Ryan Carreon

Wilmington, DE 19801 · (302) 420-2467 · ryancarreon1@gmail.com

I am a seasoned intellectual property attorney with first-chair jury trial and appellate experience. My practice includes copyright and trademark infringement, media and entertainment litigation, invasion of privacy, defamation, and breach of contract.

I represent high-profile clients in complex intellectual property and entertainment law matters, including brands such as NASCAR, WHAM-O, Godzilla, NASCAR, Milwaukee Tool, and Anagram Balloons. Admitted in California, Delaware and various federal district and appellate courts, I deliver strategic, results-driven advocacy.

Before law school, I worked as a sports journalist.

Experience

Associate Litigation Attorney

Whitewood Law, PLLC
  • Litigate and defend "Schedule A" cases in areas of copyright, trademark, and patent.
  • Argue motions in court, including TROs, preliminary injunctions, and other matters.
  • Represent clients in arbitration proceedings involving claims of Internet privacy.
  • Handle various matters in front of the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board.
April 2025 - Present

Associate Litigation Attorney

Morris James, LLP
  • Litigated cases in areas of intellectual property, class action employment, and bankruptcy.
  • Appeared in court to handle litigation matters and argue motions.
  • Advised M&A team on IP-related issues in complex business transactions.
  • Analyzed commercial agreements including franchise and master lease agreements.
  • Interfaced directly with clients to discuss case strategy and dispense legal advice.
Jan. 2024 - April 2025

Senior Associate Litigation Attorney

Higbee & Associates
  • Independently managed multijurisdictional caseload of copyright, trademark, and right of publicity cases.
  • Tried cases in front of a jury as lead trial counsel in matters pending in federal court.
  • Litigated appeals as lead counsel in front of state and federal appellate courts.
  • Took and defended depositions, drafted motions, and prepared discovery materials.
  • Oversaw development and case management for team of five attorneys.
  • Negotiated litigation settlements and licensing agreements.
  • Acted as general counsel in legal matters involving the firm.
Aug. 2017 - Jan. 2024

Law Clerk/Associate Litigation Attorney

Kernan Law Firm
  • Drafted litigation materials such as pleadings, anti-SLAPP motions, motions for summary judgment, motions to compel, discovery responses, and settlement agreements.
  • Researched privacy, right of publicity, idea theft, copyright, and trademark claims in connection with ongoing litigation.
  • Appeared in court and argued motions.
  • Supervised office workflow including managing incoming client funds, organizing client files, and coordinating attorney schedules.
Jan. 2016 - Aug. 2017

Law Clerk

Eclipse Law Corporation
  • Drafted and revised various talent agreements for motion picture and television writers, producers, actors, and directors.
  • Reviewed deal memos and redline agreements during negotiations with studios and production companies.
  • Performed guild research in areas such as WGA separated rights and residuals.
  • Managed incoming funds for deposit in client trust and company accounts.
Sept. 2015 - Dec. 2015

Certified Law Clerk

Legal Aid Society of Orange County
  • Represented indigent clients in court proceedings and administrative hearings under attorney supervision.
  • Drafted motions, pleadings, powers of attorney, and other legal documents.
  • Interviewed new clients and assessed their legal needs.
  • Recipient of 2015 LASOC Patricia Herzog Pro Bono Service Award given to outstanding volunteers.
June 2015 - Aug. 2015

Web Editor/Staff Writer

Deseret Digital Media
  • Produced articles, infographics, and top lists about professional and college sports for DeseretNews.com.
  • Organized content from three media groups for distribution online.
  • Vetted digital content for substantive and grammatical accuracy.
  • Implemented a system for receiving and responding to customer feedback.
  • Wrote a 40-page guide outlining task workflow for web editorial team.
Jan. 2012 - July 2013

Education

Loyola Law School

J.D. - Entertainment Law Advocacy concentration

Relevant Coursework: Copyright, Trademark, Entertainment Law, Law and Practice with the Hollywood Guilds, Motion Picture Finance and Production, Litigating a Copyright Case, Reality TV and New Media Production and Distribution, Intro to Negotiations, Mediation.

Activities: Scott Moot Court Team, Entertainment and Sports Law Society, Certified Mediator - California Dispute Resolution Programs Act.

Class of 2016

Brigham Young University-Idaho

B.S. Communication - Journalism

Activities: News and Sports section editor for weekly campus newspaper; tutor for public speaking courses.

Awards: Recipient of Newel K. Whitney Award for character, diligence, and pursuit of excellence.

Class of 2012

Bar Admissions

State Courts

California, Admitted 2016

Delaware, Admitted 2024

District of Columbia, Admitted 2026

Federal District Courts

United States District Court for the District of Delaware

United States District Court for the Central District of California

United States District Court for the Northern District of California

United States District Court for the Southern District of California

United States District Court for the Eastern District of California

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

United States District Court for the District of Colorado

United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Federal Appellate Courts

5th Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Notable Cases

Sellars, et. al. v. Rose, Case No. 30-2024-01442186-CU-DF-CJC (Cal. Sup. Ct. 2025) | PDF (Minute Order)

Contributed to the successful pro bono defense of a childhood rape survivor sued for defamation by her perpetrator over statements made during a podcast interview. In a case of first impression, I drafted a successful anti-SLAPP motion relying on the newly codified Cal. Civ. Code §47.1, a statute providing immunity from defamation claims to survivors of sexual assault and that had never been litigated.

Great Bowery Inc. d/b/a Trunk Archive v. Best Little Sites, LLC et al., Case No. 2:21-cv-00567 (D. Utah 2024) | PDF (Order)

Drafted successful summary judgment motion on issue of first impression in the 10th Circuit concerning whether "embedding" a copyrighted of Star Wars created by Annie Leibovitz into a webpage can infringe the rights holder's exclusive right to display the work publicly.

Dennis Fugnetti v. Bird B Gone, Inc., Case no. 8:19-cv-00847-SK (C.D. Cal., 2022) | Press Release

Successfully defeated multiple counterclaims and obtained a $1.1 million jury verdict as lead trial counsel in a case determining whether a photographer had granted an implied license to allow his work to be used on the retail product packaging of a major corporation.

Great Bowery Inc. d/b/a Trunk Archive v. Best Little Sites, LLC et al., 609 F. Supp. 3d 1240 (D. Utah 2022) | PDF (Order)

Successfully argued personal jurisdiction existed in Utah over European defendants accused of infringing photographs from the set of Star Wars created by Annie Leibovitz.

Incredible Features, Inc. v. BackChina, LLC, 476 F.Supp.3d 1028 (C.D.Cal., 2020) | PDF (Order)

Successfully argued personal jurisdiction existed in California over Texas publishing company based in Texas accused of infringing 37 copyrighted works online.

Jeffery R. Werner v. Evolve Media LLC, et al., Case no. 2:18-cv-07188-VAP-SK (C.D. Cal. 2020) | PDF (Damages Award) | PDF (Attorney's Fees Award)

After obtaining summary judgment on the merits, won $200,000 in statutory damages and over $50,000 in attorney's fees for photographer client arising out of infringement of four photographs by large media company.

Michael Grecco Productions, Inc., et al. v. BDG Media, Inc., et al., Case no. 20-55441 (9th Cir. 2021) | PDF (Opening Brief)

Drafted principal brief and argued successful appeal in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding whether a photographer copyright holder could invoke the "delayed discovery" doctrine and "relation back" to overcome the Copyright Act's three-year statute of limitations.

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Jeffery R. Werner, et al. et al. v. Landon Dowlatsingh, et al., Case no. 18-56349 (9th Cir. 2020) | PDF (Opening Brief)

Drafted principal brief and argued appeal in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding novel issue of personal jurisdiction over foreign defendant served with process outside of California but within the United States.

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Michael Grecco Productions, Inc., et al. v. Ziff Davis, LLC, et al., Case no. 19-56465 (9th Cir. 2020) | PDF (Opening Brief)

Drafted principal brief and argued successful appeal in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding whether a photographer copyright holder could invoke the "delayed discovery" doctrine to overcome the Copyright Act's three-year statute of limitations where reverse image search technology existed prior to the date of the discovery of the infringement.

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