Practice Areas
Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, Harvard Law School
- B.A., B.S.Econ., summa cum laude, University of Pennsylvania
Law Journals
- Editor, Harvard Law Review
Clerkships
Law Clerk for the Honorable James Hunter III,
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
(1979-1980)
Bar & Court Admissions
Bruce G. Joseph
PARTNER202.719.7258
| bjoseph@wileyrein.comMr. Joseph, chair of the firm’s Copyright Practice, represents clients in connection with copyright litigation, music and sound recording licensing negotiations and litigation, copyright and digital content protection legislation, regulation and inter-industry activities and copyright and trademark licensing and registration. He has been deeply involved in issues relating to the Internet, digital technology protection measures and DRMs. Chambers USA calls Mr. Joseph “one of the USA’s foremost experts in copyright protection,” (2012) and has commended him for both his “deep understanding of the law and business” (2011) and for being “an utterly phenomenal litigator” (2010). The Legal 500 US 2012 edition recommends Mr. Joseph as “one of the premier copyright lawyers in the USA.”
Mr. Joseph also has been named by Legal Times as one of the DC-region’s 10 “Leading Intellectual Property Lawyers” in the areas of copyright and trademark and by Washingtonian magazine as one of “Washington’s Top Lawyers,” among other honors.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Served as lead counsel representing major wireless services in Rate Court litigation against the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in connection with ringback tones, ringtone previews and mobile video, successfully obtaining summary judgment that ringtones do not implicate the public performance right.
- Served as lead counsel representing broadcast radio and subscription satellite radio clients in sound recording fee proceedings before the Copyright Royalty Board and argued D.C. Circuit appeal on behalf of certain radio broadcasters.
- Testified and submitted extensive comments on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters, CTIA-The Wireless Association and Verizon, successfully opposing a rule proposed by the U.S. Copyright Office that would have required services making streamed performances of music to pay a distribution royalty in addition to the public performance royalties they already pay. The proposed rule would have had broad ramifications for all services making digital performances and displays of copyrighted content.
- Represented various clients in negotiations leading to enactment of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 2004 Copyright Royalty and Distribution Act, 2002 Technology Education and Copyright Harmonization Act, 2002 Small Webcaster Settlement Act and 1992 Audio Home Recording Act.
- Represented a leading Internet service provider in a successful challenge to the recording industry's use of expansive DMCA subpoenas (Verizon v. Recording Industry Association of America).
- Defended Google against claims by Agence France Presse (AFP) that the Google News website infringed AFP copyrights in news headlines, story leads and photographs.
- Represented the wireless industry during the Copyright Office's 2009 and 2012 triennial rulemakings under section 1201, submitting comments and testifying (2009) in opposition to proposed exemptions to permit the circumvention of certain mobile phone system locks.
- Participated extensively in multi-industry content protection activities including the Copy Protection Technical Working Group, the DVD Copy Control Association, the Broadcast Protection Discussion Group and the Secure Digital Music Initiative.
- Filed amicus briefs and memoranda in leading Internet copyright and music licensing cases, including MGM v. Grokster in the Supreme Court; RIAA v. Diamond Multimedia; U.S. vs. ASCAP (the DMX, MobiTV and Music Choices cases); ALS Scan v. Remarq; Ellison v. Robertson; and CoStar Group, Inc. et al. v. LoopNet Inc.
AFFILIATIONS
- Advisory Board, BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal (1996-Present).
- Trustee (1996-1998) and Past President, The Copyright Society of the USA, Washington, DC Chapter.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Listed by Chambers USA as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" in Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (2010-2012).
- Named by The Legal 500 US a "recommended lawyer" in Copyright Law (2011-2012).
- Named one of DC's "Super Lawyers" for Intellectual Property by Super Lawyers magazine (2010-2013).
- Named by Lawdragon as one of "3000 Leading Lawyers in America" (2010-2011).
- Named one of Washington's "Best Lawyers" (2011) and one of "Washington's Top Lawyers" (2009) by Washingtonian magazine.
- Named as one of the Washington, DC area's 10 "Leading Intellectual Property Lawyers" by Legal Times in the areas of copyright and trademark (2008).
- AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell's highest ranking by peers for general ethical standards and legal ability.
PUBLICATIONS
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL- Aereo Wins Another Round in its Battle with Copyright Owners
Bruce G. Joseph, Andrew G. McBride, Karyn K. Ablin and Jennifer L. Elgin
April 2, 2013
- Broadcasters Found Unlikely to Succeed in Suit Against Internet Television Streaming Service
Jennifer L. Elgin and Bruce G. Joseph
July 20, 2012
SPEECHES
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL-
Please Excuse the Following Disruption: The Past, Present and Possible Future of Television and Radio Copyright Litigation
Bruce G. Joseph, Panelist
CSUSA Annual Meeting
June 11, 2013 | Bolton Landing, NY | More Information
NEWS RELEASES
CURRENT | CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALLFifty-Eight Wiley Rein Attorneys Named to DC "Super Lawyers" List Across 18 Areas of the Law
April 19, 2013
Chambers USA Recognizes Thirty-Two Wiley Rein Attorneys Across Fifteen Practice Areas as Best in the Country
June 7, 2012
The Legal 500 US Rates Wiley Rein's Copyright Practice Among Nation's Best for Second Straight Year
June 1, 2012
The Legal 500 US Ranks Four Wiley Rein Practices Among Nation's Best; Wiley and Senkowski Named 'Leading Lawyers'
May 30, 2012
IN THE NEWS
CHOOSE YEAR | VIEW ALL
