The Senior Vice President, Content Protection leads SPE's Global Content Protection Group (CPG), reporting to the Executive Vice President of Intellectual Property. The CPG oversees global copyright enforcement for all content and networks owned or distributed by SPE, including Crunchyroll. The role entails operational leadership of the CPG team, establishing strategic direction for the content protection function, and promoting SPE's enforcement priorities with third parties.
In this role, you will be SPE's primary liaison for content protection enforcement issues with various government bodies, law enforcement agencies, and coalition groups, including the MPA and ACE. These activities will include collaborating with commercial stakeholders and digital intermediaries; overseeing trade industry based civil litigation and criminal referrals; and supporting lobbying activities, communication strategy, education, and training.
In addition, the SVP has responsibility for oversight of vendor management and for scanning and takedown services; leak prevention/detection and investigation and related research; and advising business units on content protection matters during deal negotiations and strategic planning.
Responsibilities:
- Operations Management and Process Improvement
- Supervise and drive the global performance of CPG, ensuring collaboration and efficiency in its day-to-day operations.
- Coordinate CPG functions across SPE in collaboration with Tech Ops, Tech Dev, Content Security, InfoSec, IT, Investigative Services, and business units.
- Support development and operation of systems platforms, including a title enforcement database, B.I. platform, SPE’s Global Watermarking Platform and SPE’s Notice Tracker platform.
- Legal Enforcement and Government Affairs Matters
- Serve as SPE’s lead for content protection matters at the MPA and ACE.
- Liaise with government bodies, law enforcement, and coalition groups.
- Approve all enforcement matters in consultation with senior executives, including intermediary outreach, civil litigation, and criminal referrals.
- Review, revise, and approve content protection-related public, government, and court filings, as well as other third-party facing documents such as communications strategy documents and press releases.
- Participate in government affairs strategy meetings and events in connection with content protection matters.
- Investigations and Incident Response
- Coordinate cross-divisional investigation efforts related to incidents such as screener rips, unauthorized content access, content leaks, DRM circumvention, etc.
- Investigate pirate platforms for litigation, criminal enforcement, digital intermediary outreach, and cease and desist efforts.
- Engage with law enforcement, trade organizations, and senior management on open investigations/incidents and remediation efforts.
- Data and Research
- Drive data and research projects focused on content protection.
- Supervise SPE’s Online Infringement Tracker (ONIT) database and platform.
- Create and deliver presentations to senior executives and other relevant parties (e.g., May Screenings, MIPCOM, early window discussions, licensee and licensor discussions, business unit updates, SPE "brown bag" discussions, etc.)
- Advising SPE Lines of Business
- Advise SPE business units globally on commercial decisions related to content protection, including:
- Content protection schedules in licensing and acquisition deals.
- Content protection concerns and opportunities relating to new forms of distribution or business models (e.g., SPVOD, AVOD, windowing strategies, release schedules, marketing rollouts, etc.).
- New technologies related to content protection and adjacent technologies.
- Prepare and deliver presentations, proposals, and handouts for senior executives and business units globally.
Requirements:
- J.D. required and membership in the California State Bar.
- Minimum 15 years practicing law with substantial international experience, particularly in copyright law, regulatory matters, and criminal/civil litigation.
- In-house entertainment legal experience desired, particularly with expertise in content protection and risk assessments.
- Investigation and forensics experience, especially in digital content distribution and related technologies.
- Understanding of statistics and research methodology and ability to create strategic reports.
- Experience advising senior executives and engaging with sophisticated third parties.
- Familiarity with digital supply chain, content platforms and marketplaces, social media, search, and digital intermediaries.
- Familiarity with security technologies, protocols, and best practices.
- Understanding of digital asset management related to copyright protection and enforcement (e.g., YouTube, Meta, TikTok, Daily Motion, etc.)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Strong strategic, critical, and analytical thinking skills.
- Proven negotiation skills.
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