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E. Scott Johnson

Senior Counsel

A member of the Intellectual Property Group, Scott Johnson has a diverse law practice that includes licensing, trademark, copyright, technology, Internet, entertainment, arts and media law matters.

Professional Biography


Mr. Johnson's diverse law practice includes licensing, trademark, copyright, technology, Internet, entertainment, arts and media law matters.

He counsels individuals, companies, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions on a wide range of intellectual property matters.

Mr. Johnson reviews and prepares Internet-related agreements and evaluates trade practices, including legal aspects of advertising and Internet marketing. His work in the IT and in other technology fields includes legal aspects of joint ventures, software development and licensing, research and development and sponsored research agreements.

For clients in the entertainment and media fields, Mr. Johnson handles the preparation and negotiation of film and television production and co-production agreements, recording contracts, personal management agreements, music publishing agreements, production agreements, video/film synchronization licenses, book publishing contracts, public art commissions and rights clearances, fair use and new media issues.

Mr. Johnson is the recipient of numerous accolades from national and local legal and business publications for his work in the field of intellectual property law. He also takes a lead role in numerous community organizations dedicated to film, music and the arts and is past chair of the Maryland State Arts Council. Since 1985, he has been a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' Producers and Musicians Wings.

Professional Memberships

  • Member – American Bar Association
    • Section on Intellectual Property Law
    • Forum Committee on Entertainment and Sports Industries
  • Member – Copyright Society of the U.S.A.
  • Member – Maryland State Bar Association
    • Section on Intellectual Property
  • Member – The Recording Academy
    • Voting Member (1985 – present)

Community Service

  • Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, Inc. 
    • Member,  Board of Directors (2016 – present; Secretary 2017 –)
  • Juror – Light City Baltimore (2016)
  • Event Committee Chair – 9/11 of Maryland Memorial Advisory Committee (2011)
  • Board of Directors – CityLit Project, Inc. (2004 – 2008)
    • Chair (2005 – 2007)
  • Board of Directors – Creative Alliance (2004 – 2008)
  • Member – Maryland Film Industry Coalition
    • Chair (2008 – 2009; 2010 – 2016)
    • Board of Directors (2008– present)
  • Member – Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
    • Board of Directors (1989 – 2008)
    • President (1990 – 1998; 2005 – 2007)
  • Councilor – Maryland State Arts Council
    • Chair (2008 – 2010)
    • Secretary/Treasurer (2006 – 2008)
    • Reappointed by Governor Martin O'Malley (2007 – 2010)
    • Appointed by Governor Robert L. Ehrlich (2004 – 2007)
  • Member – Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, Inc.
    • President (2003 – 2007; 2015 – present)
    • Vice President (2001 – 2003)
    • Board Member (1997 – 2007; 2009 – present)
  • Member – Washington Area Music Association
    • Advisory Board (2007 – present)
    • Board Member (1993 – 2007)
  • Member – Young Audiences of Maryland, Inc.
    • Past President (1994 – 1997)
    • Board Member (1991 – 2004; 2011 – 2017)

Honoraries

  • Listed in Chambers USA as a leading Intellectual Property lawyer in Maryland (2022 – 2024)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Copyright Law, Entertainment Law, Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures & Television, Entertainment Law – Music and Trademark Law since 2011
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2013 and 2016 Entertainment Law – Music "Lawyer of the Year" in Baltimore; 2015 Copyright Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Baltimore; 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television "Lawyer of the Year" in Baltimore; 2018 and 2020 Trademark Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Baltimore
  • Named an "IP Star" in Managing Intellectual Property's IP Handbook (2017)
  • Recipient – Leadership in Law Award, The Daily Record (2013)
  • Recipient – Golden Formstone Award, Creative Alliance (2012)
  • Recipient – Sue Hess Maryland Arts Advocate Award (2011)
  • Listed in Maryland Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property (2008 – 2010, 2012 – 2013) 
  • Recipient – Nina Woods Collier Arts Champion Award (2006)
  • Listed since 2005 in Who's Who Legal: USA-Trademarks (Law Business Research Limited)
  • Listed as one of Baltimore's top attorneys, Baltimore Magazine (2003)
  • Listed in "Who's Who in Intellectual Property Law," Baltimore Business Journal (2000)
  • Listed in 115 Best Lawyers, Baltimore Magazine (1995)
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Presenter – "Introduction to .bank and Other Recent Developments in Bank Internet Operations," Annual Conference, Pennsylvania Bankers Association (2015)
  • Presenter – "How to Read a Record Contract," Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Baltimore City Bar Young Lawyers Division, Maryland State Bar Association Entertainment, Art and Sports Law Division (2012)

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1988, cum laude
  • First Prize, Georgetown University 1987 Nathan Burkan Competition (Copyright)
    • Journal of Law & Technology
  • University of Maryland, B.A., 1985, summa cum laude

Admissions

  • Maryland
  • Court of Appeals of Maryland
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

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