Gerald J. Ferguson

Experience

Privacy and Data Protection

• He has developed and assisted in the execution of privacy and data protection programs for clients in a wide variety of industries, including digital media, retail, hospitality, financial services and education. In recent years, he has helped clients prepare for new regulatory regimes that often require organizations to rethink their privacy compliance program, such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Where his clients’ operations implicate industry-specific privacy laws and rules, he helps adapt their program to satisfy such laws as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-P (Reg. S-P), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
• As clients prepare for the new wave of privacy laws going into effect -- such as the California Consumer Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) and the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) – he is helping client prepare and execute practical plans for meeting the requirements of these laws.
• Managed the response for a data security incident for a financial institution involving the potential compromise of approximately 27 terabytes of data and requiring notification of more than five million individuals and multiple regulatory authorities in a manner that minimized long term harm to the organization.
• Directed forensics and coordinated with law enforcement personnel when a prominent government contractor suffered an intrusion by a foreign government team of hackers seeking trade secrets (aka an advanced persistent threat).

Intellectual Property

• Through the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (TTAB) and federal court proceedings culminating in a jury trial, established the right of a sporting association to create a worldwide licensing program in the face of persistent opposition from a prominent fashion designer, and built the framework for a successful global licensing program.
• Established a program for the protection of a family of popular prepaid calling card trademarks. Commenced the preliminary injunction proceedings in New York, Florida, Texas, Colorado and California, and removed all significant infringements from the marketplace, allowing recoveries to be paid for the cost of the program.
• Protected the rights of a cable television station in the name of one of its most popular programs in a proceeding before the TTAB.
• In an ICC arbitration involving termination of a copyright and trademark license and distribution agreement, obtained the recovery of $9.65 million on behalf of a Brazilian licensee when a Japanese licensor initially denied any payment was due.
• Obtained termination of a trademark license granted by a U.S. trademark owner to a Mexican licensee during a proceeding before the American Arbitration Association.
• On behalf of a luxury goods company, established a nationwide trademark protection program involving integrated federal anticounterfeiting and infringement actions, customs enforcement, and cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.

Regulatory Compliance

• Represented a prepaid services card company in an informal discussion with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and nine attorneys general regarding industrywide practices relating to the disclosure of fees and expiration dates and compliance with gift card laws and regulations. The industrywide reform efforts that were promoted as a result substantially benefited the client by removing unfair competition.
• In an action involving admitted violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule brought by the FTC against a client – an owner and operator of websites popular with children – negotiated a substantially reduced fine and penalties for the client. Demonstrated that the violations were inadvertent and did not cause actual harm to minors using the websites.
• Established processes and procedures for hundreds of web-based business operations – including a 20-million-plus-member social networking community and a pioneering crowdsourcing solutions website – to obtain protection from liability under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Communications Decency Act, and to avoid liability under federal antispam laws and state antispam laws, including California's antispam law.
• Assisted with numerous social media promotions in compliance with applicable law and industry regulations, including sweepstakes law, gift card law and FTC product endorsement regulations.

Transactional Experience

• As intellectual property, privacy and digital media counsel in mergers, stock purchases and asset acquisitions, advised an advertising agency in connection with the purchase of a business based on generating positive comments from social media.
• Has advised a cable television network in connection with the purchase of a website based on blogs in the home design industry, as well as a sporting association in connection with the purchase of a media company, including print and online rights.
• On behalf of a major licensing agency, conducted a global review of all licensing, agency, representation and syndication agreements. All agreements were updated to reflect developments in the law and to conform to licensing industry best practices.
• Counseled a trademark owner in developing a domestic and global licensing program that initially generated a little more than $100,000 in retail sales and now generates more than $1 billion in retail sales globally. Assisted with the registration and protection of the international trademark portfolio, developed the standard licensing and agency forms, participated in major contract negotiations, and assisted with the development of product approval procedures.

Memberships

• New York State Bar Association
  • Advisory Group on Data Privacy and GDPR
  • International Section: Chair (March 2015 to March 2016)
  • International Section: Chair-Elect (March 2014 to March 2015)
  • Intellectual Property Committee: Co-Chairman (March 2013 to March 2014)
• Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent