Michael Hoisington’s practice is focused on trademark and copyright prosecution and litigation, Internet related contracts and domain disputes, privacy law compliance and entertainment related matters.
Mr. Hoisington’s practice spans over 20 years in industries ranging from entertainment, to technology, to fashion, to food and beer. He has a special connection with the music industry, especially guitar, amplifier, and related manufacturers.
Michael is experienced at advising clients regarding brand names and trademarks and has prosecuted hundreds of trademark applications at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov/trademarks), as well as litigating trademark disputes at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in the federal courts. He has filed hundreds of copyright applications at the U.S. Copyright Office (www.copyright.gov) and litigates copyright disputes in the federal courts. He is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals and advises clients about privacy law, issues, and compliance. He advises clients about issues in entertainment, IP, IT, website and privacy-related contracts.
Michael has achieved the Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), the leading global authority in information privacy. This certification underscores his comprehensive knowledge of broad global concepts of privacy and data protection laws and practice, including jurisdictional laws, regulations and enforcement models; essential privacy concepts and principles; legal requirements for handling and transferring data and more.
Michael is rated “preeminent” (A-V) in both legal ability and ethics by Martindale-Hubbell. His clients are manufacturers, video and filmmakers, songwriters, artists, software developers – product and content creators who need advice about protecting their intellectual property, negotiating fair and enforceable contracts, and complying with privacy laws.
Michael advises clients on Internet-related issues, including:
- Related IT and business contracts
- Domain names
- Domain disputes under the ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Policy (UDRP)
- Compliance with privacy laws
- Privacy compliance, notices and policies
His current clients include ChuChu TV, Samlex America, Satellite Amplifiers, Kauer Guitars, Beard Guitars, Coppel S.A. de C.V., Ormsby Musical Instrument PTY LTD, W.H.P.M. Inc., American Cosmeceuticals LLC, Jaxkelly, The Promiscuous Fork and Sleeping Giant Music among others.
Michael is a frequent speaker and panelist addressing intellectual property and entertainment law issues. He is a regular speaker about entertainment-related issues at the San Diego Music Thing. He has published articles relating to intellectual property and entertainment in various media and publishes an entertainment and intellectual property-related page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/yourtmlawyer.
Michael spent 15 years working as an electronics technician in the US Air Force, civilian aviation industry, television broadcast industry, and the music industry. He served in the Air Force as an avionics technician, graduating in the top 10% of his Air Force electronics training class. While in the Air Force, Michael maintained avionics communications systems onboard B-52 and KC-135 aircraft. Michael was honorably discharged after his service. While working as an electronic technician, he was a certified FAA avionics repairman, earned a television broadcast technologist certificate from the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and holds a general radiotelephone operator license from the FCC,
As a practicing musician, Michael is uniquely qualified to handle entertainment law issues and advises clients in the music, TV/film and content creation industries regarding their intellectual property, business strategy and contracts and provides general industry counseling. As a musician, he has toured the United States and Canada playing guitar and singing for a rock band. He still performs as a singer/songwriter around San Diego.
