VCARDBIOGRAPHY
Jim Charne has been practicing law since 1980, as in-house counsel or in private practive, at the intersection of music, technology and software entertainment. After a first career as a marketing executive and attorney in the recorded music industry, Mr. Charne joined Activision, then a tech start-up, prior to its IPO. At Activision, he produced classic video games for Atari and Mattel systems, and drafted Activision’s first third party game development contracts. In his private practice, Mr. Charne advises clients in all aspects of entertainment transactions, licensing, protection and exploitation of IP rights, interactive games and apps, commercial software solutions, and music related matters. His experience in computer software, video games, and other technology-based entertainment extends back to the birth of the industry.
Prior to joining Gerard Fox Law, from the time of his California bar admission in 1996, Mr. Charne was a sole practitioner in Santa Monica, CA.
SPECIALTIES
BAR ADMISSIONS
Wisconsin, 2010
California, 1996 (inactive)
New Jersey, 1986
New York, 1980
Speaking Engagements
Frequent speaker on business and legal issues of the videogame industry at continuing legal education programs.
FUN FACT
Has eight gold and platinum record awards on his walls, recognizing his early-stage contributions to the musical careers of Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent, and Violent Femmes
Served as liaison between two games industry talent organizations and DC counsel in drafting amicus brief filed with the United States Supreme Court in the case of Brown v EMA (564 U.S. 786), where the majority opinion, written by Mr. Justice Scalia stated for the first time that video games were entitled to full first amendment protection as creative expression.
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
First President of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (interactive.org)
Established and produced the first three Interactive Academy awards shows, recognizing and honoring the top interactive games.
Served as liaison to D.C. counsel representing the interests of the two large talent organizations of the videogame industry in the drafting of an amicus brief filed with the United State Supreme Court in the case of Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (564 U.S. 08–1448 (2011) (in which the Court found for the first time that video games were a form of fully protected First Amendment speech))
Honored as a “Most Valuable Player” by the International Game Developers Association
Honored as an Innovation Fellow by the Innovation Center for Law & Technology of New York Law School