Stacey C. Friends

Stacey is a member of the firm. Her practice is focused on trademark and copyright law, licensing and other commercial transactions, arts and entertainment.

Stacey handles all aspects of brand selection, as well as trademark clearance, registration, and enforcement, both nationally and internationally for large and small companies. She has represented clients before the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board (TTAB), in opposition, cancellation and appeal proceedings.

Stacey also advises clients on various copyright, fair use, and licensing issues both in the corporate realm as well as for her much-loved songwriters, filmmakers, authors, visual artists, and other creative clients. Stacey has given many pro bono hours to various artists and artistic entities through the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA, now the Arts & Business council). Stacey contributed many hours of copyright  research and memo writing which helped the heirs of Bill Finger, the creator of Batman, prevail in their case to obtain credit for Bill Finger as well as compensation.  Stacey also recently provided legal advice for the City of Boston in connection with its new sculpture acquisition of “The Embrace.”

Stacey currently serves as Chair of the Communications Subcommittee of the Law Firm Committee for the  International Trademark Association (INTA) and is also the co-chair of the New England Chapter of the Copyright Society.  Stacey is a frequent speaker on trademark and copyright law for Law Schools, Universities and entrepreneurs, and  also serves on Morse’s DEI Committee.

Before joining the Firm, Stacey was a shareholder at Ruberto, Israel & Weiner P.C., an attorney at Peabody & Arnold LLP, and was founder of Stacey Friends & Associates.

Affiliations

International Trademark Association (INTA), Member 2001-Present; Emerging Issues Committee, 2014-2018; Unreal Campaign Committee, 2018-2020; Chair, Unreal Campaign Committee, North American Subcommittee, 2020-Present; Chair, Law Firm Committee, Communications Subcommittee, 2022

Copyright Society of the U.S.A.

American Bar Association

Boston Bar Association, Member since 2001; Co-Chair, Art, Entertainment & Sports Law Committee, 2013-2015 and 2002-2004; IP Steering Committee, 2013-2015

Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Member

Rockport Art Association and Museum, Board Member, 2017-2022

Mass Challenge, Mentor, 2016

PayPal Start Tank, Advisor, 2013-2015

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA), Panel Attorney, 2001-Present

Speaking Engagements

Co-chair, MCLE Intellectual Property Law Conference, May 2021

Speaker, Trends and developments IP counsel, business lawyers, and litigators must know, 23rd Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference 2020

Interview with The Radio Entrepreneurs on trademark clearance, registration, and enforcement, August 2019

Co-chair, MCLE Intellectual Property Law Conference, June 2019

Speaker, INTA Unreal Committee, English High School, May 2019

Speaker, MCLE Powerful Cease and Desist Letters, April 2019

Speaker, MCLE Intellectual Property Law Conference, June 2018

Speaker, MCLE Starting a Business in Massachusetts, June 2018

Mentor, Boston Global Immersion, March 2018

Roundtable host, Women in Law & Leadership Summit on Networking and Promoting Yourself, November 2017

Speaker, DECA Conference for INTA’s Unreal Committee, Teaching Students about Counterfeits, Bentley College, October 2017

Speaker, Making Connections in Boston’s IP Community, BPLA, District Hall, October 2017

Interview with The Radio Entrepreneurs on branding and trademarks, February 2017

Presenter, Lunch and Learn on the Basics of Trademark and Branding, WeWork, June 2017

Speaker, Batman and Bill, Documentary, Hulu, 2017

Speaker, Global Branding Panel at the Business Globalization Forum, November 2016

Panelist, INTA Unreal Campaign with Michelle Brownlee from Bose, and spoke at the Executive Breakfast on Global Branding at the International Trademark Association’s annual conference in Orlando, May 2016

Interview with The Radio Entrepreneurs on the importance of trademark law, and its impact to small business, February 2016

Speaker and moderator, International Branding panel at The MSI International Conference, October 2015

Moderator, Boston Bar Association panel discussion “Licensing Intellectual Property in the Arts & Entertainment World,” April 2015

Stacey Friends was interviewed on Radio Entrepreneurs, February 2015

Panelist, Boston Business Journal event “Going Global: Build Your International Business Development,” February 2015

Presenter, Copyright and Trademark Law for Massachusetts Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Basics for the Non-Specialist, January 2015

Presenter, Trademark Developments for Boston Bar Association Intellectual Property Year in Review, January 2015

Presenter, Strafford webinar “Structuring Trademark Consent Agreements,” October 2014

Moderator, Suffolk Law Panel “Arts, Entertainment, and the Law,” October 2014

Presenter, Boston Bar Association Sports Law Roundtable Featuring Sports Illustrated’s Michael McCann: The Donald Sterling Controversy, August 2014

Speaker, “The Business of Fine Art” panel for Art Technology New England event, June 2014

Moderator, Table Topic “U.S. Office Actions: Strategies for Minimizing and Resolving Problems” at the International Trademark Association (INTA) 2014 Conference, Hong Kong, May 2014

Presenter, Boston Bar Association program “What Every Estate Planner Should Know About Copyright Law, the Right of Termination and Royalties,” January 2014

Presenter, Suffolk University Law School program “What is IP Anyway? IP Bootcamp,” October 2013

Presenter, Mass Bar Association “Intellectual Property Basics for the Non-Specialist,” October 2013

Presenter, MCLE 16th Annual New England Intellectual Property Law Conference 2013: Trademark Law Update, June 2013

Moderator, Table Topic “Strategies for Avoiding and Resolving Problems” at the 2013 INTA Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, May 2013

Moderator, MITX Mobile marketing Summit:  Precision Targeting – Innovations and Strategies, May 2013

Faculty particpant, Massachusetts Bar Associations CLE Program:  Intellectual Property Basics for the Non-Specialist, October 2012

Faculty participant, MCLEs 15th Annual New England Intellectual Property Law 2012 Conference on Trademark Law, June 2012

Faculty participant, Suffolk University Law School ALS/IP Concentration Symposium on IP Due Diligence, October 2011

Moderator, 4G panel at FutureM Conference, September 2011

Presenter, MCLEs Annual IP Law Conference on Trademark Law, June 2011

Speaker, Trademark and Copyright Law at MBA IP Basics Seminar, May 2011

Panel leader, Social Media at Restaurant Trends Seminar, headed by Chef Jody Adams and featuring social media experts from HubSpot, Where, and Eat Boston, May 2011

Presenter, Copyright Basics for Screenwriters Seminar at Emerson College, February 2011

Presenter, Copyright Enforcement & Remedies for Copyright Course, Suffolk University Law School, February 2011

Panel leader, Best Practices in Internet Lead Generations at TEIs Entrepreneurship Institute, October 2010

Panel leader, FutureM on the Future of Branding, October 2010

Presenter, MBA IP Basics, Copyright and Trademark Law, May 2010

Publications

Owner Beware: Fraudulent Trademark Renewal Solicitation Scam

Cancelling a Trademark: What’s Peloton’s Spin?

Stacey Friends interviewed in Super Lawyers Massachusetts 2021, October 2021

Brexit and Trademarks – Strategies for Protection in the UK

Same Name, Different Place: Avoiding Trademark Problems & Adding Value to your Business

New rules from copyright office require re-registration of DMCA agent

Restaurants and Trademarks: A Lesson from the Real World Expanding Your Business – Don’t Forget About the Brand! TRADEMARK CONSIDERATIONS

There is no short cut! Generic or Merely Descriptive? CAFC Vacates Genericness Decision on “PRETZEL CRISPS”

U.S. Copyright Law Update: New Exemptions to Prohibitions on Circumvention of Technological Security Measures

Hotel Trademark Decision Provides Teachable Moments, At Your Service, Vol. VII, Issue I

Trademark Scams and Misleading Solicitations, At Your Service, Vol. VI, Issue III

Your Trademark: When to Register, At Your Service, Vol. VI, Issue IV

Client Alert, Trademark Scams and Misleading Solicitations

Choosing A Trademark, At Your Service, Vol. V, Issue IV

Stacey Friends interviewed on NECN , February 2010

Social Media & Other Interactive Marketing, At Your Service, Volume IV, Issue IV

Stacey Friends quoted in Mass High Tech April 2009

Stacey Friends quoted in Washington Post August 2008

New Trademark Dilution Rules Working as Intended April 2008

Protect Your Software Code Through Proper Copyrights

How Well Are You Positioned to Protect Your Copyrights?

New Massachusetts Trademark Law

Acquire, Advance, Protect Your Trademark

The name game: Tips for choosing your trademark lawyer, Performer Magazine

Outside the office

Stacey loves doing anything with her two children. She is an avid runner who especially likes the challenge of Ragnar Relays and completed her first (and only!) marathon in New York City in November, 2018. She also enjoys traveling, singing, hiking, and SUP and kayaking in her hometown of Manchester-by-the-Sea.

News & Events

News

• Client Alert: Trademark Owners
  Don't Get Scammed! Beware of Fake or Misleading Trademark Notices
  March 14, 2023
• Morse Women Attorneys Webinar Series
  November 8, 2022
• Owner Beware: Fraudulent Trademark Renewal Solicitation Scam
  December 9, 2021
• Cancelling a Trademark:
  What’s Peloton’s Spin?
  April 26, 2021
• IP News: USPTO Fee Increase
  Trademark Fees Increasing January 2, 2021
  December 14, 2020

Events

• WEBINAR: Intellectual Property (IP) Basics: A Primer on Patent, Trademark, and Copyright
  May 11, 2023