Greg Sater represents clients in connection with their trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property, the protection of these valuable assets, and litigation involving them. Greg has particular expertise representing companies involved in the direct response advertising/infomercial industry, in connection with intellectual property issues,false advertising, FTC compliance, and business contracts.
In terms of litigation, in addition to jury trials, Greg has briefed and argued precedent-setting cases before the California Supreme Court and other courts of appeal. On a pro bono basis, acting as a volunteer prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles, he has secured guilty verdicts in criminal jury trials involving handguns, domestic violence, assault, and battery, and has been instrumental in several public interest lawsuits against the federal government seeking to protect habitat for endangered species on public lands. In his free time, Greg enjoys coaching his children's sports teams, regularly playing two-man beach volleyball, and skiing as often as possible.
Notable Results:
- Obtained sweeping federal court injunction and seven-figure judgment in favor of a leading infomercial product company versus e-commerce websites selling "knock off" versions of client's products.
- Brought and successfully resolved false advertising and unfair competition claims on behalf of a prominent direct marketing company versus a leading competitor for TV and Internet ads.
- Defended company selling popular fitness product, sold on television, against Federal Trade Commission claims of false advertising.
- Litigated and successfully settled claims between competing manufacturers of commercial vehicle equipment over the truthfulness of each other's "comparative" advertisements.
- Brought and successfully settled multi-million dollar trade name infringement action for leading chain of LASIK surgery clinics.
- Obtained summary judgment for infomercial product marketer in trademark infringement lawsuit brought by major competitor.
- Filed and successfully settled case alleging false advertising of products promoted online as being "As Seen On TV" products.
- Successfully settled anti-trust claims for distributor of jewelry.
- Brought and successfully settled patent inventorship claims for successful inventor and licensor of popular exercise devices.
- Obtained seven-figure judgment for distributor of high end luxury vehicles versus competitor for acts of unfair competition.
- Represented estate of a world famous rapper in series of right-of-publicity, trademark, and copyright infringement actions.
- Obtained Internet domain names, such dwightyoakam.com and worldmusicawards.com, for plaintiffs in cybersquatting actions.
- Represented estate of silent film star in right-of-publicity cases.
- Represented an internationally acclaimed magician/illusionist in a defamation action brought against a tabloid magazine.
- Brought and successfully resolved a copyright infringement suit based on the unauthorized use of a photograph of quarterback Matt Leinart.
- Represented motion picture director and producer as plaintiffs in a contract/tort action filed against well-known movie stars.
- Successfully settled right-of-publicity claim against prominent toy manufacturer for using sound-like song recording in a toy.
- Obtained the "take-down" of listings of counterfeit products being offered on popular e-commerce website Alibaba.com.
- Negotiated and drafted countless, carefully-written contracts for clients, thereby helping to prevent un-told number of lawsuits.
- California Supreme Court, Brennan v. Tremco, 25 Cal.4th 310 (2001) (notable case of first impression).
- California Court of Appeal, R.S. Creative v. Creative Cotton, 75 Cal. App.4th 486 (1999) (notable case of first impression).
Publications:
- electronicRETAILER, September 2008
Legal Concerns in the Online World, by Greg Sater - electronicRETAILER, May 2008
Competitor vs. Competitor False Advertising Litigation, by Greg J. Sater - San Diego Daily Transcript, January 13, 2008 (PDF File)
Name and Trademark Your Product without Spending a Fortune in Legal Fees, by Greg Sater - electronicRETAILER, November 2007
Manufacturers Have More Freedom to Regulate Distributor Pricing, by Greg Sater and Eric Peterson - electronicRETAILER, September 2007
Right on the Mark, by Greg J. Sater - electronicRETAILER, June 2007
Drafting a Contract: Why Its Important to Consult a Lawyer, by Greg J. Sater and Andrew M. Apfelberg - electronicRETAILER, February 2007
Case Closed, by Greg J. Sater - electronicRETAILER, September 2006
Costly Faux Pas, by Greg Sater - Response Magazine, August 2006
Figuring Out the Ever Fleeting Doctrine of "Fair Use", by Greg Sater - electronicRETAILER, June 2006 (PDF File)
How Do Key Court Decisions Impact Internet Marketing?, by Greg Sater - electronicRETAILER, May 2006 (PDF File)
Protecting Your Ideas, by Greg Sater - Response Magazine, April 2006
How to Handle Counterfeiters on Alibaba.com, by Greg Sater - electronicRETAILER, February 2006
Walking the Copyright Line, by Greg Sater - Interesting Intellectual Property Cases of 2005 (PDF File)
Full Review of Copyright, Trademark and Trade Dress Cases, by Greg Sater - Response Magazine, April 2005
Legal Review: Considering the Roadblocks Before Marketing Your Health or Beauty Product, by Greg Sater - Response Magazine, December 2005
Picking a Great Product Name, by Greg Sater - electronic Retailer Magazine, September 2005 (PDF file)
Understanding Trade Dress Law, by Greg Sater - electronic Retailer Magazine, August 2005
Combating Counterfeiting, by Greg Sater - Response Magazine, August 2005
Picking the Right Insurance Policy, by Greg Sater - Response Magazine, June 2005
Legal Review: Combating Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Marketing, by Greg Sater - Response Magazine, April 2005
Legal Review: Considering the Roadblocks Before Marketing Your Health or Beauty Product, by Greg Sater
Greg Sater has also contributed to:
- Los Angeles Daily Journal
- National Law Journal
Lectures:
- Electronic Retailing Association Annual Convention
- Electronic Retailing Association Legal Series events
Awards & Recognition
- "Super Lawyer" in Intellectual Property Litigation, Law & Politics
Memberships & Community Involvement
- Electronic Retailing Association, Ethics Committee
- Direct Marketing Association, Member
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Special Committee on Promotion and Marketing Law
- American Bar Association, Trade Dress Committee
- State Bar of California, Member
- City of Los Angeles, Volunteer prosecutor

