Jonathan D. Goins

Partner

Atlanta
1180 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 2900
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3521

Phone: 404.991.2160
Fax: 404.467.8845
Email: [email protected]

AV-peer rated by Martindale-Hubbell® for Intellectual Property, Jonathan D. Goins is a Partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology and Entertainment Practice Groups. With over ten years of experience, Mr. Goins has helped establish and enforce intellectual property rights for a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial start-ups, in a variety of industries including technology, new media, entertainment, consumer goods, fashion apparel and sports. With an “A to Z” transactional to litigation skill-set, Mr. Goins provides strategic advice in negotiating IP-related rights in multi-million dollar corporate deals; manages large-scale trademark and copyright portfolio registrations; advises on social media and Internet issues; and litigates cases involving trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. Mr. Goins has been recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer “Rising Star” for Intellectual Property in 2013 thru 2016, Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite in 2013, the National Bar Association’s top “40 Lawyers Under 40” in 2012 and the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s top “40 Under 40 Up & Comers” in 2010.

As a litigator, Mr. Goins has served as lead counsel in federal litigation nationally involving copyright infringement, trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair competition, cybersquatting, Internet libel and gripe sites, misappropriation of trade secrets, rights of publicity and related tortious claims. He has emphasized early resolution in dispositive motion practice and resolved contentious disputes involving multi-million dollar demands via arbitrations and mediations, often resulting in favorable negotiated settlement agreements.

As a counselor, and in efforts to mitigate litigious risk, Mr. Goins regularly advises clients in avoiding a multitude of potential pitfalls regarding IP issues in corporate transactions. He has prepared agreements with regard to ownership, indemnification, warranties, use and licensing of IP rights involving employees and consultants, joint ventures, technology, online services, research and development, advertising sponsorships and promotional rights, music, tv and film, global marketing campaigns, and major entertainment and sporting events. He has conducted IP audits, including due diligence in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Goins has drafted and enforced confidential non-disclosure agreements, non-solicitation and non-compete agreements; trade secrets’ policies; and copyright “works made for hire” agreements. He has negotiated licenses for distribution content (including digital media and related technology) as an additional means of brand value monetization and advertising expansion. Mr. Goins has also advised on ambush marketing tactics and FTC advertising compliance.

Mr. Goins’ trademark matters in particular have covered all aspects of large-scale portfolio management (including global brand marketing strategy, search opinions, advertising clearance, prosecution and maintenance) and enforcement via franchise brand use and distribution compliance, cease and desist letters, negotiated licenses and settlements, and proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial & Appeal Board. His Internet-related IP matters have involved advising on website IP notices and disclaimers, preparing or responding to DMCA take-down notices, investigating anonymous libel postings, and resolving domain name/cybersquatting disputes via the ACPA and the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Arbitration & Mediation/UDRP Center. And specific to entertainment and sports, Mr. Goins has represented high-profile talent and production management agencies, sports agencies, professional athletes and entertainers involving endorsement deals; IP clearance and registration; business ventures; a variety of music, tv and film-related agreements; disputed royalties and commission of fees; and arbitrations over violations of regulations with major professional sports leagues and college athletic associations.

Mr. Goins is a frequent speaker and author on various topics regarding intellectual property, and lectures on copyright and trademark law as an Adjunct Professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. He was a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Inez Smith Reid of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

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