Education

University of Chicago Law School (J.D., with honors)

• University of Chicago Law Review (Comment Editor, Member of Managing Board)
• Haberman Scholarship, Russell Baker Scholarship

University of Pennsylvania (B.A., magna cum laude)

Admissions

The State Bar of New York

The Bar of the District of Columbia

United States Courts of Appeals:

• Second Circuit

• Third Circuit

• Sixth Circuit

• Ninth Circuit

• Eleventh Circuit

United States District Courts:

• Southern District of New York

Representative Matters

Mason Rothschild

Representing artist Mason Rothschild in federal trademark infringement suit brought by Hermès regarding Rothschild's MetaBirkins artworks and associated NFTs.

Hatley

Represented Canadian global apparel purveyor, Hatley, in New York federal court in longstanding trademark dispute with Abercrombie & Fitch regarding the companies' respective moose designs, resulting in confidential settlement.

Great Minds

Won partial summary judgment for plaintiff/counter-defendant Great Minds in suit in Manhattan federal court for copyright and trademark infringement against major publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc., resulting in a swift, confidential settlement.

Ancestry

Represented leading genealogy company Ancestry on appeal in trademark case; case settled shortly following oral argument in U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Bumble

Represented online dating app provider Bumble in trademark lawsuit brought by rival online dating company Match.com over ownership of “swipe,” “swipe left,” and “swipe right” terms; action settled shortly following close of discovery.

Spotify

Represented Spotify in several related copyright lawsuits involving alleged failure to obtain mechanical licenses for copyrighted musical compositions; cases settled prior to trial.

Net Neutrality Litigation

Represented Members of Congress in litigation seeking to uphold the FCC's Net Neutrality regulations. Filed two amicus briefs (2015, and 2018) on behalf of Members of Congress.

U.S. vs Microsoft

As Appellate Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, worked on the successful D.C. Circuit appeal of the seminal antitrust monopolization action against Microsoft. Also briefed and argued antitrust appeals on behalf of the United States, and worked on numerous antitrust investigations.

Authority Brands

Represented home services company in trademark and trade secret lawsuit filed against rival; case settled shortly following denial of rival’s motion to dismiss principal claims.

Hiscox

Provided advice to Lloyd’s underwriter on IP issues relating to dispute over preservation of certain artwork by Jeff Koons.

Scientific-Atlanta

Represented Scientific-Atlanta in patent and antitrust dispute with Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. in federal court and the International Trade Commission. Cases settled after favorable ruling in ITC.

Left Shark Dispute

Successfully defended artist in “Left Shark” copyright and trademark dispute with Katy Perry’s company, Killer Queen, LLC, following the 2015 Super Bowl.

Counseling

In addition to litigation matters, Chris has provided counseling on IP issues, both with respect to IP disputes and regarding licensing, joint ventures, and other IP transactions, to clients including Great Minds, PrecisionHawk, Spotify, Carlyle Real Estate, Onzie, RealNet, the Core Knowledge Foundation, J.P. Morgan, the Travelers Companies, Inc., the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, ReadWorks, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, OneStory, and Russ & Daughters.

Clerkships & Prior Associations

Clerkships:

• Justice Lourens Ackermann, Constitutional Court of South Africa (Johannesburg, 1998-1999)

• Hon. Stephen Reinhardt, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Los Angeles, 1993-1994)

Prior Associations:

• Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Counsel (2015–2021)

• University of Virginia School of Law, Class of 1963 Research Professor in Honor of Graham C. Lilly and Peter W. Low (2011–2013); Professor of Law (2010-2011); Associate Professor of Law (2005-2010)

• Stanford Law School, Center for Internet and Society, Fellow (Palo Alto, CA, 2003-2010)

• King & Spalding LLP, Partner (Washington, DC, 2003–2004); Counsel (2001–2003)

• United States Department of Justice, Appellate Counsel, Antitrust Division (Washington, DC, 1999–2001)

• University of the Witwatersrand Law School, Lecturer in Constitutional Law (Johannesburg, 1998)

• Davis Polk & Wardwell, Associate (New York, 1995–1998)

Memberships & Public Service

• Elected Member, American Law Institute (2011-present)

• Reporter, ALI Restatement of Copyright (2015–present)

• Member, Board of Directors, Great Minds PBC (2021–present)

• Faculty Director, New York University Veterans Disability Legal Services Program (2020–present)

• Member, Board of Directors, Creative Commons (2013–2016)

• Faculty Director, University of Virginia Law School Veterans Disability Legal Services Program (2007–2013)

• Member, National Academies of Science, Committee on the Impact of Copyright Policy on Innovation in the Digital Era (2010–2013)

• Member, Copyright Principles Project (2008–2011)

• Senior Editor, Antitrust Law Journal (2003–2013)

• Member of Advisory Board, Public Knowledge (Washington, DC 2006-2009)

• New York State Bar Association President’s Pro Bono Service Award (1997-1998)

• Columbia University Law School, Founder and Co-Director, Political Asylum Litigation Workshop (1996-1998) (Program awarded 1999 Lawrence A. Wien Prize for Social Responsibility)

Publications

Click here for a bibliography of Chris's publications.

Media

Chris Sprigman talks with Vox's Cleo Abram about the law of fashion:

Chris Sprigman and Kal Raustiala discuss how big data shapes creativity (NewsHour part 1):

Chris Sprigman and Kal Raustiala discuss how big data shapes creativity (NewsHour part 2):

Chris Sprigman discusses the current debate over Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act:

Chris Sprigman on Bloomberg discussing competition in cable and video following the failed Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger: