Yakub Hazzard
Experience
Co -chair of the firm's Entertainment and Media practice, focusing on the music industry and intellectual property disputes.
Areas of concentration include trademark and copyright infringement, rights of publicity and privacy, and breach of contract.
With solid experience in music-related and intellectual property disputes, his clients include songwriters, musicians, actors, business and personal managers, independent record and music publishing companies, apparel companies, entertainment guilds, gaming companies, and beverage manufacturers.
Selected Results*
Terry Howard v. Ray Charles Enterprises, Inc.: Obtained dismissal of malicious prosecution claim and subsequent award of attorneys' fees under California anti-SLAPP statute. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Weezer v. Atlas/Third Rail Entertainment: Prevailed in talent agency dispute. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Crave Entertainment v. WPT Enterprises, Inc.: Defended producers of the World Poker Tour television show against claims for right of publicity and trademark violations regarding the World Poker Tour video game. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Raymond Cham v. SpenCow Entertainment: Prevailed in talent agency dispute. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.)
Weezer v. Miller Brewing Co.: Represented the band Weezer in right of publicity, trademark and related claims against Miller and its advertising agency arising out of the unauthorized use of the band's name in a print advertisement. (Prior to joining Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, L.L.P.)
Recognition
- Listed in the publication Chambers USA, 2008**
- Listed in America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2008**
- Regularly listed as a "Super Lawyer" in Los Angeles Magazine**
Memberships
Member, John Langston Bar Association
Member, Litigation Section, State Bar of California
Member, Black Entertainment and Sports Law Association
Member, Century City Bar Association (Former Co-Chair, Entertainment Section)
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Civic Associations
- Member, Board of Directors, The Fulfillment Fund
- Former Member, Board of Directors, Berry Gordy Family Foundation
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. Claims Court
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Education
- UCLA Law School, J.D. (1990)
- Stanford University, B.A., Public Policy (1986); Member, Men's Basketball Team
Articles
-
Grosso Helps Hollywood Writers, Upholds Implied Contracts
Los Angeles Daily Journal
(September 28, 2004)
-
I Still Have a Dream
Los Angeles Daily Journal
(February 2002)
-
Los Angeles News Service v. Reuters: Loosening the Grip of Territoriality Restrictions in International Copyright Law Enforcement
Los Angeles Lawyer
(March 1999)
-
Employment Services May Trigger Act
National Law Journal
(November 1996)
Selected Speeches
-
The Minefield of Obtaining Content Rights for the Web: The Music Case Study
CLE International, Millenium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, California
(Scheduled for January 21-22, 2010)
Frequent speaker on legal issues as they relate to the entertainment industry.
Guest speaker on intellectual property and entertainment law, California State Bar Intellectual Property Institute, and the USC, Harvard, Stanford, and University of California Boalt Hall Schools of Law.