MH Media & Technology
Tony Morris, Partner
Experience:
Broad range of general commercial and intellectual property matters (contentious and non contentious) including advice on creation, exploitation and protection of copyright in music, sound recordings, films, TV programmes, computer games, software, photographs and books. trade marks and passing off, design rights and a wide range of general commercial contracts.
Directories
Legal 500 rates Tony as a “Leading Individual” for Media and Entertainment Law and adds “’Industry heavyweight’ Tony Morris heads Marriott Harrison’s expanding Media team which provides ‘attentive service’ and ‘good continuity’”.
Chambers refers to Tony as a ‘widely skilled team leader who is incredibly knowledgeable on a wide variety of media contracts’ and to the media team as ‘readily available and utterly reliable’.
Recent and current work
Intellectual Property Advising on the creation, protection and transfer of intellectual property rights – including copyright, design rights, trade marks, know-how and confidential information - pertaining to a wide variety of goods and services including a range of cosmetics, handbags and other luxury goods, artificial joints and limbs, a portfolio of plastic surgery techniques and retail and leisure brands.
Feature Films and Television Advising Carnaby Films on its production of “A Lonely Place To Die”; advising Andrew Loog Oldham with regard to a mini series based on his autobiography “Stoned”; advising the beneficiaries of former Monty Python legend, Graham Chapman, in relation to a film based on his “A Liar’s Autobiography”; advising niche television channel Vintage TV on its commissioning agreements for new programming.
Music Advising One Media Publishing on its recent acquisition of sound recording catalogues. Recently retained by leading independent publisher on a line of up and coming catalogue acquisitions. Retained by numerous contemporary and heritage recording including: Gallows, In Case of Fire, Zarif, t.A.T.u, Funeral For A Friend, Bring Me The Horizon, Fightstar, Candi Staton, Doug E Fresh and Rise to Remain.
Information Technology and Digital Media Advising creators and users of information technology and original software properties in relation to a variety of applications including visual effects, augmented reality, marketing and various online applications.
Computer Games Advising on intellectual property, commercial and e-commerce matters for multi-player online computer games provider NCsoft Europe Limited including co-ordination of international anti-piracy actions.
Mediation Successfully mediated a number of disputes – many with a media flavour and involving contracts and/or intellectual property disputes within the television, music and information technology sectors as well as disputes arising out of commercial contracts.
Summary of Specialisms:
Film, Music, Television, Computer Games, IP, IT, Mediation, Commercial
Employment:
Charles Boundy & Co (1977 - 1982), Anthony Morris & Co (1982 - 1984), Brafman Morris (1984 - 1988), Cameron Markby Hewitt (1989 - 1995), Marriott Harrison (1995 - present)
Trained at:
Michael Sears & Co
Qualifications:
LLB, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, ADR Accredited Mediator, Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Studied at:
Manchester University
Languages:
French, German
Memberships:
International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Member of the General Assembly of the University of Manchester, Member of the Arbitration Panel of the Independent Film & Television Alliance, Voting Member of the BRITS Academy
Interests:
Music, films, theatre, reading and writing fiction, yoga, tennis, travel, restaurants, football (season ticket at Portsmouth). Tony’s novel “The Musician and Maria Salcoiati” recently sold out its first edition; he is currently working on the sequel.