Daniel E. Kattman

As recognition for Dan’s achievements in these areas of law, he received a “Forty under 40” award from Milwaukee Business Journal, recognizing 40 Milwaukee-area individuals under the age of 40 who are making a difference within their professions and communities; and he was also named as a “Super Lawyers - Rising Star” in the fields of Intellectual Property, First Amendment/Media/Advertising, Entertainment & Sports.

Trademark Prosecution and Enforcement/Brand Management

Dan manages a sizable docket of thousands of U.S. and foreign trademarks throughout the world. His role as a trademark attorney is to assist clients with selecting and clearing trademarks, obtaining trademark protection through federal and foreign trademark registration, and enforcing or defending trademark rights, including litigation before the TTAB. Dan routinely negotiates trademark dispute settlements and focuses on obtaining practical business-oriented results.

Advertising Law

Dan represents both corporate marketing departments and advertising agencies on a wide range of advertising and marketing-related matters. He adds special value to his clients as a result of unique experience and background relevant to his legal expertise. Before attending law school, he worked in the marketing department at the world headquarters of a Fortune 500 company where he worked directly with the company’s advertising agency and international sales force to develop sales and marketing materials.

Dan often operates as “general counsel” for advertising agencies and in-house marketing departments and has represented major consumer products/brands, food manufacturers and distributors. He works with clients to substantiate claims contained in print, television and internet advertising materials; and to comply with federal and state product labeling regulations. He also works with clients to develop and administer sweepstakes, contests and related promotions; negotiate celebrity product endorsements and sponsorships, and frequently handles false advertising claims brought against or on behalf of his clients.

Entertainment/Media Law

Dan is a seasoned entertainment attorney with expertise in the motion picture, television, music and book publishing industries. He works with filmmakers to secure financing for independent films and documentaries, and secure name talent and domestic and foreign distribution. He has represented New York Times best-selling authors and internationally recognized celebrity chefs and actors. Dan also represents world-class art museums, independent film distributors, international sales agents, video game developers, record labels, music publishers and artists.

For nearly 20 years, he has been actively involved as a producer on feature films, television programs and documentaries. He co-founded a successful feature film production and digital visual effects production company based in the Midwest. This unique experience enables Dan to understand the goals and challenges of his entertainment clients and gives him a thorough understanding of both the legal and business aspects of this complex industry.

Software and Technology Development and Licensing

Dan has a strong background in the software development and licensing industry and represents both software developers, software distributors and companies seeking to purchase or license software. He assists clients with drafting and negotiating software development and license agreements, including agreements for cloud-based software platforms, SaaS agreements, enterprise license agreements and software sales and distribution agreements. Dan has worked with numerous software startups as well as companies that are looking to purchase licenses to software solutions.

Internet and E-commerce, Online Privacy and Online Marketing

In many respects, the internet is still a wild and unruly place. Dan works with clients to ensure that their presence on the Internet supports their business without interruption or liability. This work often involves negotiating agreements with website developers, search engine optimization (SEO) companies, resolving domain name disputes through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), assisting clients with website terms and conditions, website privacy policies and implementing social media practices and policies.

Dan has extensive experience enforcing trademarks and copyrights against unauthorized online sales, fraud, defamation and other cyberlaw issues, including combating online scams using fake email accounts and social media accounts.

Copyright Law

Copyright law is often intertwined in the above areas of law, and Dan has substantial experience with U.S. copyright law, including copyright enforcement and litigation. He works with clients to clear copyright chain of title for motion pictures, music publishers and book publishers; and assess fair use defenses for documentary filmmakers.