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Video Game Law for Attorneys: A 2010 Update
LIVE Webcast
Sean F. Kane, Esq.
Attorney Consultant
Kane & Associates LLC
Sean F. Kane is a member of Kane & Associates LLC and manages the firm’s Interactive Entertainment Practice Group. Mr. Kane has represented clients on transactional and litigation matters involving various business segments, such as video games, virtual worlds, computer software, the Internet, music publishing, motion picture and television production. Mr. Kane is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law (Co-Chair of the Committee on Virtual Worlds and Computer Gaming), as well as a member of the Section of Science & Technology Law (Co-Chair of the Virtual Worlds and Multiuser Online Games Committee). He earned his J.D. in 1998 from Fordham University School of Law, and his B.A. in 1995 from Villanova University.
Sean Bersell
Vice President, Public Affairs
Entertainment Merchants Association
Sean Bersell has 20 years of government affairs experience at the federal, state, and local levels. Since 1999, he has directed the government affairs programs of the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), the trade association for the home video industry.
Bersell started his career in 1985 as Legislative Counsel for U.S. Senator Pete V. Domenici, for whom he managed judiciary, energy, natural resource, telecommunications, and broadcasting issues.
From 1991 to 1993, Bersell served as the Assistant Director of the National Park Service in charge of the Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs.
In 1993, Bersell joined the government relations staff of the 58,000-member American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and eventually worked his way up to Senior Director, Public Affairs for the professional society.
Currently, Bersell is Vice President, Public Affairs for EMA, and is responsible for the association's government affairs and public relations programs.
Bersell is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Russell G. Weiss
Partner
Morrison Foerster
Russell Weiss is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Morrison & Foerster LLP and Chair of its Technology & Entertainment practice. Mr. Weiss specializes in transactional matters and counseling in the fields of technology, entertainment, media and intellectual property.
Mr. Weiss has represented technology, life science, consumer electronic and Internet companies on a broad range of transactions, including: outsourcing projects; software and technology development; inbound and outbound licensing; strategic alliances and joint ventures; drug discovery and development deals; joint research and development collaborations; manufacture and supply arrangements; distribution and reseller relationships; co-marketing agreements; venture capital deals; and mergers and acquisitions. He also has represented motion picture, television, cable, music, video game and multimedia companies in structuring, negotiating and drafting a broad range of agreements involving the financing, acquisition, development, production, marketing, promotion, distribution, publishing, sale and other exploitation of motion pictures, television and Internet programming, video games and music.
Prior to his joining Morrison & Foerster in 1999, Mr. Weiss served as Counsel both in the Motion Picture Division of Columbia Pictures as well as in the Business and Legal Affairs Department of Disney Interactive, Inc.
Mike Vorhaus
President, Magid Advisors
Frank N. Magid Associates
Mike Vorhaus, President, Magid Advisors, founded the Magid Internet and New Media research and consultation practice in 1995, with AOL and Excite as his first two clients. Mike’s team has completed over 2,500 engagements with over 100 Internet clients. Mike began the Magid Gaming Practice in 2001 with EA and Sony Online as his first two clients. The Magid Game Practice now works with most of the major game publishers.
Mike leads Magid’s investment and strategic advisory service unit, Magid Advisors. Mike also directs Magid’s research and consulting services for a number of major traditional media companies in regard to their new media initiatives, as well as consulting a number of leading Internet and gaming companies. He has also provided advice to venture capital and private equity firms in regard to investments in the media space. Mike has been involved in strategic and tactical consulting, including the launch of new services and programming, as well as development and implementation of online and offline marketing programs. Mike has also been extensively involved in video and PC gaming strategies for a number of companies, as well as the development of game concepts. Mike has consulted on a number of film projects such as You’ve Got Mail and The Matrix.
He holds a B.S. in psychology and sociology from Wesleyan University and has worked as a fundraiser and transfer of technology officer at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California. Mike also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate, and for two Administrations in the White House.
Mike also writes a monthly column in Ad Age magazine, as well as contributing a regular column to Game Daily Biz. Mike is also regularly quoted in a number of leading news outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Reuters, and others.
Video Game Law for Attorneys: A 2010 Update
Speaker Firms:
Kane & Associates LLC
Entertainment Merchants Association
Frank N. Magid Associates
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