The man behind Pixar’s intellectual property protection

When one thinks of a Pixar film, they usually think of the highly acclaimed animated films and their lovable characters, with their ability to entertain children and adults alike. Rarely, though, do they think of intellectual property law, such as whether the company had the rights to use any of the toys in "Toy Story." Fortunately for viewers, Pixar has the help of Tony Lupo to make sure they do.

Lupo, a partner at Washington-based Arent Fox, has worked as an advisor for many Pixar films to help the company make their movies with the images and brands they want without conflicting with intellectual property or copyright laws, according to the Washington Post.

What Lupo does to help the filmmakers is to examine and analyze images from film to ensure that there are no violations and, if there is potential for one, ensure that the company avoids them while maintaining creative integrity. Some examples, as laid out by the Post, include Lupo looking through piles of trash in "Wall-E," logos on billboards and race cars in "Cars" and figuring out how to use the image of the Eiffel Tower in "Ratatouille" without infringing on any rights of companies that own the properties to such images.

While Lupo is noted for his work with Pixar, the co-chair of Arent Fox's intellectual property group has worked with a number of the firm's other clients, including Discovery Communication, the Oprah Winfrey Network, Turner Broadcasting and Warner Bros.

Albeit an unusual one, Lupo's role is a vital one for Pixar, as the infringement of any company's intellectual property rights can result in significant legal action. Local companies looking to protect themselves from such violations or to ensure that other organizations don't use their property without permission are encouraged to seek out a Phoenix small business attorney.

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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