David J. Wittenstein

T: 202-776-2782
F: 202-776-2222

Education

  • Duke University, J.D., 1981
  • Haverford College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1978

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia 1981
  • Georgia 1982

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 1990
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 1992
David Wittenstein joined Dow Lohnes in 1981 and serves as one of the two Practice Group Leaders of the Firm's Communications practice.  In addition, Mr. Wittenstein founded and was for many years the Practice Group Leader of the Firm’s Media and Information Technologies practice.  He has two principal areas of specialization.  The first is intellectual property and related issues for a broad range of industries.  In this practice, he negotiates numerous content licensing, acquisition and distribution agreements across all media and regularly counsels clients on the full range of copyright and trademark issues, ranging from fair use analyses, music licensing and right of publicity issues to broader issues relating to traditional media’s transition to new media.  He has participated in several copyright cases of first impression, as well as in other intellectual property litigation.  In recent years, Mr. Wittenstein has focused increasingly on issues relating to the Internet and new media.

Mr. Wittenstein also advises cable television, broadcasting and other communications industry clients on a wide range of regulatory, legislative and policy issues.  In addition, he assists these clients in negotiating a broad range of agreements and transactions.

Mr. Wittenstein was an Adjunct Professor at Howard Law School for a number of years, teaching the law school's copyright and trademark law course.  Mr. Wittenstein also has published articles and has given numerous speeches and seminars on communications, media and intellectual property subjects.

Memberships and Activities

Board of Directors, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless; Vice Chair and Board of Directors, ADL Washington Region (and Chair, ADL Washington Region Civil Rights Committee)

Member - ABA Forum on Communications Law; ABA Section of Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law; Federal Communications Bar Association

Editorial Board, Duke Law Journal, 1980-1981 

Honors and Awards

Recognized in Best Lawyers in America

Recognized in Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers in Intellectual Property

News

December 16, 2011: Dow Lohnes Congratulates Cox Communications on Sale of AWS Spectrum