Lee Linderman litigates high-stakes intellectual property and commercial disputes in federal and state courts. His practice focuses on copyright litigation at the intersection of copyright law and artificial intelligence, including disputes involving the use of copyrighted works to train generative AI models.
Mr. Linderman’s practice spans complex litigation in federal and state courts, including discovery strategy, expert strategy, dispositive motion practice, protective order negotiations, trial preparation and trial, appellate briefing, and oral argument. He has represented clients in matters involving copyright infringement, trade secrets, fiduciary duties, breach of contract, False Claims Act claims, wildfire litigation, and other complex commercial disputes.
Prior to rejoining Hueston Hennigan, Mr. Linderman was a solo practitioner, as well as an attorney commissioner for the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights, where he adjudicated complaints of discrimination on appeal from the Department of Civil Rights. He was previously an associate at Hueston Hennigan and Irell & Manella.
Mr. Linderman received his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Order of the Coif, where he was a senior content editor of the Southern California Law Review, a peer mentor, a teaching assistant in criminal law, and the recipient of the David B. Sonosky Memorial Centennial Full-Tuition Scholarship.
Experience
Represents Entrepreneur in Entrepreneur Media, LLC v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (N.D. Cal.), a copyright infringement action involving the alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted content to train large language models, including leading discovery and expert strategy.
Represents the major record labels in UMG Recordings, Inc. v. Suno, Inc. (D. Mass.), a first-of-its-kind copyright infringement litigation against an AI music generation company involving the unauthorized use of copyrighted sound recordings to train generative AI models.
Represents Southern California Edison in multidistrict wildfire litigation, including jury trials, settlement negotiations, and discovery across multiple related matters in California state court.
Represents a corporate officer in fiduciary duty and breach of contract litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery, including dispositive motion practice and issues under Delaware corporate law.
Obtained a dismissal with prejudice of $100 million False Claims Act Medicare fraud claims asserted against a prominent public university in California federal court.
Obtained summary judgment on a malicious prosecution claim against Fortune 500 company Sempra Energy in California federal court, ending five years of litigation.
Defended an elderly pro bono client from eviction after the client’s daughter attempted to defraud her by selling her home to third parties in California state court.
Represented a tax fraud whistleblower against the IRS in U.S. Tax Court.
Drafted opinion memorandum in support of potential amendments to the Copyright Act regarding orphaned works.
Drafted an amicus brief on behalf of Pipeline Safety Trust in a Ninth Circuit appeal concerning the citizen-suit provision of the Pipeline Safety Act.
Represented T-Mobile as a plaintiff in a trade secrets misappropriation case against a major handset developer in Washington federal court.
Insights
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A Congressional Carve Out: the Necessity for Uniform Application of Professional Sports Leagues’ Performance Enhancing Drug Policies, 84 S. Cal. L. Rev. 751 (2011)