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Jim Gatto is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. He is also Co-Team Leader of the firm's Digital Media Industry and Social Media and Games Industry Teams, Blockchain Technology and Digital Currency team, and Team Leader of the firm's Open Source Team.
Areas of Practice
Mr. Gatto leverages his unique combination of nearly 30 years of IP experience, business insights and attention to technology trends to help companies develop IP and other legal strategies that are aligned with their business objectives. His practice focuses on all aspects of intellectual property, internet and technology law, including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and open source. Mr. Gatto advises clients of all sizes (start-ups to Fortune 100 companies) on key legal and business issues relating to the use of social media, video games, social games and online gambling (gamblification), virtual goods and currency, social networks, virtual worlds, mirror worlds, augmented reality, open source user-generated content, location-based services and gamification.
He has extensive experience advising internet and social media companies on business and legal strategies relating to virtual goods and virtual currency, developing IP protection and monetization strategies, handling terms of service and end user license agreements, development, licensing and partnership agreements, developing DMCA policies, handling DMCA enforcement, privacy and COPPA policies and much more.
Mr. Gatto's practice is national and international, and it encompasses a full range of IP and technology issues, including: patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation; counseling and technology transactions; developing and implementing IP strategies to protect and to monetize IP assets; creating and implementing corporate IP programs; conducting IP audits; conducting complex patent prosecution, including patent appeals, interferences, Inter Partes Review (IPRs), reissues and protests; handling patent enforcement issues, including licensing and litigation; negotiating and drafting technology agreements; conducting IP due diligence in and negotiating IP aspects of mergers, acquisitions and financings; rendering opinions concerning the infringement, validity and enforceability of patents; handling trademark prosecution, domain name, copyright and trade secret matters; handling IP aspects of employment issues; advising clients on legal issues associated with open source software including open source patent issues, licensing, open source compatibility issues, indemnity issues and developing and implementing corporate policies on use of open source software; advising clients on the legality of cutting edge Internet business methods and technology; and advising clients on computer law issues such as computer fraud and abuse and SPAM-related issues.
More Legal and Business Bylines From James G. Gatto
- New Hampshire Exempts Bitcoin from Money Transmitter Regulation - (Posted On Wednesday, June 14, 2017)
- Nevada Passes Pro-Blockchain Law - (Posted On Tuesday, June 13, 2017)
- 100 Million Reasons For Open Source Compliance - (Posted On Wednesday, May 24, 2017)
- Horseracing-based Fantasy Sports Game Found Illegal - (Posted On Wednesday, May 17, 2017)
- Important Open Source Ruling Confirms Enforceability of Dual-Licensing and Breach of GPL for Failing to Distribute Source Code - (Posted On Monday, May 15, 2017)
- AR Game Maker Launches First Amendment Challenge - (Posted On Monday, April 24, 2017)
- In United Kingdom, Don’t Game Your Players with False Advertising - (Posted On Thursday, February 16, 2017)
- Don’t Lose Your Digital Millennium Copyright Act Safe Harbor Protection! - (Posted On Tuesday, November 15, 2016)
- Fantasy Stock Picking Contest Deemed by SEC to be Illegal Security-based Swaps - (Posted On Friday, October 21, 2016)
- New Challenge to Daily Fantasy Sports in New York - (Posted On Monday, October 10, 2016)
James G. Gatto and his thought leadership on Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies has been selected for a National Law Review Go-To Thought Leadership Award. Mr. Gatto’s grasp of this complicated area of law, as well as the digital media industry and technology trends, is very insightful, helpful and timely for NLR readers. You can read his analysis of blockchain issues on the Sheppard Mullin Law of the Ledger Blog.