Matthew Syrkin is a partner in Hughes Hubbard’s corporate, new media, entertainment and technology, and data privacy and cybersecurity practices.

He provides strategic counsel and commercial/corporate transactional support for media, technology, consulting and financial services, consumer brands, outsourcing, software, electronics, pharmaceutical and other commercial entities in connection with a wide range of business, legal and policy issues arising out of the convergence of technology, intellectual property, new media, e-commerce, information technology and consumer, industrial and enterprise products and services.

Matthew frequently counsels industry-leading businesses on structuring and negotiating complex and cutting-edge commercial transactions, including matters for AMC Networks, Ernst & Young, The Madison Square Garden Company, KPMG, Paramount Pictures, CBS, ASCAP, Viacom, Grab Taxi, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mattel, MTV Networks, News Corporation, EPIX, Davivienda, Sundance Channel, Sony Music Entertainment, VEVO and John Varvatos Enterprises.

Before joining Hughes Hubbard, Matthew worked at Fox Cable Networks, TiVo and Major League Baseball. While at Hughes Hubbard, he was seconded to Viacom/MTV Networks to negotiate strategic partnerships in the interactive entertainment, virtual reality and gaming space with Microsoft, Sony Electronics, Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Matthew is a frequent speaker, lecturer and author on the business and legal aspects of disruptive technologies, new media platforms and complex commercial transactions and has been a member of the planning committee for the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. since 2007.

Areas of Concentration

Outsourcing and Complex Services. Domestic and international outsourcing and professional service agreements for technology services, financial, accounting and advisory services, pharmaceutical customer/client management, consumer/retail product manufacturing, distribution and procurement, pharmaceutical, transportation, data collection and analytics, and other major products and services.
Technology. Software (SaaS, SaaP, enterprise, consumer, etc.), technology, device and equipment, network, system, application, encryption, security, e-commerce, electronic payment systems, online/IP-connected platforms, cloud-based offerings and other emerging and disruptive technologies, including hosting, co-location, service level, licensing, support, development, distribution, manufacturing, reseller and distribution.
Retail/Industrial. Consumer and industrial product manufacturing, distribution, procurement, import/export, warehousing, logistics, shipping, and manufacturing agreements; product warranty and safety, quality control, instruction/product manuals and other legal and regulatory compliance review and filings.
Digital Content Distribution. Digital content licensing, distribution and syndication initiatives, including “over-the-top”, EST, VOD, SVOD, AVOD, TVOD, TVEverywhere and other sell-through arrangements, digital lockering arrangements, SmartTV, second screen platforms/experiences and technology agreements, automatic content recognition initiatives (ACR), complex security and authentication, fingerprinting, watermarking, and dynamic advertising solutions, including dynamic ad insertion, swapping, overlay, and manipulation.
Regulatory/Privacy. Privacy, data and information security matters, including domestic and international data collection, use, storage, processing, transfer and disclosure requirements (e.g., GLB, HIPAA, CAN-SPAM, COPPA, PCI DSS, EU Directives, etc.), online and social media polices, terms of use/service, privacy policies, data collection, mining and warehousing arrangements, customer/client relationship management (CRM) and complex data analytics systems, software and analysis.
Film and Television. Film and television licensing, distribution, affiliate, carriage and syndication initiatives with cable networks, cable operators, distributors, programmers, MVPDs, wireless carriers, mobile network operators, satellite radio network operators, device manufacturers, content aggregators and IP-connected platform operators.
Social Media. Online social networks, user-generated content platforms and other emerging and disruptive technologies and platforms, including data collection, information scraping and targeted advertising, digital content screening, moderation and filtering, online and social media polices, terms of use/service agreements, privacy policies, end user license agreements and DMCA-related issues.
Advertising. Marketing, branding, advertising, and promotions, including online and digital ad serving, insertion, syndication, monetization and distribution arrangements, search engine optimization, viral marketing, contextual advertising campaigns, brand sponsorships, outdoor advertising, experiential marketing and other complex collaborations and dynamic advertising solutions.
Content Licensing. Content license, distribution, marketing, development and advertising agreements with major media companies, software developers, telecommunications providers, production companies, online commerce sites, content distribution networks, technology companies, film studios, television networks, video game publishers and developers, and content creators, including retailers and manufacturers of handheld devices, mobile phones, software, gaming peripherals, and other consumer retail products.
Interactive entertainment. Gaming, interactive entertainment, video game and virtual world development, publishing, distribution, sales, marketing and merchandising across all platforms, including handheld and mobile devices, platform consoles, and wireless and online platforms, including gaming peripherals, consumer toys, downloadable content and retail product merchandising.
Promotions. Sweepstakes, contest, promotions, gaming and gambling initiatives, including administration and compliance, official documentation, rules, terms and conditions, affidavits of eligibility/releases, prize fulfillment, regulatory compliance and related integrated marketing agreements via traditional and new media platforms and devices.
Music. Major and independent music publishing, record label, performing rights, music artist, writer, composer and producer agreements and licensing arrangements in connection with audio and audio-visual content distribution, licensing, monetization, synchronization and performance across all major platforms, including broadcast and cable television, digital music services, IP-connected platforms, major wireless carriers and content aggregators.
Strategic Alliances. Complex commercial and corporate matters, including joint ventures, strategic alliances, share and asset transactions, security and credit agreements, co-branding and collaboration agreements, real property/leasing transactions and other commercial and corporate arrangements.
Not-for-profit/NGO. Charitable, not-for-profit, NGO, 501(c)(3), educational and philanthropic organization grant, research, funding, project, co-development, co-venture, marketing and award arrangements and collaborations, including online funding and marketing initiatives, contests and sweepstakes, social media initiatives, social networking and data collection, management and usage policies.

Professional Activities

Programming Committee, Copyright Society of the USA
Member, American Bar Association
Member, New York State Bar Association

Speaking Engagements, Publications and Lectures

Author, “U.S. Television on the Internet and the New “MVPDs”, digitalhhr.com, October 2015
Author, “The Streaming Revolution in the Entertainment Industry”, 2015 ed.: International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, IAEL Publishing Company, August 2015
Author, “The Battle for Cloud City: Aereo Continue to Push Disruption to the Supreme Court”, digitalhhr.com, October 2013
Author, “Understanding Developments in Cyberspace Law”, 2013 ed.: Leading Lawyers on Analyzing Recent Trends, Case Laws, and Legal Strategies Affecting the Internet Landscape (Inside the Minds), West Publishing Co, August 2013
Quoted, “Real and Virtual Firearms Nurture a Marketing Link”, New York Times (Front Page), December 31, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12...-and-virtual-firearms-nurture-marketing-link.html
Speaker and Moderator, “Television and Disruptive Technologies: Copyright’s New Frontier”, Copyright Society of the USA, December 11, 2012, presentation video online: http://isoc-ny.org/p2/4680
Keynote Speaker, Chair and Moderator, “Microtransactions in Gaming”, DCM East (Gaming Summit), June 2012
Speaker, “Crossing the Digital Border: Exploiting Digital Content and Devices Overseas”, HHR Continuing Legal Education Seminar, May 1, 2012
Author, “Cloud Computing, Digital Lockers and Copyright: The Cloudification of Entertainment”, digitalhhr.com, September 14, 2011
Presenter, “Copyright and Content in the Cloud”, Copyright Society of the U.S.A., September 2011
Speaker, “App-endectomy: Removing the Mystery from the App Ecosystem”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, April 2011
Speaker, “Forecast: Entertainment in the Cloud”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, December 2010
Presenter, “Beg, Borrow, or Steel? Exploring Practical Solutions to the Music Sampling Debate”, Copyright Society of the U.S.A., October 2010
Author, “ivi TV Update: ivi Files Complaint for Declaratory Judgment”, digitalhhr.com, September 2010
Author, “ivi TV: Live Network Television on the Net Without Negotiation?”, digitalhhr.com, September 2010
Speaker, “Whose Data Is It Anyway? Privacy & Data Security in a De-Centralized World”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, September 2010
Panelist, “Internet Rights And Technology: A Practical Legal Guide To Doing Business On The Internet”, New York City Bar, September 2010
Author, “Social Networking Games, Sweepstakes, Promotions and the New Apps: Developing the Fine Line of Legality”, digitalhhr.com, June 2010
Speaker, “TV Everywhere…Is It Everywhere You Want It to Be?”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, March 2010
Author, “United States: Dance Dance Copyright Revolution: Interactive Gaming’s Upcoming Copyright Conundrum”, Mondaq, http://www.mondaq.com/unitedst..., January 2010
Speaker, “Legal, Business & Operational Issues in Interactive Games Initiatives & Transactions”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, September 2009
Author, “Lessons from the NFL: The Importance of Scope and Duration in Drafting Intellectual Property License Grants”, digitalhhr.com, August 2009
Author, “You (Publicly) Play, You Pay: ASCAP After Ringtone Money and the Impact on Your Deals”, digitalhhr.com, June 2009
Author, “In-Game Placement: Guns, Guitars and Gadgets: Think Again Before You Depict Something You Don’t Own or License in Your Video Game”, digitalhhr.com, June 2009
Author, “Note to Digital Content Owners: Time to Master Fair Use”, digitalhhr.com, December 2008
Author, “Copyright Royalty Board Establishes First Time Mechanical Rates for Ringtones and Ad-supported Streaming Music”, digitalhhr.com, November 2008
Author, “Publishers Driving the Copyright Royalty Board Bus (PART II)”, digitalhhr.com, September 2008
Author, “The Current Trends and Challenges for Digital Media in Latin America”, Latin Lawyer Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 8, August 2008
Author, “Publishers Driving the Copyright Royalty Board Bus (PART I)”, digitalhhr.com, July 2008
Author, “A Congressional Foray Into the Net Neutrality Debate”, digitalhhr.com, February 2008
Speaker, “Copyright and Patent Drive By”, New York University, Tisch School (Telecommunications Graduate Program), November 2007
Presenter, “Introduction to Music Publishing”, Copyright Society of the U.S.A., October 2007
Presenter, “Secondary Liability in a Perfect 10 World”, Copyright Society of the U.S.A., April 2007

Matthew Syrkin

Partner

Areas of Concentration

Professional Activities

Speaking Engagements, Publications and Lectures