Jim Burger is a member of the law firm of Dow Lohnes specializing in representation of technology companies on intellectual property, entertainment content licensing, communications and government policy matters. Mr. Burger joined the firm's Media, Information and Technologies group in January, 1997. Prior to that, Mr. Burger was a Senior Director in Apple Computer's Law Department. During the nine years he was at Apple, Mr. Burger had a variety of assignments, including representing Apple's Advanced Technology Group, USA Field Sales organizations, and World-Wide Operations and Manufacturing, as well as General Counsel for Europe and Latin America and responsible for world wide government affairs. In addition, from 1991 until 1996, he was Chair of the Information Technology Industry Council's Proprietary Rights Committee.
Mr. Burger has worked extensively on legal and policy issues arising from the confluence of digital technology, intellectual property protection, communications, and government regulation, particularly as affecting the Internet. Mr. Burger has represented technology companies in providing digital video services to motion picture companies and in acquiring motion picture content for digital distribution, and well as in inter-industry efforts to create standards for the online distribution of motion pictures. Mr. Burger has also participated in resolving such complex issues as DVD copy protection, AACS copy protection for Blu-ray discs, and digital download of music - representing the Computer Industry Group in negotiations developing the DVD Content Scrambling System copy protection rules as well as the Secure Digital Music Initiative. Mr. Burger also has represented information technology clients before the Federal Communications Commission in proceedings such as the Digital TV transition, the Broadcast Flag, V-Chip, and Internet-related proceedings. In addition, Mr. Burger has extensive government relations experience and has been engaged in such matters as the efforts to amend copyright law from leading the negotiations to exclude the computer industry from the Audio Home Recording Act to avoid passage of the Digital Video Recording Act. He also has represented information technology companies before the Administration and Congress on international agreements affecting intellectual property law such as the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and the Broadcasting Treaty. In addition, Mr. Burger has been active in lobbying communications matters such as the Digital TV Transition legislation.
A native of New York City, he received his Bachelors (with Honors), Masters and Law (cum laude) degrees from New York University School of Law, where he served as an editor of the NYU Law Journal. For seven years, he was an adjunct professor at University of Virginia Law School, where he taught Advanced Administrative law.
Memberships and Activities
Adjunct Professor - University of Virginia School of Law, 1973-1982
Chair - Proprietary Rights Committee, Information Technology Industry Council, 1990-1996
Chairman - Alliance for the Promotion of Software Innovation, 1993-1996
Member - United States Trade Representative & Department of Commerce, Industrial Function Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property Rights For Trade Policy Matters, 1990-1997
Member - Federal Communications Bar Association
Co-Chair - Federal Communications Bar Association Intellectual Property Committee
Editor - New York University Law School Law Review