Robert N. Klieger
Partner

310.272.7933 direct
310.272.7938 facsimile
rklieger@kbkfirm.com
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Rob Klieger is a founding partner of Kendall Brill & Klieger LLP, where he focuses on complex civil litigation and counseling in the areas of entertainment and intellectual property. In 2010, Mr. Klieger was recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the most accomplished California lawyers under the age of 40.

Mr. Klieger has represented the nation’s leading motion picture studios, television networks, and video-game publishers in federal and state court actions, appeals, and arbitration proceedings related to copyright, trademark and trade dress infringement, distribution and licensing agreements, rights of privacy and publicity, and a variety of other contract and business tort disputes. Mr. Klieger has also litigated on behalf of clients in a variety of other industries, including apparel, aviation, and venture capital.

Mr. Klieger is active in a variety of pro bono and community activities, including in the areas of environmental protection and gay rights. Mr. Klieger presently serves as president-elect of the Center for Civic Mediation, a nonprofit corporation of the Los Angeles County Bar Association that operates community mediation programs and peer mediation and conflict resolution programs in local schools.

Mr. Klieger is the author of a leading article on trademark dilution that has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and numerous circuit courts. Mr. Klieger has also spoken on emerging issues in entertainment and intellectual property law to various law and business groups and has been a guest lecturer at UCLA School of Law, USC Gould School of Law, and Loyola School of Law.

Prior to founding Kendall Brill & Klieger LLP, Mr. Klieger was a litigation partner at Irell & Manella LLP.

Representative Matters

Media, Entertainment, and Intellectual Property

Trademark, Trade Dress, and Right of Publicity Disputes

Represented one of the nation’s leading video-game publishers in several trademark infringement actions related to the titles of successful video-game franchises.

Defended basic cable network in trademark and trade dress infringement action related to popular children’s television program.

Served as lead trial counsel in defending entertainment conglomerate against claims of trademark and copyright infringement based on acts of foreign licensee.

Represented pay television network in action alleging Lanham Act and right of publicity violations in connection with misattribution of motion picture.

Defended basic cable network in action alleging statutory and common law misappropriation of likeness.

Represented footwear manufacturer in trademark and trade dress infringement action related to sneaker design.

Served as trial counsel in action seeking to hold commercial landlord liable for trademark infringement based upon sales of counterfeit goods outside of leased premises.

Copyright and Idea Submission Disputes

Represented highest-rated basic cable network in idea submission action related to popular television series.

Defended basic cable network in copyright infringement action related to use of video excerpts in online blog.

Represented production company and broadcast network in copyright infringement and idea submission action related to Emmy Award-winning reality television program.

Represented leading video-game publisher in copyright infringement action related to virtual reality simulation game.

Defended online content network in copyright infringement action related to alleged copying of source code.

Additional Entertainment Disputes

Represented leading motion picture studio in numerous contract and business tort actions related to complex domestic and international film financing transactions.

Defended leading video-game publisher in right of publicity action involving use of names and likenesses of famous athletes in sports-related video-game franchise.

Defended leading motion picture studio in numerous accounting and profit participation disputes.

Represented three motion picture studios in multibillion dollar dispute related to licensing and distribution of pay television services in Australia.

Represented global entertainment content company and broadcast network at trial and appellate levels in action alleging breach of matching rights provision in multiplatform license and distribution agreement.

Represented one of the world’s most successful filmmakers in accounting and profit participation dispute related to one of the highest grossing films of all time.

Defended pay television network in business tort action related to international boxing tournament.

Represented motion picture studio and basic cable network in separate actions related to injuries sustained during production of filmed entertainment.


Commercial Litigation

Represented founder and franchisor of nation’s premier comedy club in franchise and licensing disputes, including obtaining certiorari in U.S. Supreme Court.

Defended aircraft manufacturer in a multimillion dollar dispute alleging improper termination of an exclusive purchase agreement.

Represented venture capital company in arbitration and court proceedings related to alleged fraud in sale of regional energy company.

Defended maritime engineering company in action regarding the copyrightability and scope of protection for oil rig designs.

Represented restaurant franchisor in breach of contract and business tort disputes with franchisees.


Pro Bono Litigation

Represented Natural Resources Defense Council in U.S. Supreme Court in action challenging failure by U.S. Navy to comply with environmental laws governing use of mid-frequency sonar.

Represented members of gay-straight student alliance in action to enjoin Orange Unified School District from engaging in discriminatory practices in violation of Equal Access Act.

Publications

Robert N. Klieger, “Trademark Dilution: The Whittling Away of the Rational Basis for Trademark Protection,” 58 U. Pitt. L. Rev. 789 (1997).

Recognition

Daily Journal
  • “Top 20 Under 40,” 2010
Southern California “Super Lawyers,”
2004–2012

Bar and Court Admissions

California, 1997
U.S. District Courts
  • Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California
  • District of Colorado
  • Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
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