CLL Chairman Jonathan King addressed the Federal Bar Council on copyright law and improvisational jazz
The Chairman of our firm, Jonathan (“Jonny”) King, addressed several federal judges and over 100 federal litigators at the Federal Bar Council Fall Retreat on October 21. The title of the program was “Copyright Protection for Improvisational Jazz.” Jonny was joined by drummer Billy Drummond, bassist Ira Coleman and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Judge Denny Chin. The trio played improvisational jazz, creating new works on the spot. Jonny and Judge Chin discussed how the law and the music business treat such works, and Jonny, Billy and Ira explained how improvisational works are created and why copyright law does not provide protection for such works. In addition to his position as Chairman of our firm, Jonny is a trademark and copyright litigator as well as a professional jazz pianist with three CDs to his credit. The Federal Bar Council, an organization of lawyers who practice in federal courts within the Second Circuit, is dedicated to promoting excellence in federal practice and fellowship among lawyers and judges.