For the second year in a row, partners Alexandra Shapiro, Cynthia Arato, and Jonathan Bach have each been identified as among the “500 Leading Litigators in America” by Lawdragon. According to the publication, the 2025 list identifies an elite group of lawyers who “win freedom” for clients and “have the abilities to change businesses and … Read more
On July 9, 2024, the Honorable Stephen V. Wilson of the United States District Court for the Central District of California awarded Shapiro Arato Bach client Katori Hall attorney’s fees and costs as the prevailing party in a copyright dispute concerning her widely acclaimed television show, P Valley. The Court previously granted summary judgment dismissing … Read more
On July 2, 2024, the Honorable Victor Marrero of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Shapiro Arato Bach’s motion to dismiss claims of copyright infringement and breach of contract on behalf of firm client Grand Street Media. Jack Piuggi, the plaintiff in this case, alleged that Grand Street … Read more
Cynthia is the featured speaker at The 29th Annual Intellectual Property Institute, presented in partnership with the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Intellectual Property Section, taking place on April 16 in a hybrid (in-person at WSBA offices or via live stream) presentation. This year’s Institute will include practitioners from across the country as well as … Read more
On March 6, 2024, the California Court of Appeal affirmed all aspects of Shapiro Arato Bach’s earlier summary judgment victory on behalf of Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (the touring company for the recording artist Lizzo) in a breach of contract action relating to the cancellation of the “Virgin Fest Los Angeles” music festival. The … Read more
On March 6, 2024, Shapiro Arato Bach obtained a rare and nearly unprecedented mid-trial voluntary dismissal of criminal charges relating to allegations that our client and two co-defendants engaged in a conspiracy to traffic in supposedly stolen handwritten draft lyrics to the Eagles’ “Hotel California” and other songs from the album of the same name. … Read more
On December 7, 2023, the Honorable Stephen V. Wilson of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ruled in favor of Shapiro Arato Bach client Katori Hall, dismissing claims that her widely acclaimed television show, P-Valley, infringed on another playwright’s works. Ms. Hall, an award-winning playwright, based P-Valley on her earlier … Read more
Cynthia co-authored a White Paper which the News/Media Alliance released yesterday explaining how the pervasive copying of expressive works to train and fuel generative artificial intelligence systems is copyright infringement and not a fair use. The paper, and accompanying technical analysis, documents the pervasive, unauthorized use of publisher content by GAI developers, the impact this … Read more
The national publication Business Today recognized Cynthia Arato among the Top 10 Powerhouse Litigation Lawyers in New York’s Media and Entertainment sector. The award recognizes the most notable Media & Entertainment litigation lawyers in New York, a hub for the media and entertainment industry, with some of the best lawyers in the field. It recognizes lawyers for … Read more
On October 6, 2023, Cynthia Arato will be one of the featured panelists at the University of Colorado’s Silicon Flatirons Conference on Generative AI and Copyright, speaking on “The Copyright Law of Generative AI.” The conference will explore the rapidly evolving dynamics shaping the interplay between generative AI and copyright and copyright’s role in intermediating … Read more