LA Copyright Society

Latest Event:

November 12, 2025 at 1:00pm PT

Virtual via Zoom

Ink & IP: Tattoos and Copyright Law

Please join us for a virtual “fireside chat” about copyright infringement and fair use through the lens of Sedlik v. von Drachenberg. The chat will be led by Allen Grodsky, Kat Von D’s trial lawyer, and moderated by Arwen Johnson and Jeff Payne.

With four decades of experience, Allen B. Grodsky is a seasoned attorney who focuses his practice on litigation of business, entertainment, and intellectual property disputes.

Allen handles a broad spectrum of legal issues, including copyright and trademark infringement, right of publicity, breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition, false advertising, defamation, wrongful termination, employment discrimination, bad faith deals, violation of the Talent Agencies Act, and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Allen’s entertainment industry clients include actors, singers, composers, writers, directors, and producers. He also represents clients across a broad range of industries, including fashion, toys, cosmetics, comic books, and healthcare.

Allen has regularly been asked to share legal commentary on a broad range of topics, including intellectual property and employment litigation, for numerous publications and organizations.

Arwen Johnson is a commercial litigator who delivers results in high-stakes cases. She leads trials and regularly wins dispositive motions. Arwen’s clients rely on her expertise in employment classification issues, discrimination and retaliation, sexual harassment, trade secrets, employee mobility, partnership disputes, copyright infringement and idea theft, the TCPA, defamation, attorney malpractice, and high net worth trust and estates litigation. They also count on her extensive knowledge of emergency and provisional remedies, the anti-SLAPP statute, class action procedures, and post-trial motions and appeals.

Jeffrey Payne represents entertainment, media, music, and fashion clients nationwide, with a focus on copyright, trademark, and First Amendment litigation and pre-litigation counseling; clearance and vetting; production legal; and brand enforcement. Jeff brings unique insight into the entertainment industry’s complex deals and accompanying business and legal needs, having spent time as a business and legal affairs executive at Showtime Networks. Jeff also has broad experience representing clients in state and federal trial courts, appellate courts, arbitration, mediation, and in connection with internal and government investigations.