Robert C. Cumbow
Practice Emphasis
Intellectual Property, Food and Beverage, Franchise & Distribution
BAR ADMISSIONS
Washington, 1992
______________________________________________________________________Bob counsels a wide variety of clients on intellectual property, advertising, privacy, and Internet issues. Bob’s practice includes counseling on issues relating to trademark search, clearance, prosecution, and policing; copyright and publicity right clearance; licenses, assignments, contracts, releases, and publishing agreements; alcoholic beverage labeling, licensing, advertising, and regulatory compliance; communications and media law; intellectual property litigation; domain name disputes; advertising and privacy compliance; contests and sweepstakes; and Web site audits, terms and condition statements, and privacy policies. His clients have included wineries; beverage and specialty food companies; telecommunication and wireless companies; news and entertainment media; computer hardware and software companies; video and board game developers; advertising agencies; a major league baseball team; artists, arts organizations, independent film makers, playwrights, authors, and musicians; and major international retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of books, appliances, clothing, pharmaceuticals, and food products.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS/TRANSACTIONS
Litigation
Represented a major manufacturer in obtaining an injunction against use of its trademarks in domain names in widely reported and cited case.
Represented a Washington state oyster grower against a seafood distributor in a dispute over the use of the name of a variety of Pacific oyster. The case was settled through mediation.
Represented commercial fisherman featured in television series “The Deadliest Catch” in protecting and licensing trademarks and personal-image branding.
Legal Advisor
Served as legal advisor on numerous independent films.
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
Bob is a prolific speaker and presenter on various topics. Following is a listing of publications and presentations from the past three years. A complete list is available upon request.
Co-Chair and Panel Moderator, Marketing Law CLE, Seattle WA, April 2011
Speaker on Legal Writing, Bridging the Gap CLE, Seattle WA, March 2011
Speaker, “Trademark Update 2010,” Washington State Bar Association IP Section Annual IP Institute, Seattle WA, March 2011
Speaker, “Copyright Basics for Graphic Artists,” University of Washington, Seattle WA (annually, May 2007-present)
Author, “The Physics of Pronunciation and Distressed Lawyers,” Bar News, Washington State Bar Association, December 2010
Co-Chair and Speaker, “Proprietary Rights in Public Art,” Washington Lawyers for the Arts Workshop & 4Culture (September and November 2010)
Speaker, Keynote: “Fundamentals and Trends in IP Law,” IP for Everyone, King County Bar Association CLE (November 2010)
Speaker, “Trademark Hot Issues,” King County Bar Association IP Section CLE (October 2010)
Speaker, “Contracts for Freelancers,” Society of Professional Journalists, Seattle (September 2010)
Speaker, “IP Basics,” Washington State Bar Association “The Law of Intellectual Property” CLE, Seattle (September 2010)
Speaker, “Trademarks for Everyone,” IP for Everyone Online CLE (August 2010)
Commentator, “Copyright for Everyone” and “Licensing for Everyone,” IP for Everyone CLE (online), August 2010
Author, “Words Misspoken, Words Misheard,” Bar News, Washington State Bar Association, July 2010
Speaker, “Intellectual Property Introduction,” online lecture for Grantmakers in the Arts, Seattle WA (May 2010)
Speaker, Legal Writing Panel, Washington State Bar Association “Bridging the Gap” CLE, Seattle WA (March 2010)
Moderator, “Intellectual Property Challenges of Social Media,” Intellectual Property Law Society CLE, Seattle University School of Law, Seattle WA (March 2010)
Speaker, “Update: Trademarks and Rights of Publicity,” Intellectual Property Institute, Washington State Bar Association CLE, Seattle WA (March 2010)
Author, “If the Shoe Fits: Lindsay Lohan’s Right of Publicity,” IPWatchdog.com (March 2010)
Author, “Talkin’ Baseball and Fryin’ Eggs in Synecdoche, USA,” Bar News, Washington State Bar Association, February 2010
Speaker, “Some Random Thoughts on Focused Writing,” Attorney General’s Office Staff CLE, Lacey WA (December 2010)
Speaker, “What You Need to Know about Copyright,” Future of the Law Institute, King County Bar Association, Seattle WA (November 2008, reprised November 2009)
Speaker, “Copyright Basics for Artists,” Tacoma Arts Symposium, Tacoma WA (annually, November 2006-present)
Author, “Attack of the Killer Pleonasm,” Bar News, Washington State Bar Association, October 2009
Speaker, “New Issues in Trademark Law,” Paralegal Program, Highline Community College, Des Moines WA (September 2009)
Speaker, “Understanding Publishing Contracts,” Seattle Chapter, Association of Freelance Editors, Seattle WA (September 2009)
Speaker, “The Flavors of Intellectual Property,” IP for the Non-IP Lawyer CLE, Seattle WA (September 2009)
Speaker, “Business Models That Work,” Legal Fees in Washington CLE, Seattle WA (August 2009)
Speaker, “Trademarks for Wine Makers,” Winery and Wine Distribution Law Conference, Quincy, Washington (August 2009)
Author, “Media-ese,” Bar News, Washington State Bar Association, July 2009
Author, “Musings on Rescuecom,” Guest Commentator, Seattle Trademark Lawyer blog, May 2009
Panelist, “Teaching Trademark Law,” Adjunct Professors’ Panel, International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, Seattle WA (May 2009)
Guest commentator, Intellectual Property Lawcast, April 2009, and August 2009
Speaker, “Avoiding Common Errors in Legal Writing,” Washington Young Lawyers “Bridging the Gap” CLE, Seattle WA (April 2009)
Speaker, “Right of Publicity Update,” Intellectual Property Institute, Seattle WA (March 2009)
Author, “Use Is the New Protectability,” Landslide, American Bar Association IP Section, March 2009 (reprinted in GPSolo, “Best of ABA Sections Magazine,” September 2009
Author, “Peeves Beget Peeves,” Bar News, Washington State Bar Association, March 2009
Speaker, “Trademark Licensing,” Intellectual Property Symposium, Gonzaga University Law School, Spokane WA (February 2009)
Speaker, “Advertising and IP,” Lunchtime Topics, Christensen O’Connor Johnson Kindness, Seattle WA (January 2009)
Panel Moderator, “Copyright Issues in the Music Business,” CLE, Seattle University School of Law (January 2009)
Author, “Pet Peeves Redux,” Bar News, Washington State Bar Association, November 2008
Speaker, “Words, Words, Words, That’s All We Do Around Here,” Keynote Address for CLE on Statutory Construction, AG’s Office, Olympia WA (October 2008)
Speaker, “Trademark Use: New Questions,” Eastern Washington IP Seminar, WSBA IP Section, Spokane WA (October 2008)
Panelist, “Moral Rights and the Visual Artists’ Rights Act,” Brown Bag Workshop, Washington Lawyers for the Arts, Seattle WA (October 2008)
Speaker, “The Right to Speak Freely,” Free Speech Panel, hosted by Puget Sound Access, Bellevue WA (September 2008)
Speaker, “Clear Writing,” Washington State House of Representatives Staff Retreat, Olympia WA (September 2008)
Speaker, “Trademarks for Wine-Makers,” Wine Law Conference, Cave B Inn, Quincy WA (August 2008)
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Adjunct Professor of Law, Seattle University
Volunteer, Board Member, Former President, Washington Lawyers for the Arts
Intellectual Property Section, Washington State Bar Association
Member, International Trademark Association
Member, Copyright Society of the USA
Member, Washington State Bar Association
Lecturer, Film Studies Program, Seattle University, 2010 – present
Lecturer, “The End of the Western”, “Hitchcock Masterpieces”, and “Kubrick Masterpieces”
Northwest Film Forum, Seattle 2010 – present
Guest Speak on Film Topics, Northwest Center for Creative Aging, Seattle University, June 2011
RECOGNITION
Chambers Best Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2011
Seattle University School of Law, Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, 2008
Washington Law & Politics, “Super Lawyer,” 2001 – 2010
The Best Lawyers in America, 2006 - 2012
Graham & Dunn ‘Open Door Award’ Recipient, 2002, 2006 and 2010 for accessibility and assistance to the firm’s junior lawyers
EDUCATION
J.D., summa cum laude, University of Puget Sound School of Law, 1991
M.A., English, Seattle University, 1969
B.A., English, Seattle University, 1967
