO-SUM VS. WIN/WIN, The Independent — trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, OCTOBER 2010
THE BUG CHECKLIST: PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST SNAFUS IN SOFTWARE VENDORS’ LICENSES, The Independent – trade monthly of the Independent Book Publishers Association, NOVEMBER 2010
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?, The Licensing Journal, JANUARY 2006
HAS THE TIME COME FOR SOLOMON’S SOLUTION, The Licensing Journal, AUGUST 2004
IS CELEBRITY LICENSING OUT OF ACTION?, The Licensing Journal, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2003
TWELVE QUESTIONS TO A BETTER DEAL, The Licensing Journal, MAY 2003
THE BUG LIST: A CHECKLIST OF SYSTEM-CRASHING FLAWS IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND LICENSE CONTRACTS, Greenebaum Law Letter, ISSUE 1, 2003
NINTH CIRCUIT GIVES THUMBS UP TO THUMBNAILS: KELLY VS. ARRIBA SOFT. CORP, The Licensing Book, NOVEMBER 2002
NINTH CIRCUIT GIVES THUMBS UP TO THUMBNAILS: KELLY VS. ARRIBA SOFT. CORP, Greenebaum Law Letter, ISSUE 4, 2002 (REPRINT)
PERSPECTIVE AND OPINION: FDNY MEMORIAL, MORAL QUESTION…LEGAL SOLUTION?, FBT Media Law Advisory, MARCH 2002
SIXTH CIRCUIT RULES IN “A FIGHT FIT FOR DOGS”, FBT Media Law Advisory, NOVEMBER 2001
BOOK CONTRACT CLINIC: QUICK FIXES FOR BAD CLAUSES, 2001 Writer’s Market, WRITER’S DIGEST BOOKS
THE BUG LIST: POTENTIAL SYSTEM CRASHERS IN SOFTWARE CONTRACTS, e-Law Insert to Cincinnati Business Courier, MAY 12, 2000
OUTSOURCING WEB SITE DESIGN: WHO OWNS THE RIGHTS?, e-Law Insert to Cincinnati Business Courier, MAY 12, 2000

Classes / Seminars

Adjunct Instructor, Business Law, Xavier University, 1986 - 1990, 1995
Adjunct Instructor, Media Law, University of Cincinnati, Raymond Walters College, 1996 to Present
Adjunct Instructor, Electronic Media Law, University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, 2002 to Present
Copyright Infringement In Patent Prosecution: Might Your Firm Be The Next Litigation Target, ABA IP Law Section: 28th Annual CLE Conference, April 5, 2013

Honors And Awards

Best Lawyers® Copyright Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Cincinnati, 2024
The Best Lawyers in America®, 2006 - 2024
Ohio Super Lawyers®, 2015 - 2024
Best Lawyers® Copyright Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Cincinnati, 2021
Best Lawyers® Copyright Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Cincinnati, 2017
Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of Intellectual Property - Ohio, 2008

Professional Associations And Memberships

Ohio State Bar Association
CincyIP
Copyright Society of the U.S.A.
American Bar Association Intellectual Property Section, Copyright Office Affairs Committee, Special Committee on Copyright & New Technologies
Cincinnati Bar Association, Past Chair, Sports and Entertainment Law Committee, Chair, Communications Committee
Text and Academic Authors Association, Council Member, 1997 to Present
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Arbitration Panel, Member
Hamilton County Settlement Week, Mediator
School Division Lawyers’ Committee, Copyright Task Force and Ad Hoc Committee, Past Member
Association of American Publishers, Electronic Publishing
Ohio State Bar Association Mock Trial Program, School Legal Advisor, 1987 - 1995, 2002
Voyageur Media Group, Inc., Trustee
The Licensing Journal (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business), Advisory Board Member