“Sy brings his unique mix of expertise and government experience to bear on the hardest copyright and technology matters.”
Chambers USA 2025
Band 1 — Artificial Intelligence
Chambers USA 2025
“Responsive to our needs and offers a deep level of tailored, sophisticated insight.”
Chambers USA 2025
“Sy has a deep and nuanced understanding of copyright law. On top of that, his personal skills in providing counselling and advice are unmatched.”
Chambers USA 2025
Band 1 – Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets
Chambers USA 2025
Leading Partner – Intellectual Property: Copyright
Legal 500 US 2025
Top Music Lawyer
Billboard 2025
"An amazing lawyer. He is an absolutely critical team member for successful copyright litigation."
Chambers USA 2024
"A copyright expert. He's very smart, knows copyright law really well and is thoughtful, available and devoted to his clients."
Chambers USA 2024
Profile
Sy Damle, Global Vice Chair of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice and former General Counsel at the US Copyright Office, litigates industry-defining matters at the intersection of copyright law and emerging technology.
Sy combines a deep understanding of the technology on which his clients have built their businesses and his robust federal government experience to represent technology and new media companies — including leading streaming services, software companies, and online commerce platforms — in:
High-stakes trials
Regulatory proceedings before federal agencies including the US Copyright Office and Copyright Royalty Board
Complex product counseling matters
A former software engineer, Sy deftly navigates high technology matters, including those involving computer systems and networks and artificial intelligence. Sy is regularly called upon by private industry and government agencies to advise on cutting-edge issues of law and technology. He has testified before Congress and the US Copyright Office on issues involving generative AI and copyright law.
Before joining the firm, Sy served as General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights at the US Copyright Office, where he oversaw the agency’s litigation, regulatory, and other legal work. Previously, he served as a US Department of Justice litigator, focused on IP, administrative law, and constitutional matters.
Sy teaches copyright law at George Washington University and is an adviser to the American Law Institute’s Restatement of Copyright Law project. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Children’s Museum and as Technology Chair for the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court.
He served as a clerk for Judge Sandra L. Lynch of the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Experience
Sy’s recent experience includes representing:
Software and AI
OpenAI in defense of all copyright infringement suits brought against it for AI training, including those by Sarah Silverman and The New York Times
Anthropic in defense of a copyright infringement suit brought by major music publishers related to AI training
A major networking equipment manufacturer in defense of software copyright infringement claims related to code implementing a networking standard
Oracle in winning a US$30 million jury verdict in copyright infringement suit against HPE
Johnson & Johnson in a software copyright infringement dispute against its main competitor for theft of code for an ophthalmic laser surgery system, which resulted in a nearly US$200 million settlement for J&J
A major venture capital firm in hearings before the US Copyright Office regarding generative AI technologies
Apple in:
Software copyright infringement and Digital Millennium Copyright Act litigation against a company that sells virtual web-based versions of the company’s mobile operating system
Defense of copyright infringement claims relating to diverse emoji
A cloud-based email security provider in defense of software copyright infringement claims
An online resume building company in copyright infringement litigation against a copycat service
A leading technology company in software copyright infringement and Digital Millennium Copyright Act litigation against a company that sells virtual web-based versions of the company’s mobile operating system
Music and Digital Media
The National Association of Broadcasters in successive industrywide proceedings before the Copyright Royalty Board to set rates under Section 114/112 of the Copyright Act
The Digital Media Association (DiMA), a trade organization of music streaming companies, in a variety of copyright-related regulatory proceedings
Spotify in litigation to establish the rates it pays for musical composition licenses
The commercial radio industry in litigation with the music licensing organization Broadcast Music Inc.
Thought Leadership
Witness, “Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property: Part I — Interoperability of AI and Copyright Law,” House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, May 2023
Panelist, “Navigating the Minefield of AI-Generated Content,” 33rd Annual Entertainment Law Institute, November 2023
Moderator, “Legal Issues with Artificial Intelligence,” Association of General Counsel Annual Meeting, September 2023
Panelist, “Artificial Intelligence: The Next Generation of Productivity,” Austin Chamber of Commerce, September 2023
Panelist, “Artificial Intelligence and Artists’ Rights,” American University Intellectual Property Brief Symposium, March 2023
Panelist, “Web 3 & IP: Understanding the NFT and IP Connection,” January 2023
“Repair of Software-Enabled Devices,” Practicing Law Institute, September 2022
Panelist, Pauline Newman IP Inn of Court, “Google v. Oracle at the Supreme Court,” February 2021
Panelist, “Google v. Oracle,” American University, October 2020
Panelist, “Copyright in the Supreme Court,” Copyright Society of the USA, February 2020
Speaker, “Google v. Oracle and Computer Software Interoperability,” Columbia Law School, March 2018
Qualifications
Bar Qualification
District of Columbia
New York
Education
JD, University of Virginia, 2005 Graduated first in class
BS in Systems Science Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, School of Engineering and Applied Science, 1999
BS in Economics & Jerome Fisher M&T Program, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, 1999
Latham litigation teams secured an appellate victory in rate-setting litigation under an antitrust consent decree governing Broadcast Music, Inc., and defeated the first-ever attempt to apply Washington's 1984 Telephone Buyers' Protection Act to modern smartphones in a consumer class action.
Firm captures the top honor and earns commendations for three individual practitioners, as well as for its excellence in the practice of law, pro bono matters, and business of law initiatives.
The new executive order is the latest effort by the Trump administration to establish a “minimally burdensome national standard” for regulating the AI industry.
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