CLIENTS

Mableson Law appreciates the confidence our clients have placed in our legal services. We take great pride in personally representing individuals and companies in our practice areas, and we want our clients to think of us as their general counsel and to contact us regarding any legal issue whether or not it involves our areas of practice. Over the last 36 years, we have developed strong relationships with law firms in many different areas of practice. We refer to attorneys who are preeminent practitioners and provide excellent legal representation. We appreciate all referrals.

The following is a partial list of the thousands of clients whom we have had the privilege of representing:

• Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Film Series)
• Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
• Allison DuBois (TV Show The Medium, & Books)
• Linda Cobb – Queen of Clean (TV & Books)
• CeCe Peniston (Music)
• Square One Studios (Games)
• Steve and Annette Economides (Books & TV)
• EasyNews/PureGig (Internet & Usenet)
• Onverse (Virtual World)
• Martha Siegel (Internet & Books)
• Kerrie Droban (Books)
• Mike Jacka & Paulette Keller (Books)
• Hale Dwoskin & The Sedona Method (Books & Film)
• Amy Allan (TV Show, The Dead Files)
• OnCast® (Live Video Streaming)
• Tray Goodman (and his many video and television productions)
• Lynette Zang (and her successful Youtube channel and books)
• Katrina Palmisano/Palmisano Productions
• SLOPE Records
• Whirled Music Publishing/Fervor Records
• Bob and Pat Bondurant
• And many more. References available upon request.

Connie J. Mableson Profile

Connie J. Mableson represents clients throughout the United States and worldwide in intellectual property and business matters.

Her areas of expertise include:

• Copyrights
• Trademarks
• Literary Law, Book Publishing Contracts, Interview Releases, Permissions & clearances
• Pre-publication Legal Review of Non-Fiction Manuscripts. Please go to: www.literaryattorney.com  for more information on Book Publishing services and Vetting
• Television
• Music publishing and record contracts

With over 41 years of legal experience, Ms. Mableson is a trusted advisor and counselor, providing clients with preventative and pragmatic legal strategies to advance their creative and business objectives.

She is an AV rated attorney, indicating the highest level of professional excellence, skill, and integrity. She has also been named by Phoenix Business Journal as one of the “Top 10 IP Attorneys in Arizona,” and her firm has been honored as the “Top Boutique Firm for IP” in past years.

She is the author of the DMCA HANDBOOK™ for ISPs, Websites, Content Creators, and Copyright Owners. It is published  by the American Bar Association and is available on Amazon.

For over 10 years, Ms. Mableson was an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University where she taught “Entertainment Business Contracts” and “Governance of Virtual Worlds”.

Complimenting her legal practice, Ms. Mableson is a frequent guest speaker, lecturer, and facilitator of many courses, seminars, and all-day legal education programs sponsored by various bar associations, universities, and nationally acclaimed seminars.

CONTACT

Connie J. Mableson, PLLC

Venjuris Building
1938 E. Osborn Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602-277-8100 Office www.mablesonlaw.com

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Home Page

• Copyrights & Trademarks—File, License, Defend
• Structure, Negotiate, & Prepare all Contracts
• Books, Music, Compositions, TV & Film Productions

• Literary and Publishing Law
• Practical & Affordable
• Direct Line @ 602-277-8100

Connie J. Mableson, Esq., offers practical advice, options, and solutions to owners of creative and intellectual property assets. Connie can assist you with preparation, review, and negotiation of all contracts pertaining to your valuable creative and IP assets.

Mableson Law focuses on intellectual property, copyright, trademark, Arts & Entertainment, DMCA, and business matters related to individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses who own creative and intellectual property assets.

Mableson law is a preeminent, nationally recognized firm, representing clients across the United States and worldwide. Please see Practice Areas for more information about our professional services.

For over 41 years, Connie J. Mableson, Esq. has assisted her clients with the unique business and legal issues relating to the ownership and protection of intellectual property and creative assets including copyright and trademark use, intellectual property asset protection, clearances, licensing, and IP infringement.

Connie assists her clients to develop and implement practical and affordable legal strategies that monetize and enhance the value of your intellectual property now and in years to come.

Also go to www.literaryattorney.com for more information about getting your non-fiction manuscript vetted for a reasonable flat fee.

Business Law and Intellectual Property

Connie provides business law advice to creatives, entrepreneurs and businesses nationwide, especially relating to the intellectual property aspects of all businesses.  She is exceptionally positioned to understand the challenges facing creatives, and business owners in this economic environment.  Mableson Law represented the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA), an Arizona trade organization with over 15,000 members and 11,000 businesses in Arizona.  Ms. Mableson holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance) and her focus is always on the bottom line.

As an exceptional drafter, negotiator, and dealmaker,  Connie J. Mableson takes pride in helping her clients enter into beneficial, risk adverse agreements.  Contracts are our stock in trade. She is qualified to handle complex business transactions, always working to close deals as swiftly as possible, while protecting and advancing her clients’ interests.

Some of the types of contracts she assists client with include:

• Non-Disclosure & Confidentiality Agreements
• Independent Contractor Contracts
• Trade Secret Agreements
• Works Made for Hire
• Intellectual Property Holding Companies & License Agreements
• Intellectual Property Asset Structuring
• Marketing Agreements

Intellectual Property Holding Company

Intellectual Property assets (copyrights, trademarks, patents, methods and methodologies, programs and courses), are often held in a separate Intellectual Property Holding Company. This is done for several reasons. First, the holding company through a License Agreement, licenses out its IP assets to affiliated companies.  If any of the affiliated companies go out of business, the license is automatically terminated, the valuable IP is not affected and remains in the holding company. The holding company also licenses its IP assets to third parties, pursuant to a License Agreement.

Connie routinely forms IP Holding Companies (either an LLC or an Inc.) for its clients who want to protect the IP assets.

Connie routinely prepares License Agreements between affiliated companies which allows the affiliated company to use the IP Assets held in the IP Holding Company.

This asset protection method for a company’s valuable IP assets, is a simple and straightforward process. Connie charges below-market and surprisingly reasonable rates to structure this type of protection for your IP assets.  

Experienced, Innovative, and Practical Legal Advice

at Affordable Rates and Fees

Connie J. Mableson has provided advice, consultation services, and comprehensive representation in all aspects of IP Holding Companies for many decades. If you have an intellectual property or technology concern or opportunity, please contact our office for a consultation. We always keep an eye on the bottom line.

Intellectual Property

Nationwide Clients and Representation

Although based in Phoenix, Arizona, Mableson Law represents creative artists, entrepreneurs, techies, and businesses in intellectual property (IP) and related corporate matters throughout the United States and worldwide.

Copyright Advice, Filing, Protection, and Copyright Infringement Litigation & Defense

Did you know that if you file your copyright application before 90 days after you publish your artwork, book, computer program, etc., that you gain additional protections and increased damages if you must sue an infringer of your works?

These and other professional tips can make a big difference in the protection of your artistic works.

Connie assists clients with copyright registration, licensing, and enforcement. We are experienced with the filing and review procedures of the United States Copyright Office. We also prosecute copyright infringement matters, including issues of fair use and unfair competition. In all cases, we advise as to both the protection and ownership of intellectual property and as to the risks and benefits relevant to various options to enforce ownership, from filing suit to mediation. We consult on all areas concerning securing protection and ownership of ideas, concepts, and creative works in all areas such as computer and internet, all art disciplines (literary, visual art, performing arts), media, technology, trade secrets, employment contracts, and independent contractor agreements. Our services include:

• Copyright Advice
• Copyright Registration
• Licensing, transfer and assignments
• Copyright ownership disputes
• Work-made-for-hire agreements
• Collaboration and joint ownership Agreements
• Internet and digital distribution Agreements
• International Copyright
• Copyrights & Estate Planning

What is a Copyright?

Copyright law protects original, creative expression. Copyright law protects “original works of authorship” that are fixed in a tangible form of expression. The fixation may be communicated with the aid of a machine or device, such as a computer. Copyrightable works include the following categories: literary works, musical works, including any accompanying words, dramatic works, including any accompanying music, pantomimes and choreographic works, pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, motion pictures and other audiovisual works, sound recordings, architectural works, and computer programs.

Trademark, Patent, or Copyright?

A copyright protects works of authorship, such as writings, music, and works of art that have been tangibly expressed.

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others. A service mark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than goods. The term “trademark” is often used to refer to both trademarks and service marks.

A patent is a limited duration property right relating to an invention, granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in exchange for public disclosure of the invention.

Trademark

What is a trademark or service mark?

In short, a trademark is a brand name. A trademark includes any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods. A service mark is any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce, to identify and distinguish the services of one provider from services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the services.

Must all marks be registered? No, but federal registration has several advantages, including a notice to the public of the registrant’s claim of ownership of the mark, a legal presumption of ownership nationwide, and the exclusive right to use the mark on or in connection with the goods or services set forth in the registration.

Connie charges a below-market and reasonable fee to assist you with branding and filing your Trademark Application with the USPTO.

What We Can Do to Help You Avoid Potential Pitfalls

Filing a trademark application at the USPTO starts a legal proceeding. Most applicants hire a private attorney who specializes in trademark matters to represent them in the application process and provide legal advice.

Connie can help you before, during, and after the trademark application process, including policing and enforcing any trademark registration that may issue. While you are not required to have an attorney, an attorney may save you from future costly legal problems by assisting with name selection and name searching before you file your application. Name searches are important because other trademark owners may have protected legal rights in trademarks similar to yours that are not federally registered. Therefore, those trademarks will not appear in the USPTO’s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) database but could still ultimately prevent your use of your mark. In addition, we can help you during the application process with several things that could seriously impact your trademark rights, such as determining the best way to describe your goods and services and preparing responses to refusals to register that an examining attorney may issue. Finally, we can also assist in the policing and enforcement of your trademark rights. The USPTO only registers trademarks. You as the trademark owner are responsible for any enforcement.

Mableson Law knows how to protect your brand identity and can advise you in all aspects of choosing a mark that is not confusing similar to your competitor’s mark, filing an application, and post-registration issues. We also handle:

• Trademarks & Servicemarks
• Tradenames
• Trademark searches and availability
• Trademark Registration and Maintenance
• Trademark ownership disputes
• Licensing, transfer and assignments
• Trademark License Agreements
• Trademark Infringement Lawsuits

Trademark, Patent, or Copyright?

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others. A service mark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than goods. The term “trademark” is often used to refer to both trademarks and service marks.

A copyright protects original works of authorship, such as writings, music, and works of art that have been tangibly expressed.

A patent is a limited duration property right relating to an invention, granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in exchange for public disclosure of the invention. Patents are prepared by registered Patent Attorneys.

Entertainment and Book Publishing Law

We understand the dynamics of the arts and entertainment industry, helping artists and entrepreneurs to protect and maximize their rights and interests. Our clients include musicians and bands, record labels and music publishers, record producers, film companies, event promoters, recording studios, radio and TV personalities, comedians, film animators, managers, book authors & publishers, literary agents, visual artists, and galleries.

Industries: We routinely handle transactions and contracts in the following industries:

• Book Publishing, Indie authors, & self-publishing, Publishing Agreements, Ghostwriter Agreements
• Pre-publication Legal Review of Non-fiction Manuscripts (vetting) in over 14 areas of the law. (Go to www.literaryattorney.com for more information)
• Music Publishing Agreements & Disputes, Record Contracts, Producer Deals, etc.
• TV & Film – All Contracts and Above the Line Talent and Writers

Comprehensive Negotiation and Drafting

Contracts are our stock in trade. As an exceptional drafter, negotiator, and dealmaker, Connie J. Mableson takes pride in helping her clients enter into beneficial, risk adverse agreements. We are qualified to handle even the most complex transactions, always working to close deals as swiftly as possible, while protecting and advancing our clients’ interests. A few of the matters we work on for our clients include:

Music

• Recording Agreements
• 360 Agreements
• Music Publishing Agreement
• Manager Agreement
• Agent Agreement
• Co-Publishing Agreement
• Songwriter’s Agreement
• Collaboration Agreement
• BMI & ASCAP Agreements
• Studio Agreements
• Studio Spec Agreements
• Copyright Performer Releases
• Loan Out Agreement
• Sampling License
• Music Video Agreements
• Music Industry Agreements
• Tour Agreements

Film & Television

• Literary Option Agreements
• Actor Agreements
• Director Agreements
• Producer agreements
• Financing Arrangements
• Writer Agreement
• Distribution Agreement
• Crew Deal Memo
• Location Release
• Music Synchronization Agreement
• Composer’s Agreement
• Life Story Rights Agreement
• TV Syndication Agreement
• TV Program License Agreement
• Selling and securing story and publicity rights
• Distribution agreements
• Literary Property Option agreements
• Rights clearance and acquisition

Book Publishing & Independent Authors

• Book Publishing Agreement
• Contract with Book Distributor
• Author Publisher Agreement
• Author Collaboration Agreement
• Ghost Writer Agreement
• Interview Releases
• Permissions and Clearances
• Electronic Publishing
• eBooks
• Audio Book Rights
• Content Licenses
• Independent Authors &  Self-Publishing

Pre-Publication Legal Review of Non-Fiction Manuscripts (vetting)

Connie is one of only a few lawyers in the United States who provide a thorough vetting of non-fiction manuscripts for risks in 14 areas of the law. Reasonable Flat Fee.

Go to www.literaryattorney.com for more information.

Rights of Publicity

• Publicity and celebrity rights protection
• Publicity and celebrity rights licensing

Art Law

• Artists-Dealer transactions
• Moral rights of artists
• Merchandising Visual Art

Books, Self-Publishing & Traditional Publishing

NEWS & EVENTS

November 1, 2015

Connie J. Mableson will be teaching Entertainment Business Contracts at the Sandra Day-O’Connor School of Law at ASU in the Spring Semester. This is an upper level, 3.0 credit class.

October 1st, 2014

Effective October 1, 2014, our new offices are located at 1938 E. Osborn Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016.  The office is located in the former Wholesale Floors building, an iconic historical building conveniently located just off the SR51 and 202 highways and south of the Biltmore Area.

February 1, 2013

Ms. Mableson’s LinkedIn page is among the top 10% of all pages reviewed on LinkedIn.

January 1, 2013

Connie Mableson is again teaching “Entertainment Business Contracts” at the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law, Arizona State University. This is an upper class 3.0 credit hours class.

December 31, 2012

Rex Anderson had a busy year in and out of the office. He met a personal cycling goal of over 3000 miles on his bicycle in 2012 including the 491 mile weeklong RAGBRAI ride across Iowa with his bike club, Band of Cousins. Rex also continued his re-entry into the sport of triathlon including his first Olympic length triathlon in 23 years at Nathan’s Triathlon in Tempe, AZ.

October 18, 2012

Connie & Rex hosted over 50 people at the DAK Release Event. The DAK is a USB drive in the shape of a credit card on which is a patent pending application allowing the easy storage and retrieval of passwords and online account information in over 28 categories of internet accounts. See www.digitalassetadvisors.com.

October 15, 2012

Ms. Mableson was appointed as an observer and commentator to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law “Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets” Drafting Committee. This Committee will recommend changes to the Uniform Trust Code and other uniform laws regarding digital assets in Estates.

July 1, 2012:

We are pleased to announce that Jennifer LaFortune, Esq., LLM, has joined the firm as of counsel in online law. Ms. LaFortune has been a practicing attorney for over 10 years and has just received her LLM in online Law and E-commerce from the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law. Ms. LaFortune will work in the areas of online law, internet law, and E-commerce law.

June 1, 2012

Connie was selected as a mentor for GANGPLANK, a Chandler based incubator, at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in downtown Phoenix for the summer, 2012.

June 1, 2012:

Connie and Rex have launched their new, patent-pending DAK device for easy password storage on a flash drive. An easy way to keep track of all your online accounts, user names and passwords. Check it out at www.digitalassetadvisors.com.

April 1, 2012

Rex Anderson was selected as the Winner of the 2012 Arizona Attorney Creative Arts Competition in Music.
http://www.azattorneymag-digital.com/azattorneymag/201205/#pg56. Some of his original songs can be found at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/big-for-his-age/id160050062.

January 30, 2012:

Ms. Mableson has authored 2 new books and the expected publishing date is February 14, 2012. The books are:

• DMCA HANDBOOK™ for ISPs, WEBSITES, CONTENT CREATORS, and COPYRIGHT OWNERS
• DMCA HANDBOOK™ for VIRTUAL WORLDS.

More information about these books and a discount code to purchase can be found on this website by clicking here.

November 5, 2011:

Connie Mableson is a panelist on the PROTECTING IP ON THE INTERNET PANEL at the 2nd Annual Conference on Sports and Entertainment Law sponsored by the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University’s Sports and Entertainment Law Students Association.

November 1, 2011:

Ms. Mableson has re-activated her Washington State Bar membership and is now practicing in both Arizona and Washington states.

July 1, 2011:

Connie has launched a new Artist Management Company, Brooks Creative Management, LLC. The company is a talent agent (licensed with the State of Arizona) and management company and will be representing a wide variety of talent who can benefit from an agent and/or professional management.

May 29, 2011

Ms. Mableson will be presenting at the PHOENIXComicCon on May 29, 2011 regarding “Copyright for Writers.”

April 6, 2011:

Connie will interview Michael Connelly at a FREE event hosted by the Poisoned Pen at the Arizona Biltmore on April 6, 2011.  Connie will be speaking to Mike about The Lincoln Lawyer, adapting books to film, Mike’s new book, The Fifth Witness (out on April 5, 2011).  If you have any questions you would like asked, send me an email.

The evening is absolutely free. Doors open at 6 PM. Plus books for sale and Mike will sign.

March 7, 2011:

Congratulations to our client, BLADE, who just won GOLD and SILVER ADDY awards for their work with MINI USA & the Phoenix Suns.  Check out their winning spots at www.bladecuts.com.

March 3, 2011:

Connie & Rex are presenting a seminar entitled :

Digital Assets in Estates: This session will alert estate planning and probate attorneys to the possible existence of valuable digital assets when counseling clients.  Connie Mableson and Rex Anderson will provide an overview of the types of digital assets that can be easily overlooked by a personal representative or trustee if not specifically identified by the decedent at the State Bar of Arizona’s CLE entitled “Recent Developments in Estate Law.”

See the Article on Digital Estates and Assets in our “ARTICLES” section.

March 1, 2011:

Our client, SQUAREONE (www.squareone.com) has just delivered an iphone and ipod app to Warner Brothers called TAPPER WORLD TOUR.  Based on the arcade game, it features the artwork of Don Bluth.  SQUAREONE is a Phoenix based game development company.

February 5, 2011:

Our client, CeCe Peniston, has signed with West Swagg Music Group and is in the studio recording her next album. http://cecepeniston.com/

February 1, 2011:

Our client, Fervor Records, celebrates the release of its artists’ videos on MTV.com.  Electronic band, SuperStereo is climbing the charts.  Check them out. http://www.mtv.com/videos/super-stereo/618415/life-passed-me-by.jhtml#artist=3859368

January 15, 2011:

Connie is an Associate Faculty instructor at Sandra Day O’Connor Law School at Arizona State University.  This term she is teaching the 3.0 credit course, Entertainment Business Contracts.

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