Kraig L. Marini Baker
Partner
Kraig Marini Baker is often the first person clients call for help with new technology, new platforms, and new distribution techniques—pretty much anything that’s a new undertaking for a company. He has a practical approach to transactions and advice that is particularly well suited to clients trying something new, and helps clients prioritize real risks from theoretical risks, and translates legal concepts into an approachable format for people with different levels of legal training.
In particular, Kraig helps clients with intellectual property licensing and operational contracts across the full range of issues within technology, innovation, media, entertainment, sports, advertising, privacy, and social media matters, with an emphasis on content, mobile, innovative technology, digital media, and interactive entertainment.
Kraig is also an instructor in the Communication Leadership graduate program in the School of Communication at the University of Washington, where he has taught classes on "Law of Digital Distribution, Interactive Media, and Content" and "Law and Privacy Issues with Data, Wearables, internet of things, and Artificial Intelligence" since 2001. He is also a frequent speaker on cutting-edge issues including trends in digital media, Big Data, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, use of social media, legal issues of innovation and disruption, and technology’s impact on the lawyers’ ethical duties.
Practice Highlights
Content and advertising
Supports creators, publishers, broadcasters, producers, and advertisers with traditional and next-generation media and advertising issues, including copyright advice; music clearance; licensing transactions; distribution of content on traditional and OTTP platforms; sales of advertising through advertising networks and platforms; and publishing content using influencers, social media, and other digital media.
Advanced technology
Works with clients to develop, assess the impact, and integrate cutting-edge technology, from artificial intelligence and BlockChain, to the internet of things and commercial space, including identifying the proper intellectual property protection, anticipating potential regulation or other pitfalls from the technology, and analyzing the fair allocation of risk between various parties.
Sports and games
Media/Entertainment
- Drafts and negotiates publishing and consulting agreements, music licensing agreements, talent agreements, live event contracts, television, film, theatre, and event production contracts, television and film distribution agreements (including digital distribution), network affiliate agreements, life story and book option rights, video game development and distribution contracts, sponsorship agreements, brand integration agreements, endorsement agreements, merchandising agreements, model and photo releases, advertising agreements, and various other entertainment contracts
- Provides regular advice and due diligence on copyright clearance, rights analysis, and rights of publicity issues, particularly on use of properties in a digital and/or mobile environment, including user-generated content and social media issues. Provides pre-publication review of books, articles, website, and blog postings for various publishers
- Serves as production counsel for independent film, television, Web and video game productions and digital music services, including providing advice on all aspects of day-to-day production issues
Sports
- Drafts and negotiates broadcast rights, distribution and over-the-top application agreements with sports leagues, universities, and others. Handles clearance issues for sports footage, television production infrastructure agreements, and other sports-related production and broadcast contracts for television and digital media.
- Drafts and negotiates sponsorship agreements, endorsement agreements, merchandise license agreements and provide counsel regarding associations with athletic leagues, teams, and events
- Counsels professional sports teams, sponsors and vendors working with teams, leagues, and athletic facilities
Games
- Represents publishers, consoles, platforms, and rights holders with respect to drafting and negotiation of game development, publishing, and distribution agreements for consoles, online play, mobile, and board games
- Counsels game developers and publishers on ancillary revenue strategies, including negotiating merchandising agreements, transmedia arrangements, and in-game advertising policies
- Advises on music related issues related to video games
Technology/Internet
- Provides Internet, mobile, and technology-related advice to and has participated in Internet- and technology-related transactions on behalf of established businesses, large Internet and technology companies, and smaller startups. These transactions have involved many of the industry's leaders and have dealt with many cutting-edge issues facing technology, including the "Cloud," social media, data management agreements, outsourcing contracts, open source issues, and joint development agreements.
- Drafts and negotiates content licenses, software licenses (both open source and closed source), hosted services agreements, application development agreements, enterprise systems licenses, software development agreements, hardware procurement and development agreements, master services agreements, website design and hosting agreements, webcasting and retransmission agreements, joint marketing agreements, consulting agreements, distribution and fulfillment agreements, business to business arrangements, financial transaction agreements, video game creation, production and distribution agreements, fulfillment, distribution, and warehousing agreements, agreements with technology transfer offices, and website privacy policies and terms of use
- Advises on copyright, trademark, and defamation issues, including pre-publication review of website content and other basic publisher liability advice for websites
- Drafted and negotiated more than three dozen international agreements with foreign companies in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Guatemala, India, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Kingdom
Privacy and Security
- Regularly advises on privacy and security issues, including designing data collection processes, database and customer list licensing, data retention and security policies, behavioral advertising, impacts of user-generated content, spyware and "cookie" issues, encryption, watermarking and digital rights management, and compliance with Gramm-Leach-Bliley, COPPA, CAN- SPAM Act, HIPAA, FTC Enforcement Actions, required privacy disclosures, the EU Privacy Directive, Canadian privacy laws, and various other federal and state privacy issues
- Regularly advises on accessibility issues relating to online access by persons with disabilities in the United States and internationally
- Drafts and negotiates database licenses, network security agreements, social media policies, document retention policies, privacy policies, and website terms of service
Advertising and Merchandising
- Drafts and negotiates, on behalf of advertisers, advertising agencies, and media companies, sponsorship and promotional agreements, agreements with advertising and public relations agencies, merchandising agreements for various entertainment properties (including clothing, toys and games), content and sweepstakes rules, advertising agreements and insertion orders for print, Internet, television and radio, video games, advertising policies, dynamic and static product placement agreements, and trademark licenses
- Regularly provides pre-publication review for advertising and advice on trademarks, privacy issues, advergames, buzz marketing campaigns, rights of publicity issues, behavioral advertising, viral and guerilla marketing, FTC and other regulatory compliance issues, CAN-SPAM Act and wireless spam issues, and content liability issues
Telecommunications
- Regularly provides advice to telecommunications companies on Wi-Fi, mobile entertainment and content issues, including copyright clearance and DMCA safe harbor, and related issues
- Drafted and negotiated ring tone, Java game and wallpaper licenses, roaming agreements, subscriber agreements, joint marketing agreements, software services agreements, building access agreements, rooftop licenses, and office and technical space leases
Admitted to Practice
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Washington, 1995
Education
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J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 1995
- Topics Editor; Director of Development - University of Washington Law Review
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B.L.S., Journalism, Film & Theater, Bowling Green State University, 1990
Memberships & Affiliations
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- Instructor, Masters of Communication in Digital Media, Communication Leadership, Department of Communication, University of Washington, 2001-present
- Instructor, Advanced Interactive Marketing Certificate, Extension Office, University of Washington, 2009-2014
- Guest Lecturer, Digital Publishing Certificate, Extension Office, University of Washington, 2012-2013
- Guest Lecturer, Social Media Certificate, Extension Office, University of Washington, 2013-2016
- Guest Lecturer, Video Game Intellectual Property Law and Policy, University of Washington-Bothell, 2012-2016
- President, Board of Directors – Seattle International Film Festival Group, 2002-2016
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- Jury Member, Innovation Cycle Funding Round, Washington Film Works, 2013
- External Advisory Board, Masters in Communication Leadership Program, University of Washington
- External Advisory Board, Digital Publishing Certificate, Extension Office, University of Washington
- Gala Planning Committee, Pilchuck Glass School 2012
- Incubator Committee, Cornish College of the Arts
- Steering Committee, Gaming Community; Organizing Committee, Full ConTech – Washington Technology Innovation Association
- Organizing Committee, In-NW, 2015
- Co-coordinator, Zino Society Entertainment Investment Forum
- Co-founder, TEDx Seattle
- Co-founder, Four Peaks networking organization
- United Way Ambassador; Chair - DWT United Way Campaign, 2008-2014
- NW Region Delegate, American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Law
- Agenda Committee, Copyright Society of America, 2010
- Agenda Committee, Entertainment Law Conference, Media Law Resource Center, 2010-2011
- Past Chair, Lex Mundi Committee on Media and Entertainment
Professional Recognition
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- Selected as Seattle's "Lawyer of The Year" in Technology Law by Best Lawyers, 2023
- Named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers in Technology Law, 2018-present; in Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2024-present
- Listed in "40 Under 40," Puget Sound Business Journal
- Martindale-Avvo Rating of 10.0
- Listed in "3,000 Leading Lawyers in America," Lawdragon, 2006, 2010
- Top Internet Lawyer, Washington CEO Magazine, 2008
- Listed in "500 New Stars, New Worlds," Lawdragon, 2006
- Selected to "Rising Stars," Washington Law and Politics, 2005-2006
Background
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- Instructor, Masters in Communication in Digital Media, School of Communications, University of Washington, 2001-present
- Instructor, Advanced Interactive Marketing Certificate, Extension Office, University of Washington, 2009-present
- Guest Lecturer, Digital Publishing Certificate, Extension Office, University of Washington, 2012
- Guest Lecturer, Social Media Certificate, Extension Office, University of Washington, 2013
- Guest Lecturer, Video Game Intellectual Property Law and Policy, University of Washington-Bothell, 2012, 2013