clientandcases

	Significant cases in which Alan G. Dowling has served as the lead litigation and trial attorney have included: Minder Music Ltd. v. Interscope Records, Inc., et al., a federal copyright infringement action against record labels Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment, distributor Universal Music & Video Distribution, various music publishers including WB Music and Famous Music Publishing, and artists Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kurupt, Brian Hittman, Bailey and others. Defendants song Let's Get High from the mega-hit Dr. Dre album Dre 2001 was found to have infringed the 1980s funk hit Backstrokin by The Fatback Band. A jury verdict for more than $1,500,000 was returned in favor of client Plaintiff against Dr. Dre, et al., following which the dispute was successfully settled pending appeal. This case drew widespread international attention in print, Internet, television and radio media.
	La Cienega Music Company v. ZZ Top et al., a federal copyright infringement action involving the iconic ZZ Top boogie-rock hit La Grange (the band's signature song) and its infringement of the John Lee Hooker classic Boogie Chillen; affirmed in part and reversed in part 44 F.3d 813, 63 U.S.L.W. 2511, 1995 Copr.L.Dec. P27,383, 33 U.S.P.Q.2d 1437 (9th Cir. 1995), opinion amended and superseded on denial of rehearing, 53 F.3d 950 (9th Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 927, 116 S.Ct. 331, 133 L.Ed.2d 231, 64 U.S.L.W. 3262, 64 U.S.L.W. 3270 (1995), superseded by statute, 17 U.S.C. 303(b) (as amended by Pub.L. 105-80, 11, Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1534); successfully settled in 1997, on remand, prior to trial and before enactment of statutory amendment to US Copyright Law by Congress, effectively reversing adverse Ninth Circuit ruling in the case.This case, and the amendment of the Copyright Act by Congress arising from it, drew widespread attention in all media, and is still the subject of numerous commentaries in law reviews, periodicals and casebooks.
	Ham v. Besman, a federal copyright declaratory relief action, also involving La Grange and Boogie Chillen' and related to La Cienega Music v. ZZ Top et al (above); dismissal and appeal of decision concerning Texas federal court's lack of long-arm jurisdiction over California resident defendant); affirmed 4 F.3d 413 (5th Cir. 1993); widely cited as precedent on the jurisdictional issue in the Fifth Circuit and elsewhere.
	Fleetwood Mac adv. Robert Welch, a widely-publicized state court action involving a 20 year old royalty dispute with former band member Bob Welch; what began as a simple royalty collection action was greatly complicated by the discovery of ambiguities, deficiencies and alleged improprieties in the complex and confounding business structure created for the band in the 1970s. Successfully settled.
	Fleetwood Mac v. Michael R. Shapiro et al., a state court legal malpractice action against the band's former attorneys, for negligence, fraud and conflicts of interest. This action arose as a result of the revelations from discovery conducted in the Welch litigation (described above). The malpractice action was ultimately settled at mediation, effectively recouping the cost of settling the Welch claim.
	Chris Lester v. U2 Limited, et al., a federal copyright infringement action against the band U2, its record label, distributor and music publishers, involving the Grammy�-winning song Vertigo from the 2004 smash hit U2 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, also featured in the iconic Apple IPod television "silhouette" advertisement, and Lester's song 1998-99 Nowhere Fast.
	Ernest Straughter v. Usher Raymond IV, et al.,a federal copyright infringement action against Usher, Jermaine Dupri, Brian Michael Cox, and their record labels, distributor and music publishers, involving the Grammy�-nominated Billboard� Number One rated song Burn from the 2004 Grammy�-winning Usher album Confessions, and longtime session pianist-composer Straughter's song The Reasons Why, which had been recorded and released in 1998, under the title No More Pain, by R&B quartet Reel Tight.
	Adler v. Guns 'N Roses et al., a state court breach of contract and fraud action arising out of the band's expulsion of its heroin-addicted former drummer, Steve Adler. Successfully settled after a two-month trial, just before the case was to be sent to the jury for deliberation, this action was the subject of widespread international attention in print, Internet, television and radio media.
	Ray Pickens and George Saadi v. Elton John, a federal copyright infringement action involving the Elton John song Whispers, released as a single in France and included in the multi-million selling album Sleeping With The Past, and its blatant infringement of a song submitted to Elton John five years earlier by two young Ohio songwriters. This case was successfully settled on the eve of depositions of the principal defendants.
	Stone Agate Music v. Stephen Winwood, et al., a federal copyright infringement action on behalf of a division of Jobete Music Co., Inc., against recording legend Steve Winwood, lyricist Will Jennings, Virgin Records, Warner/Elektra/Asylum Music, Atlantic Recording Corp., and various music publishers including Warner-Tamerlane Publshing Corp. Plaintiff client alleged the Steve Winwood hit Roll With It (one of several huge hits that revived his career in the 1980s) infringed the copyright in Jr. Walker & The All Stars Motown classic [I'm A] Roadrunner). Successfully settled.
	Jobete Music Co., Inc. v. Frankie Beverly, et al., a federal copyright infringement action in which client Jobete Music sued Frankie Beverly, along with Warner Bros. Records and distributor WEA International, alleging that the hit song Silky Soul by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly infringed the copyright in the Marvin Gaye Motown classic What's Goin' On. Successfully settled.
	Tom Petty v. B.F. Goodrich, a federal copyright infringement action involving a "sound-alike" commercial advertisement that was derived from, infringed and imitated the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers song Mary's New Car. Case arose at the same time as the subsequently famous similar sound-alike infringement cases involving Tom Waits and Bette Midler, but was successfully settled after a preliminary injunction was granted, without client having to incur immense cost of trials and appeals.
	Shelter Entertainment Group v. Rondor Music International, a federal action involving a dispute over record distribution and music publishing rights as to the phenomenally successful early albums by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Successfully settled.
	Motown Record Corporation v. Brockert, a precedent-setting state court personal services contract and injunction action by client Motown against recording artist Teena Marie. An injunction was issued by the trial court prohibiting Teena Marie from bolting her contract with Motown to go to another major label. Settled pending appeal; decisions on appeal, Motown Record Corp. v. Sup. Ct., 155 Cal.App 3d 482 (1983) and Brockert v. Sup. Ct., 160 Cal.App 3d 123 (1984).
	Motown Record Corporation et al. v. Mary Wilson, a federal injunction action against misappropriation and infringement of trade name "The Supremes" by former original group member Mary Wilson; adverse decision by trial court reversed, by unpublished opinion, 849 F.2d 1476, 1988 WL 63755 (9th Cir. 1988).
	Motown Record Corporation v. Geo A. Hormel et al., a federal copyright infringement action for infringement of the Supremes' Motown classic Baby Love as used in a Hormel beef stew commercial, including characters of little girls dressed up to look like the Supremes; decision at 657 F.Supp. 1236 (C.D.Cal. 1987). Successfully settled.
	Motown Record Corporation adv. Strote & Whitehouse, et al., a state court action arising principally from royalty and personal management disputes between recording artist Rick James and his managers/attorneys, perpherally involving the record company and music publisher. Successfully settled.
	Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg v. AT&T Corp. et al., a federal action for copyright infringement involving as clients the Hall of Fame songwriters Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, their vastly popular composition True Colors (initially released and made famous by Cyndi Lauper; later re-recorded and successfully released by Phil Collins), and its infringement by ATT and its advertising agency Foote, Cone & Belding in their creation of a derivative work as a theme song recorded by Whitney Houston and used worldwide over a period of years in ATT's principal advertising campaigns. This case involved segments of the infringed work being copied and altered, then the segments being rearranged in a different order to create the infringing work. Successfully settled.
	GM Licensing Group, Inc. v. Idea Nuova, Inc., a series of AAA arbitrations spanning five years and generating federal trial court, Second Circuit appellate court, and U.S. Supreme Court appeals, involving millions of dollars in commissions, arising out of the breach of the parties' licensing consultancy agreement, under which GM Licensing had developed for home decor manufacturer Idea Nuova, from the ground up, a licensed goods program that within a few years was generating scores of millions of dollars in annual revenues, and included major character and brand licenses from industry leaders Disney, Marvel and MTV/Nickelodeon among many other properties, and a broad line of products sold worldwide.
	Traci Lords Productions, Inc. and Traci Lords v. Caballero Control Corporation Ltd., Inc, et al.a federal action for copyright infringement, unauthorized commercial exploitation of the actress's name, photos, likeness and voice, injunctive relief, fraud and breach of contract involving home video, CD-ROM, cablecast and phonecard royalties and the rights in the adult video Traci, I Love You and a derivative compilation called A Taste of Traci. The underlying contract, in 1986, was at the time the largest cash and royalty deal, by far, in the history of the adult entertainment business, and the film Traci, I Love You was and remains one of the top selling adult films of all time. A jury trial resulted in a verdict and judgment in excess of $250,000 against defendant Rodax Distributors (a sublicensee of principal defendant Caballero), and court judgment in excess of $1.5 million against Caballero.
	Traci Lords v. Thomas Krwawecz III and Blue Gravity Communications, Inc., one of the earlier Internet domain name disputes, adjudicated in a dispute resolution proceeding conducted under ICANN Rules, before the World Intellectual Property Organization, in Geneva, Switzerland, concerning attempted cybersquatting and misappropriation of the Internet website domain name tracilords.com; decision is WIPO Case No. D2000-1596, 5 Dec 2000. Successfully settled following WIPO decision.
	Traci Lords v. Risque Enterprises, Inc. et al., a federal action for copyright infringement and unauthorized commercial exploitation of the actress's name and photo in merchandise; judgment obtained against defendants. Ms. Lords, having become a cultural icon and having been subjected to a tremendous amount of unlawful rights-infringement and unauthorized commercial misappropriation of rights of publicity and other wrongful exploitation via the Internet, much of it originating overseas, has spent much of the past 20 years successfully asserting and pursuing claims against such interlopers.
	People v. Michael Joe Jackson, In the state criminal trial for child molestation and conspiracy, represented key involuntary witness Hamid Moslehi, who was subjected to a widely-publicized search of his residence in 2003 and later subpoenaed by the prosecution, in his dealings with law enforcement authorities and with prosecution and defense counsel, and especially in connection with First, Fifth and Sixth Amendment issues regarding his trial testimony. The case was covered on a saturation basis, for months, by international media of all kinds, round the clock. Also represented Mr. Moslehi in a wide variety of transactional and civil litigation matters pertaining to the product of his work as Jackson's personal videographer from 1996-2003, and participated in successful settlement of his substantial claims against Jackson for unpaid compensation and with respect to their dispute over ownership of and copyright in the product of Mr. Moslehi's work done for Jackson.
	Theresa Wise et al. v. Maverick Films and Mark Morgan, a California Superior Court action against the rights-owner and co-producer of the smash-hit Twilight trilogy of motion pictures, for breach of contract and fraud, arising out of nonpayment of bridge loans; resulted in judgment and collection of more than $700,000.
	Estate of Anthony Quinn, a state court probate proceeding involving the estate of the multiple Academy Award-winning actor, representing his eldest son, demanding recognition of unperfected claims to substantial real property interests jointly held with father Anthony at the time of his death; successfully settled with the estate.
	Minder Music Ltd. v. MCA Records, Inc., et al., a federal copyright infringement action against record label MCA Records, Universal Music & Video Distribution, Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall III and Damion Hall (the recording and performing group Guy), and various music publishers, including Zomba Music and WB Music Corp. The case involved the song Someday from the Guy album Guy III and its infringement of the hit song Someday by The Gap Band. Successfully settled.
	Mappa Music Company. v. Universal-Polygram International Publishing, Inc., et al., a federal court copyright infringement action against record labels and music publishers, and the widow and estate of another composer, regarding unauthorized exploitation of the 1956 musical composition Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now and the hit recording of that song by the teen duo Patience & Prudence, daughters of the hits composers, Mark and Audrey McIntyre. The hit had itself been an authorized derivative work based on a minor 1951 song. Over several decades the administration of publishing, and accounting of royalties, for the two versions of the song became entwined and disputed. Summary judgment for defendants on procedural grounds (decision at 62 USPQ2d 1582 [C.D. Cal. 2002]), appealed. The dispute was successfully settled pending the appeal.
	Percy Miller, No Limit Records, et al. adv. Craig Bazile, Craig Lawson, Raymond Poole, and Odell Vickers (pka Beats by the Pound), a federal court copyright infringement action by four co-authors and co-producers of hundreds of songs produced and released by No Limit Records between 1995-2000. The plaintiffs claimed underpayment of royalties and failure to obtain proper clearance of rights to the songs. Successfully settled and rights cleared.
	Percy Miller pka Master P, Vyshonn Miller pka Silkk the Shocker, Boutit, Inc. dba No Limit Records, Big P Music LLC, Michael Tyler pka Mystikal, et al. adv. Darin Black, originally a federal court copyright infringement action over the hip hop hit Wobble, Wobble, Plaintiff Black's case was dismissed pursuant to settlement. Counterclaims were asserted between Priority Records and Master P and No Limit companies. Summary judgments totaling $36 million were entered against No Limit Records by default (defunct, and in bankruptcy) and Master P (as alter ego), but subsequently vacated by the Court, while counterclaims of No Limit against Priority awaited trial. Entire case finally settled successfully.
	Boutit, Inc. dba No Limit Records, Richard N. Joseph, et al. adv. Marc D'Andrea pka Marc N Tha Dark, a federal court copyright infringement action in Central District of California, transferred to Eastern District of Louisiana, also involving the rap song Wobble, Wobble in various configurations, media and uses. D'Andrea claimed he was the original author of the same song claimed by Darin Black (see case above). D'Andrea's case was dismissed by the Louisiana federal court.
	Percy Miller pka Master P, Boutit, Inc. dba No Limit Records, Boutit Boutit Management LLC, Big P Music LLC, No Limit Films LLC, No Limit Productions LLC, No Limit Records LLC, No Limit Studios LLC adv. (1) 4MC Company 3, Inc., (2) Bedlam, Inc., (3) Cinelease, Inc., (4) Heath Media Associates, Inc. aka HMA, (5) Clark Moffat, (6) Michael Pearce and (7) Ntropic, Inc., seven state court actions arising from post-production work done on music videos, inter alia, for Master P, No Limit Records and related entities, where intermediaries had allegedly misappropriated and misspent financing from No Limit that was supposed to have paid for these obligations in the first instance. All successfully settled.
	Michael Tyler pka Mystikal adv. Prime Time Concerts LLC and King Media LLC , , a state court action arising from dispute over non-payment of guaranteed performance advance, and consequent refusal of artist to perform at Shaquille O'Neal New Year's Eve 2000 event at Staples Center in Los Angeles; successfully settled at mediation.
	Discos Sabinas, S.A. de C.V., et al. v. Fonovisa, Inc., et al., a federal copyright infringement and unfair competition action against a U.S.-based Latino record label for releasing recordings by three of plaintiff's exclusive recording artists, lured away from renowned grupero Los Angeles Azules and performing as part of a group called Los Angeles de Charly; successfully settled.
	Gomez v. Meza, a federal court trademark infringement action arising out of the break-up of the renowned Duranguense musical group K-Paz de la Sierra, and the actions of the successor groups, K-Paz de la Sierra and La Autoridad de la Sierra, each of which went on to considerable success in its own right. Successfully settled at mediation.
	Tim Burton v. David Ladner et al., a state court action by renowned film producer-director Burton principally against other defendants for alleged conversion of original Burton artworks. Client Taylor White and his company Creature Features Inc., were was one of the world's foremost dealers in horror and fantasy movie memorabilia, and an alleged recipient of goods converted (stolen) by others. Successfully settled.
	Glenn Frey adv. MCA Records, Inc., a state court contract termination action relating to re-formation of the legendary musical group The Eagles before the Hell Freezes Over Tour, and involving the seven year limitation on personal services contracts imposed by California Labor Code 2855. The case was successfully settled, helping pave the way for re-formation of the group and its massive subsequent success in recordings and performing.
	Wayne Newton adv. William Devane, a federal action brought against ranch owner and horse breeder (and world-famous celebrity and performer) Wayne Newton by famous actor William Devane (himself an Arabian horse owner and breeder). Devane alleged that Newton was responsible for negligence by Newton's ranch veterinarian in the death of an already-injured Arabian mare sent by Devane to Newton's Nevada ranch for foaling and breeding. The case was successfully settled after testing and analysis of the mare's remains by a team of the world's leading forensic veterinary pathologists.
	Shawn Ivy (p.k.a. Domino) adv. Jerome Howard, a state court action and related Labor Commissioner arbitration arising from a personal management dispute under Cal. Labor Code 1700 et seq., involving one of the early successful rap artists, Domino; administrative decision in favor of client Domino reported as California Labor Commissioner Case No. TAC 18-94; manager's appeal and request for trial de novo before Los Angeles Superior Court denied.
	Maximo Aguirre Music Publishing Co. v. Raul Di Blasio, BMG International, et al., a federal action involving allegations of fraud and breach of contract over rights to famed Latin jazz pianist Raul Di Blasio's classic album El Piano de America. Successfully settled.
	Hemdale Film Corp. v. Cannon Films, Inc. et al. , a state court action for interference with contractual relations and misappropriation of rights to the Charles Bronson film Murphy's Law. What began as a garden-variety breach of contract dispute pertaining to an option agreement became a bitter battle of wills between the strong personalities heading two of the leading independent film production companies of the era. Successfully settled.
	Sherwood Productions v. Neoplanta Film, a AAA arbitration resulting in $3.7 million judgment for an American motion picture production company (owned and run by David Begelman and Bruce McNall) against Yugoslavian co-producers of the film The Courageous aka The Great Transport. Thereafter, clients brought a federal action, Sherwood Productions v. Novosadska Banka, against a Yugoslavian bank that had underwritten the Yugoslavian co-producer's side of the original deal, for negligent misrepresentation of Neoplanta Film's financial viability. This second action resulted in a judgment against the Yugoslavian bank for the same $3.7 million plus interest. After withstanding subsequent challenges in U.S. district and appellate courts the judgment against the banks was ultimately collected by means of seizure of international transfer of funds passing through correspondent banks in U.S.
	Great White Productions, Inc. adv. Wisztreich, a federal trademark infringement action involving the album and song entitled Psycho City by the rock band Great White. Plaintiffs were an unsigned local band called Psychocity. Successfully settled at nuisance value.
	Great White Productions, Inc. adv. Lorne Doyle , defense of the band Great White in an American Arbitration Association proceeding, arising from a royalty dispute with Lorne Doyle (also known as Lorne Black) an expelled former band member. Doyle's claim was rejected.
	Great White Productions, Inc. adv. Gary Holland, a state court action, again defending the band Great White against royalty claims by yet another former band member, Gary Holland. Holland's claims against the band were dismissed in their entirety.
	Gene Barry adv. Taines, a federal action involving corporate dissolution and a fiduciary duties dispute concerning a one-hour photo developing company jointly owned and operated by three families. Court trial resulted in judgment in favor of client Gene Barry and his co-defendants; affirmed on appeal, by unpublished opinion, Taines v. Central Bank, et al., 875 F.2d 871, 1989 WL 57614 (9th Cir. 1989).
	Gerardo adv. Fabian Cooke , a state court action arising from dispute over alleged musical collaboration between purported manager/producer Fabian Cooke and famed early Latino rap star Gerardo, involving the Gerardo smash hit Rico Suave, among other songs. Successfully settled.
	Island Pictures et al. adv. Embassy Home Entmt., a federal action arising from a contractual dispute concerning home video rights to the Academy Award-winning film The Trip to Bountiful. Successfully settled.
	Empire Pictures adv. ReAnimator Prods., Inc.. a state court action arising from a dispute concerning the alleged breach of the distribution contract involving the cult-classic film ReAnimator. Successfully settled.
	Empire Pictures adv. Ghoulies Prods., Inc., a state court action arising from a dispute concerning the alleged breach of the distribution contract concerning the film Ghoulies. Successfully settled.
	Empire Pictures adv. Quixote Prods., Inc., a federal copyright infringement and contract interference action involving the cult-classic film Crawlspace. Successfully settled.
	Filmaccord Corp. v. Yahoo Serious et al., a federal action for rescission of an international distribution contract involving the Australian comedy Young Einstein, created by and starring the Australian comedian Yahoo Serious. Successfully settled.
	Geffen Records v. Neil Young a state court action arising from a personal services contract dispute between the record company and the legendary performer/songwriter and recording artist, at the nadir of his career. Settled after a year of highly contentious litigation..
	David Hasselhoff v. Joel Diamond, a federal court action arising from nonperformance of a contract for worldwide distribution of early record albums by David Hasselhoff, recorded long prior to his huge success in Baywatch.
	A&M Records v. George Harrison, a state court action for George Harrison's breach of his contract to deliver record albums to A&M Records in the years just after break-up of The Beatles.
	Michael Vail Blum v. Anastacia Newkirk, a state court action arising from a dispute over the parties agreement for production of demo recordings and obligations relating to production of major label recordings thereafter. Anastacia was largely unknown at the time of the demos, but enjoyed huge international success based on her subsequent work at Sony. Successfully settled.
	Carman Productions v. Rick Springfield, a state court action arising out of the attempted termination of the recording artist's personal manager/joint venturers Joe Gottfried and Tom Skeeter, amidst allegations of interference by a subsequent manager. Successfully settled.
	EMMC v. Michael Jackson et al., a state court action arising from a dispute regarding merchandising rights to The Jacksons' Victory Tour. Successfully settled.
	Pacificoncerts/Roger Shepherd adv. Artas Film +Television Productions, a federal action brought by European concert planners against noted L.A. promoter Roger Shepherd and renowned U.K. promoter Harvey Goldsmith for purported breach of agreements relating to an Armenian earthquake relief benefit concert to take place in Moscow. Successfully resolved.
	Patricia McQueeney Management v. Cindy Williams, a state court action and related Labor Commissioner arbitration arising from a personal management fee dispute under Cal. Labor Code 1700 et seq. between legendary personal manager/talent agent Pat McQueeney and the noted television actress (from Three's Company). Successfully settled.
	Arlene L. Dayton Management v. Joanna Kerns, a state court action and related Labor Commissioner arbitration arising from a personal management contract termination and fee dispute under Cal. Labor Code 1700 et seq. between the client personal manager and the famed television actress Joanna Kerns, from the hit series Growing Pains. Successfully settled after arbitration.
	Howard Askenase v. Jonathan Frakes, a state court action and related Labor Commissioner arbitration arising from a personal management contract termination and fee dispute under Cal. Labor Code 1700 et seq. between the client personal manager and the noted actor who played the character Riker in the hit series Star Trek: The Next Generation and other Star Trek productions. Frakes claims were almost entirely rejected at arbitration.
	Ross Brown v. Thomas Haden Church, AAA arbitration and Superior Court trial de novo, arising from a personal management contract termination and fee dispute under Cal. Labor Code 1700 et seq. between the client personal manager and the now-famous actor (from the television series Wings, and the motion picture Sideways).
	Gloria Loring v. The Light Company, AAA arbitration and related Labor Commissioner arbitration arising from personal management dispute under Cal. Labor Code 1700 et seq. between a personal manager and client Gloria Loring, a well-known singer and actress (from Days of Our Lives). Successfully settled.
	Howard Wolf adv. Louis St. Louis , a state court action arising from a personal management contract termination and fee dispute under Cal. Labor Code 1700 et seq. between client personal manager and music director for Broadway musical Grease.
	Tonka Corporation et al. adv. GDS Marketing, action involving United States distributorship rights to Sega home video products. Successfully settled.
	The Street Buzz, Inc. v. Access Television Network et al., AAA arbitration, including appeals to Superior Court, arising from breakdown of joint venture with seller of cable television paid programming time, embodied in exclusive long-term agreement to telecast innovative music video television show, and subsequent unsuccessful attempts by network to produce and distribute a substantially identical show as its own.
	George Saadi v. News Corporation, Fox Television Stations, Inc., et al., a federal trademark infringement and dilution action arising from Fox Television's production of television program segments called Street Buzz with a logo substantially identical to plaintiff clients incontestable federally-registered service mark and logo The Street Buzz (which he had revealed to Fox in submission to Fox of his own television program of that name four years before). Successfully settled.
	Bernard Besman v. Capitol-EMI Music Group, two AAA arbitrations for rescission of master recording lease agreements and/or recovery of unpaid royalties and other damages arising from failure of Capitol Records and its predecessor in interest, UA/Liberty Records, from 1973 through 1998, to account for or to pay royalties from exploitation of the leased master recordings by John Lee Hooker from 1948-1952. Successfully resolved.
	New Line Cinema, et al. adv. Pushkin, a federal trademark infringement action pertaining to the plaintiff's registered trademark Radio Free America, incidentally and inadvertently used in passing in the Allan Moyle motion picture Pump Up the Volume, starring Christian Slater. Successfully settled.
	KidzVidz, Noda Films Inc. and Nobuhito Noda v. Sherman, a state court action involving the contentious dissolution of a video production partnership and allocation of rights to several videos financed by Japanese investors and aimed at the children's home video market. Successfully settled.
	Yost v. The Video Station, Inc. et al., represented certified public accountants in a widely-publicized class action securities fraud case relating to the initial public offering of one of the earliest video store chains. Dismissed, first from federal court, then from state court. SEC and State Board of Accountancy proceedings settled by consent decrees; investigation by AICPA successfully terminated without any hearing or disciplinary action.
	Kaplan v. Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc., a state court antitrust class action for price fixing; successfully settled.
	Access Veri Iletisism ve Enformasyon Teknolojisi A.S. adv. Infonet Services Corporation et al., international commercial arbitration conducted under the auspices of the United Nations International Commission on Trade Law (UNCITRAL), representing a Turkish telecommunications company against a major worldwide telecommunications network.
	In addition, Mr. Dowling has counseled numerous clients in a non-litigation context, both in matters involving informal dispute resolution and in transactional matters such as contract negotiation, rights licensing and clearance, business formation and dissolution, landlord-tenant matters, and the like. These clients have included: Miss Universe 1988 Porntip Nakhirunkanok (regarding international commercial endorsement contracts arising out of the Miss Universe contest); film actor Robert Mitchum (personal management dispute); film and television actor Richard Chamberlain (handling of an incident of fan harassment); film and television actor/ director/ producer/ studio executive Jackie Cooper (Internet-related matters implicating rights of privacy and publicity); actress Madeline Kahn (contractual matter); soap opera legend Andrea Evans (formation and operation of business organizations to exploit her jewelry line, and resolution of subsequent dispute with business partners); director/ writer/ producer Ken Hughes (director of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) (regarding exploitation of board game design, and stage play concerning Oscar Wilde); producer/ director/ writer/ actor/ composer Mel Brooks (production related issues during the filming of 84 Charing Cross Road); producer/ director Charles Band (wide variety of personal matters as well as business matters involving his companies Empire Pictures and Full Moon Entertainment); Michael Forman and Sylvie Bruges (film development of Faithfull, the autobiography of Marianne Faithfull); director Alex Cox (director of Sid & Nancy, Repo Man) (contract issues); screenwriter Darryl Quarles (screenwriter of Big Momma's House) (dispute with alleged co-author of project entitled Rat Race); author/ poet/ songwriter Rod McKuen (author of Listen to the Warm); author Traci Lords (in connection with her autobiography Traci Lords- Underneath It All, and other matters); cinematographer Conrad Hall and actress Katharine Ross (rights arising from option on William Faulkner book The Wild Palms, and possible infringement by 1993 ABC mini-series Wild Palms, produced by Oliver Stone and Bruce Wagner); internationally famed songwriter Max DiCarlo (hits with RBD/Rebelde and numerous others)(disputes with several major music publishers regarding ownership of rights in various compositions); popular songwriter Marti Sharron (hits with Celine Dion, Anita Baker and others) (contract matters); record producer/ recording engineer Michael Vail Blum (ownership of demo recordings made for singer Kelly Clarkson shortly before she appeared on American Idol); the California Angels baseball team (dispute with promoters of fan appreciation ocean cruise); baseball star pitcher Tommy John (California Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees) (personal matters); former world heavyweight champion Tony TNT Tubbs (personal management dispute with boxing promoter Don King); personal manager Sandy Joseph (dispute with her client actor Donal Logue); commercial landlord-tenant dispute (recording studio) between Robert Sachs and recording artist Marvin Gaye; Motown Records (enforcement of rights violated by soundtrack albums for the pictures Beverly Hills Cop and Looking for Mr. Goodbar and their inclusion of hit Motown records that had been used in the motion pictures, where no grant of rights had been made for soundtrack album use) legendary punk musicians The Sex Pistols (contractual and immigration-related matters upon arrival for first tour of USA); DJ Lethal of Limp Bizkit (personal corporate matters, and counseling regarding handling of criminal charges arising out of band altercation with members of the group Cypress Hill in Florida); renowned Caribbean recording artist Juan Luis Guerra (contract matters); El Debarge of the Motown recording group Debarge (personal and contract matters); Bobby Debarge of the Motown recording group Debarge (personal and contract matters); Jermaine Jackson, solo artist and original member of The Jackson Five (personal and contract matters) ; Vanilla Ice (Ice, Ice Baby) (personal contract matters); Rene Moore, of the R&B duo Rene & Angela (dispute with Angela Winbush over break-up of group); legendary recording and performing group The Platters (contractual matters); Mark Gaillard and Randy Banks, owners of hundreds of archival studio, rehearsal and live audio and video recordings of Bob Marley and the Wailers (exploitation of recordings); record production company HardCorps Records, producers of the compilation album Deep Porn, including original songs by Kid Rock, George Clinton, DJ Muggs and others (all legal matters pertaining to business organization, production, talent and distribution contracts); and adult film stars Tori Welles, Kiss, Jamie Leigh, Chaz Vincent, Dominique Simone, Marylin Star and Rayveness (various personal and contract matters). While the representation of many litigation clients is, by its nature, only a one-time occasion (with some such relationships more protracted than others), it is particularly gratifying to have long-term, repeat clients. By way of example, Mr. Dowling has represented actress/ author/ producer/ director Traci Lords and Traci Lords Productions, Inc., continuously for two decades, since 1987; represented The Gordy Company, Motown Record Corporation and Jobete Music Publishing Co., Inc., for 13 years from 1981 through 1994 (after which the record company was sold to Universal and the publishing company to EMI); has represented music industry executive George Saadi and his television production company The Street Buzz, Inc., since 1992; has represented prolific adult entertainment actress/ producer/ director Kiss and her company Sherrie Foster Productions through 1994; represented Mexico-based record label Disa Records, its publishing wing Edimonsa, and certain of its recording artists through 2006; has represented international entertainment, character, corporate trademark and brand licensing expert GM Licensing Group, Inc., since 2006; and has represented hip-hop mogul Master P and his complex, far flung No Limit Records empire in a large array of litigation and business matters since 2000.