RIAA Lawyer Joins Venable LLP

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George Borkowski, the ex-RIAA lawyer who helped torpedo the Napster and Grokster file-sharing services, is leaving a slimy trail to Venable LLP ‘s Los Angeles office, as co-chairman of the firm’s national intellectual property litigation group.

Borkowski, founder of the IP & technology practice at LA’s Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, joins the Washington-based Venable as a partner.

Borkowski joined Mitchell Silberberg in 1988. He was acting director of litigation for the Recording Industry Association of America from 2000 to 2001, representing the record company plaintiffs in litigation against Napster and Grokster, both of which were found to be liable for some level of copyright infringement.

  

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It’s been pointed out by many commentators that if the RIAA had made a deal with the file-sharing services, instead of essentially putting them out of business, the record industry would be making all the money that is instead going to Steve Jobs through iTunes. Good work, George!

He also has represented the Motion Picture Association of America, the Hollywood lobby and censorship board, and other entertainment firms in copyright infringement and piracy cases. He has represented record labels in copyright infringement, royalty and trademark disputes, and has handled patent, trade secrets and anti-piracy cases for videogame, software and semiconductor companies.

Venable LLP, formerly known as Venable, Baetjer & Howard LLP, was founded in Baltimore after the Civil War. Today the firm maintains six Northeastern offices and specializes in patent litigation, labor & employment law and white collar investigations. Venable employs nearly 600 attorneys.