Robert A Monath - Attorney at Law

With Steve Wehmoff, Koch Entertainment
and Dr. John Rutter, CBE
at Hinshaw’s Celebration XXXIII

CMPA annual meeting
Palm Springs, CA

For Printable PDF version of Rob's full Profile please click here

Profile

Rob concentrates his practice on intellectual property matters. He advises clients in the principal areas of copyright and trademark, as well as in the related areas of entertainment law, internet law, licensing, and trade secrets. Rob has represented software developers, publishers, hospitals, professional organizations, business and financial institutions, theatrical producers, musicians, composers, writers, and sports professionals in connection with the protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights. He has successfully prosecuted and defended several federal copyright infringement actions. Rob is routinely associated by law firms to consult on copyright and trademark issues, and he lectures on these and related subjects at various conferences and seminars throughout the country. Rob is also a certified mediator.

Rob is a veteran of the music business and recording industry, and presently serves as counsel and business advisor to a number of music publishers, including Chapel Hill-based Hinshaw Music. Rob admires entrepreneurship and has established and helped manage business start-ups involving publishing, design and gourmet products.

Previously, Rob has served as an appellate law clerk, general practitioner, business law professor and in-house publishing counsel. General practice experience includes business formation, contracts, collections, wills, probate and domestic relations.

Rob holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in English (B. A., Phi Beta Kappa, 1982) and Law (J.D., 1985). He speaks Spanish and is an avid amateur photographer and guitarist.

In the studio with Lisa Leuschner

Develop a strategic intangible assets protection plan and handle the prosecution and enforcement of all trademarks and copyrights for a leading national modular housing manufacturer.
Mediate full settlement of complex federal copyright infringement action involving popular decorative product line distributed through national home improvement store chain.
Oversee the development and marketing of an electronic medical record management system for a health care technology service provider.
Draft intellectual property ownership and use policy for medical college.
Establish in-house procedures for clearance and acquisition of advertising content (brochures, promotional DVD’s, website materials and print content) through blanket assignments of rights, copyright registration and federal trademark applications.

Clear multi-episode public television series, companion podcasts and merchandise tie-ins for worldwide exhibition and use in all media.
Negotiate blanket music performance licenses with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC for financial services corporation.
Represent contemporary performing artist in major record label deal and related publishing endeavors.
License musical compositions for inclusion and use in major motion picture.
Obtain permission to arrange Top-40 song for vocal ensemble performance.

With renowned Hungarian composer,
Gyorgy Orban, in Budapest.

Tap Dancing Your Way Into Grand Rights, featured panelist, Major Orchestra Librarians Association. Spring 2009. Washington, DC.

Advanced Topics in Copyright Law, featured guest lecturer, Wake Forest University School of Law. Winter 2009. Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Copyright Joint Authorship and Collaboration Issues Raised by the Procul Harem, Whiter Shade of Pale Rulings, presented to the NCBA/IP Section Roundtable. Winter 2009. Salisbury, North Carolina.

Digital Music Copyright Issues, presented to the American Choral Directors Association, North Carolina Division. Fall 2008. Greensboro, North Carolina.

Our Digital Future, featured panelist and speaker, Major Orchestra Library Association. Spring 2007. Chicago, Illinois.

Best Practices for Licensing Music, Video and Related Media Content in a Post-MGM v. Grokster World, presented to the Intellectual Property Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. Spring 2006. Cary, North Carolina.

What Every Church Musician Should Know about Copyright Law, presented to the Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians, FABM National Conference. Summer 2005. Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Intellectual Property Rights Protection Abroad, featured panelist and speaker, United States Department of Commerce. Winter 2005. Charlotte, North Carolina.

Current Developments in Copyright; Publishing and the Digital Delivery of Proprietary Content, presented to the Carolina Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Association. Fall 2004. Hilton Head, South Carolina.

State of the Music Publishing Industry, featured panelist and speaker, Major Orchestra Library Association. Spring 2004. Raleigh, North Carolina.

Copyright Law Complex Field, article and interview by Chris Verner appearing in Salisbury Post. November 16, 2003.

Copyright Law in Academics, presented to Catawba College faculty. Fall 2003. Salisbury, North Carolina.

Copyright Clearance and Permission Issues, presented to Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman Intellectual Property Group for CLE. Fall 2003. Charlotte, North Carolina.

Ask the Expert, Creator Magazine. Fall 2003 to present.

Overview of Music Copyright Law, presented to the Carolina Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Association. Spring 2003. Charlotte, North Carolina.

Current Developments in Music Publishing, presented to Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman Intellectual Property Group for CLE. Fall 2002. Charlotte, North Carolina.

Council Member (2009-12 term), Intellectual Property Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Board of Managers (2005-08 term), Carolina Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Association.
Member of the North Carolina State Bar and admitted to practice before all State and Federal courts in North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
Certified Mediator, North Carolina Dispute Rsolution Commission.
Senior Warden and Vestry Member, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Salisbury.