Elliot Zimmerman, BCS, PA
Board Certified · Intellectual Property Law
Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
1776 North Pine Island Road, Ste. 224
Plantation, Florida 33322
legal@cyberlaw.info
(954) 565-6996
Attorney at law licensed by the State of Florida and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida since 1981. Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating. Board Certified Intellectual Property Lawyer authorized to engage in a multi-jurisdictional federal copyright and trademark practice.
Areas of Concentration: entertainment, music, fine art, television, radio, brand formation & protection, NIL (name, image, likeness), advertising, publishing, film, production, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), artificial intelligence (AI), internet and cyberlaw (litigation, trademarks, copyrights, domain name disputes and contracts).
Representative Clients: Luther Campbell (2 Live Crew), Aretha Franklin, Planet Hollywood, Bobby Kimball formerly of Toto, Ray Sawyer formerly of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, Carl Gardner’s Coasters, The Ink Spots, Ahmad Jamal, Paul Vance (songwriter, producer), John “Spider” Martin and Whole Foods Market.
Significant Representations:
Julius Johnson v. Onika Tanya Maraj (pka Nicki Minaj), et al.
Julius Johnson, plaintiff (of counsel), 2024
U.S. District Court, Central District, CA
Case No.: CV 23-5061 PA (AFMx)
Florida Optometric Physicians Network, Inc. v. Linnaeus, Inc.
Florida Optometric Physicians Network, Inc., plaintiff, 2019
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case No. 1:19-cv-21837-RS
Honus Wagner Company v. Luminary Group LLC
Honus Wagner Company, plaintiff, 2017
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case No. 0:17-cv-61317-BB
Honus Wagner Company v. Hillerich & Bradsby Co.
Honus Wagner Company, plaintiff, 2015
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case No. 0:15-cv-61963-WPD
Vapor Life, LLC v. Vapor 4 Life, Inc.
Vapor Life, plaintiff, 2014
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case No. 0:14-cv-62226-RLR
The Hand Media, Inc. d/b/a Vapor Shark v. SAC Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Vapor Hog
Vapor Hog, defendant, 2013
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case No.: 1:13-cv-22163-JAL
Barrocos of Florida, Inc. v. Elmassian, et al.
Barrocos of Florida, plaintiff, 2011
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case No.: 11-cv-22393-SCOLA
Beitzim Trademark
Registration Number: 3,831,106
Int. Cls.: 14 & 15
Registered: Aug. 10, 2010
Ordonez v. Icon Sky Holdings LLC, et al.
Ordonez, plaintiff, 2010
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case Number: 0:10-cv-60156-PAS
Beeceuticals LLC v. Dreamworks et al.
Beeceuticals LLC, plaintiff, 2007
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case No.: 07-61563-ZLOCH
Ink Spots Servicemark
The Hanover Group, Inc., respondent, 2004
TMEO Law Office # 4
Location: 845 -TTAB
Planet Hollywood, Inc. v. NorthPort Marketplace, Inc., et al.
Planet Hollywood, plaintiff, 1999
Circuit Court, Broward County, FL
Case No.: 99-017238 CACE 04
Toto, et al., v. Kimball, et al.
Kimball, et al., defendants, 1991
U.S. District Court, S.D. FL
Case No.: 91-8373-CIV-ROETTGER
AIM and Ray Sawyer f/k/a Dr. Hook v. Dr. Hook, Inc. and Locorriere
AIM & Ray Sawyer, plaintiffs, 1988
Circuit Court, Broward County, FL
Case No.: 88-00869 CA
Bartel & Shuford v. Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, defendant, 1981
Circuit Court, Dade County, FL
Case No.: 81-14458 CA 29
Publications: Author, What’s GNU?, The Florida Bar Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section (“EASL”) News, April, 2006; author, P2P File Sharing: Direct & Indirect Copyright Infringement, The Florida Bar Journal, May, 2004; author, Abacus Law, Martindale-Hubbell, Legal Publishing Preview, October, 1991; author, Online, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Publishing Preview, July/August, 1991; author, Computerized Statutes, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Publishing Preview, May/June, 1991; author, The Entertainment Lawyer, The Florida Bar Journal, May, 1982.
Lectures: 3/25/2017 EASL Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad School of Law (“NSU”) Symposium re: Protecting Your Intellectual Property; 6/19/16 EASL CLE Reference 1616429A re: Jewelry Copyright Infringement at EASL Retreat located at Streamsong Resort, FL; 3/26/2015 NSU Sports and Entertainment Law Society (“SELS”) Reference 1505015A re: Intellectual Property Issues in the Vapor Industry; 4/5/2014 NSU SELS Reference 1406428A re: Production Agreements; 9/24/2013 NSU IP Law Society Reference 1406430A re: Current Issues in TM and Copyright. Nuts and Bolts of Copyright Law, NSU, February, 2013, 2012 & 2011; Virtual Worlds, Middle Tennessee State University, April, 2008; Building a Successful Entertainment Law Practice in Florida, The 8th Annual EASL Symposium on Music, Film, & TV, The Eden Rock Renaissance Resort & Hotel, Miami, Florida, March, 2006; The Front Line on the Internet, The 7th Annual EASL Symposium on Music, Film, & TV, The Eden Rock Renaissance Resort & Hotel, Miami, Florida, April, 2005; Internet Music Distribution, University of Miami Law School, March, 2004; and, Direct and Indirect Copyright Infringement, The Florida Bar Midyear Meeting, Miami, Florida, January, 2004.
Awards: Lifetime Achievement Trophy, EASL, 2012. Chair Emeritus, EASL, 2009. Distinguished Service Certificate, The Florida Bar, April 2004. Plaque of Honor, The Florida Bar International Law Section, 2007. Plaques of Honor, EASL 1999, 2005 – 2009.
Professional Affiliations: Founder and Former Chairman of The Florida Bar Special Committee on Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law (1982-84), which became a full Section of The Florida Bar in 1988 (‘EASL’). See EASL History. Chair Emeritus EASL (2009). See EASL Chairs. Member of EASL Executive Council (1998-2002, 2004-2011, 2017-21). See www.easl.info. Webmaster for EASL (1998-2001, 2004-11) and The Florida Bar International Law Section (2003-2013) at www.internationallawsection.org.
Successfully proposed and qualified under The Florida Bar Designation Plan for Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law (sunrise, 1984, to sunset, 1996).
Vice President, Secretary and Webmaster for the Jacaranda Country Club Homeowners’ Association, Inc. (2004-8).
Education:
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Yeshiva University, NY
J.D., 1979
Bernard M. Baruch College
C.U.N.Y., NY
B.B.A., Cum Laude, 1976
Avocations: Computer programmer, published composer, and recording artist (keyboards and vocal). Performed internationally with such notables as John “Spider” Martin, Jaco Pastorius, Ahmad Jamal, Miguel Reyna, Duffy Jackson, Sonny Stitt, Ben Champion, the Ink Spots, Mike Gerber, and others. Owner of internet site www.Musicians.Exchange.