Karen S. Frank - Coblentz Law

Karen Frank is head of the intellectual property business practice and the trademark clearance and prosecution practice. Her practice covers virtually every aspect of intellectual property, including copyright, trademark, domain names, unfair competition, right of publicity, branding and advertising, privacy and the Internet. She represents clients in a diverse range of industries, including finance, advertising, technology, food, wine, luxury goods, fashion, music, entertainment, and education, and is a trusted advisor to several of the Bay Area’s most well-known museums.

Her practice focuses on licensing and services agreements, print and electronic publishing agreements, intellectual property counseling, clearance and enforcement, content acquisition and performance issues, advertising clearance, and rights and privacy issues relating to websites and the Internet.

Karen is a Trustee and past president of the Copyright Society of the USA; former chair of the Copyright Society of Northern California; a member of the American Law Institute, and a member of the International Trademark Association. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Oakland Museum of California.

Karen is an annual member of the faculty for the Practicing Law Institute (PLI) Advanced Intellectual Property Institute and is a frequent speaker on intellectual property issues.

Karen received her undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and her law degree from the University of California College of Law, San Francisco (Hastings) where she was Executive Articles Editor for COMM/ENT Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law.

Representation of a major science and natural history museum in rights clearance issues in exhibits, planetariums productions and content licensing agreements

Negotiation of publishing agreements for authors and illustrators

Management of international trademark portfolios for a wide range of businesses

Development of content database and digital rights management and distribution program for leading scientific institution

Development of content licensing program for digital scientific magazine

Representation of a major music performing rights organization in its Northern California enforcement activities

Negotiation of services agreements for advertising and communications agencies

Negotiation of a range of content licensing agreements, for print, music, and video content

Representation of a range of food and beverage companies for distribution agreements, co-pack agreements, advertising and trademark licensing

Review and clearance of content and advertising claims for advertising agencies and their clients

Review and advice on IP, privacy and other compliance issues for social media advertising campaigns

Review and advice regarding contests and sweepstakes

IP and business advice and counseling for fashion companies, including enforcement of proprietary designs and images

Representation of social entrepreneurial ventures in general business activities, advertising activities and commercial co-venturing projects

Management of international trademark portfolios and enforcement of trademark rights

Karen was named the Best Lawyers® 2018 Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco, and is listed annually by The Best Lawyers in America® in the Copyright Law and Intellectual Property Litigation categories. She was named a Top 250 Women in IP by Managing Intellectual Property Magazine, and is recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer and a Martindale Hubbell AV-Rated Attorney. Karen was selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2007 and 2009 Who’s Who Legal: California, Trademarks chapter and is listed in Who’s Who in American Law, 2009 and 2010 and Who’s Who in America, 2007 – 2012. Karen has also been honored with the Justice & Diversity Center’s Outstanding Volunteers in Public Service Award.

Moderator, “The DMCA 20 Years Later: What’s Worked and What Hasn’t,” Copyright Society of the USA 2020 Annual Meeting (June 2020)

Speaker, “Hot Topics in Fair Use,” PLI Advanced Intellectual Property Institute (October 2019)

Author, “Meeting the Challenges of Public Art Programs in Private Development,” California Real Property Journal, Vol. 37, Issue 2 (2019)

Speaker, “Trademark Related Goods Theory,” Practising Law Institute (October 2018)

Speaker, “Developments in Protecting Trade Dress,” Practising Law Institute (October 2017)

Speaker, “Technotainment: Advertising Challenges in an Interconnected World,” Practising Law Institute (October 2017)

Speaker, “Update on Trademark Initial Interest Confusion,” Practising Law Institute (October 2016)

Speaker, “New Top Level Domains: Protection and Enforcement Issues,” Practising Law Institute (October 2015)

Speaker, “Fashion Rules! (And Laws),” Golden Gate University Intellectual Property Law Institute (February 2015)

Speaker, “Trademark Law Update,” Intellectual Property Law Institute (2014, 2013, & 2012)

Speaker, “Social Media, Fair Use & The Fashion Industry,” University of California College of Law, San Francisco Fashion, Art & Design Law Society, Fashion Law Symposium (February 2014)

Speaker, “Illegal Instagram: Fair Use and Photography,” University of California College of Law, San Francisco (January 2014)

Speaker, “Copyright Basics, Practice Pointers and Hot Spots in Social Media and Advertising,” State Bar of California Tele-Seminar (July 2012)

Speaker, “Creating and Managing Brand Content on the Web,” ALI-ABA Museum Administrators Conference (March 2012)

Speaker, “Trademark Hot Topics 2011,” PLI Intellectual Property Institute (October 2011)

Speaker, “Trademark Pre-Litigation Checklist: Getting Your Ducks in a Row,” PLI Intellectual Property Institute (October 2010)

Speaker, “IP Rights in Fashion,” San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Institute (May 2010)

News

News - August 15, 2024

Fred Alvarez and Jeff Bernstein Awarded Lawyers of the Year, 32 Coblentz Attorneys Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2025

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News - August 17, 2023

35 Coblentz Attorneys Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for 2024

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Publications - November 15, 2022

Key and Upcoming Changes from the Trademark Modernization Act: What You Need to Know

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Case Studies

California Academy of Sciences

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