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Jim Burger

Jim Burger

Partner

Washington, D.C.
202 585 6909 direct

  • OVERVIEW
  • INSIGHTS
  • NEWS & EVENTS

INDUSTRIES

PRACTICES

  • Education

    • New York University School of Law,

      J.D., cum laude, 1971

      Editor, New York University Law School Review

      Order of the Coif

    • New York University Graduate School,

      M.A., 1968

    • New York University,

      B.A., with honors, 1967

  • Admissions

    • District of Columbia

    • New York

  • Affiliations

    • House STEM Education Caucus Steering Committee

      Member

    • Federal Communications Bar Association

      Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Committee

    • United States Trade Representative & Department of Commerce

      Member, Industrial Function Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property Rights For Trade Policy Matters, 1990-1997

    • Alliance for the Promotion of Software Innovation

      Chairman, 1993-1996

    • Information Technology Industry Council

      Chair, Proprietary Rights Committee, 1990-1996

  • Recognitions

    • Listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" for Technology Law, 2007-Present

    • Listed in "Washington D.C. Super Lawyers," 2016

    • Named Lawyer of the Year for Copyright Law in Washington D.C. by "Best Lawyers," 2016

  • Instruction

    • Adjunct professor, Georgetown Law Center


      Copyright Law, 2014-Present

    • Adjunct professor, University of Virginia Law School


      Advanced Administrative Law, 1973-1982

For more than 30 years, Jim has provided intellectual property counseling, communications, and government relations support to the information technology industry.

He has worked extensively on legal and policy issues arising from the intersection of digital technology, intellectual property protection, communications, and government regulation. Jim has represented the Computer Industry Group and other information technology entities in efforts to secure copy protection rules for DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and digital music downloads. He has also represented technology clients before the Administration, Congress, and the FCC regarding the Digital TV Transition, the Broadcast Flag, domestic copyright legislation, and international agreements affecting U.S. intellectual property law.

Jim has worked with clients on amending the Copyright Act as well as leading information technology industry negotiations to exclude the computer industry from the Audio Home Recording Act, to avoid passage of the Digital Video Recording Act, to limit the reach of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and to prevent passage of analog hole legislation. In addition, he has worked with the semiconductor industry in its successful efforts to pass legislation to intercept dangerous counterfeit semiconductors at the border. Jim stays up to date on the ever-changing technology of today and tomorrow. Currently, he is guiding companies through the complex legal and technical aspects of the relatively new ultra HD format.

Also on the legislative side, Jim helped a STEM-related nonprofit organization secure the inclusion of language in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for several provisions, including a STEM master teacher corps program in Title II, the expansion of 21st century community learning centers, and funding for student robotics competitions.

Clients have described Jim as an "invaluable resource" who is "uniquely able to translate complex technology issues into language that policymakers understand" and who gives clients clear explanations of the options before them.

Thompson Coburn Publications

Micro UAS Committee charts bold new course for FAA treatment of smaller unmanned aircraft

Senate committee examines unmanned aircraft system safety, privacy concerns

TPP accord faces uncertain future in Congress

And on that farm he had a drone: UAS deployment in precision agriculture

Small Business Committee holds hearing to explore commercial drone operations

FAA grants exemption for large crop-spraying unmanned aircraft

Section 333 at 200 days: Where are we now?

Amazon Prime Air closer to takeoff: FAA grants Internet giant's request for drone ‘exemption’ and experimental certificate

Final approach: FAA announces long-awaited small UAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

FAA settles trail-blazing drone case for $1,100

Electronic waste rules could help thwart flow of counterfeit parts

Counterfeits can kill U.S. troops. So why isn't Congress and DoD doing more to stop it?

Blogs

The Grinch that stole fair use?

Copyright Office changes procedures for DMCA agent designations

Presentations

Moderator, "Inventing TV 3.0: Defining the Set Top, Connected TV, Tablet & Smartphone Downloadable Consumer Experience";
2013 International CES, Las Vegas, NV, January 9, 2013

Keynote speaker, "Consumer Drawbacks of Cloud-Delivered Content: Privacy, Reliability, Security Issues";
2013 International CES, Las Vegas, NV, January 9, 2013

"After the Ordeal: Public Policy in the Post-SOPA/PIPA World";
Copyright and Technology NYC 2012 Conference, December 5, 2012