Mark Avsec, J.D.

Case Western Reserve University School of Law

Mark Avsec is an expert in negotiating agreements that involve music-related intellectual property. A significant portion of his practice is also devoted to non-musical matters, including trademark, trade dress, and copyright prosecution and litigation as well as other types of intellectual property licensing and agreements. He has experience in combating international piracy for consumer product companies and regularly counsels media clients on the doctrine of fair use. Since 2003, Professor Avsec has taught “Law of the Music Industry” at CWRU. As a member of the Federal Judicial Conference, he teaches copyright law basics and litigation to U.S. federal judges at the University of California, Berkeley. Before becoming a lawyer, he worked as a studio musician, producer, and songwriter. He has written more than 500 songs and produced or played on sound recordings for, among other artists, Bon Jovi (“She Don’t Know Me”) (writer), Carlos Santana (“Angel Love (Come For Me)”) (writer), Donnie Iris (“Ah! Leah!” and “Love Is Like A Rock”) (writer, performer, and producer), Wild Cherry (“Play That Funky Music, White Boy”) (performer), and Mason Ruffner (“Gypsy Blood”) (performer). Professor Avsec has toured extensively with world-class artists and served as a session musician for multiple record companies in the United States and for CBS United Kingdom. He is the recipient of an American Music Award and was nominated for two Grammy Awards.