Kollin J. Zimmermann
Partner

1801 Century Park East Suite 2300, Los Angeles, CA USA 90067

Overview

Recognized by Law360 as a Top Attorney Under 40, Kollin Zimmermann is a litigator with a focus on intellectual property and technology issues. Mr. Zimmermann regularly represents some of the world’s leading technology, entertainment, social media, and consumer-goods companies in federal and state courts across the country. His cases typically involve trademark, copyright, breach of contract, fraud, right of publicity, trade secret, and unfair competition claims. He has been lead or co-lead counsel in numerous high-stakes cases involving preliminary injunction motions and potential damages in the millions or hundreds of millions of dollars. He also provides strategic counseling to clients regarding pre-litigation disputes, global enforcement programs, and other internet-based intellectual property issues.

Making his debut in the 2024 edition of WTR 1000 is trusted advisor Kollin Zimmermann. “Kollin is a strategic and flexible partner who is thoughtful in his approach. He consistently delivers high-quality work and effortlessly balances both legal and practical considerations.” – WTR 1000 Review (2024). Mr. Zimmermann has been consistently recognized since 2015 as a Southern California “Rising Star” for Intellectual Property Litigation by Super Lawyers magazine. He is listed in the 2023 and 2024 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as "Up and Coming" in the area of Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets. Mr. Zimmermann was recommended by Legal 500 US in 2023 and 2024 for Copyright Law. He was recognized as a "Top 100 Lawyer" in 2023 by Los Angeles Business Journal for his achievements among leading lawyers within the Los Angeles business community. Mr. Zimmermann was named a "Trademark Leader" in 2023 and 2024 by World IP Review. He has also published several articles addressing Internet-based intellectual property issues and was honored with a Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing in 2013.

While attending law school, Mr. Zimmermann was a member of the National Moot Court Team and won several awards for his brief writing and advocacy skills. Upon graduation, he received the Virginia C. Nelson Award for being the top student in advanced advocacy courses.

Prior to launching his legal career and as a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Zimmermann worked as a financial analyst/loan consultant for the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) where he administered a state and federal cooperative relief program designed to aid the economic recovery of New Orleans from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

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Experience

Some notable and representative cases that Mr. Zimmermann has litigated include:

Kamino Trade Federation, Inc. v. Amazon Technologies, Inc. and Amazon.com Services LLC. Following Amazon’s launch of its rebranded streaming service called Freevee, Kamino, which owned and operated a streaming service called Freebie TV, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit and sought a temporary restraining order and then a preliminary injunction to cease all use of the FREEVEE mark. Representing Amazon, defeated the TRO and effectively defeated the preliminary injunction motion, as the Court declined to rule on the motion. The opposition to the preliminary injunction motion made substantial use of survey evidence demonstrating no likelihood of either forward or reverse consumer confusion, and no secondary meaning as to the purported FREEBIE TV mark. The case proceeded through discovery for over a year, until Kamino’s counsel withdrew from the case and Kamino dismissed its claims with prejudice shortly afterwards.

Hubbard Media Group, LLC and ReelzChannel, LLC v. Instagram, LLC and Facebook, Inc. Represented Instagram and Facebook in defense against trademark infringement and dilution claims brought by HMG and ReelzChannel (collectively “ReelzChannel”). ReelzChannel, a television network and producer, filed a motion for preliminary injunction alleging consumer confusion stemming from the recent launch of Instagram’s latest video editing/sharing feature called Reels. Not only opposed the preliminary injunction motion, but also filed a motion to transfer based on the forum-selection clause in Instagram’s and Facebook’s Terms of Use, and a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The preliminary injunction opposition made substantial use of survey evidence demonstrating no likelihood of either forward or reverse consumer confusion. After considering all three motions during a single hearing, the Court issued an order granting the motion to transfer, and consequently denying the preliminary injunction motion without prejudice and the motion to dismiss as moot. Rather than allow the case to be transferred to the Northern District of California and proceed forward, ReelzChannel voluntarily dismissed all claims.

WonderKiln, Inc. v. Snap Inc. Represented Snap against trademark infringement claims brought by WonderKiln, the owner of a trademark registration for CAMERAKIT for a computer program for developing camera functions within computer programs and camera-based mobile programs. WonderKiln filed a motion for preliminary injunction, seeking to enjoin Snap’s use of Camera Kit for its turnkey SDK solution that enables developers to leverage Snap’s world class AR platform and technology in their mobile applications. Defeated WonderKiln’s preliminary injunction motion with an order finding that the CAMERAKIT mark was, at best, descriptive and lacked secondary meaning, and was therefore not protectable. Case was dismissed shortly afterwards.

Yahoo Holdings, Inc. v. Mozilla Corporation. Represented Yahoo in breach of contract case involving default search provider deal for the Firefox browser. Mozilla sought over $1 billion in damages. Litigated for nearly two years, defeated Mozilla’s summary judgment motion, and settled dispute shortly before trial.

Tre Milano, LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc. Represented Amazon.com against trademark infringement claims stemming from the sale of allegedly counterfeit InStyler curling irons on Amazon.com’s website. Defeated Tre Milano’s ex parte application for temporary restraining order seeking cessation of all infringing sales on Amazon.com’s website. Defeated Tre Milano’s preliminary injunction motion seeking the same relief. Defeated Tre Milano’s appeal of the denial of its preliminary injunction motion. Litigated the case for over a year, until favorably resolving it by settlement.

Abraham Berti Levy v. adidas AG; adidas America, Inc. Represented adidas against trademark infringement and unfair competition claims stemming from alleged use of plaintiff’s registered NEVER DONE mark in an international advertising campaign. Litigated case through discovery and won summary judgment cancelling plaintiff’s trademark registration as void ab initio and holding that plaintiff could not otherwise establish valid trademark rights.

Kirusa, Inc. v. Instagram, LLC. Represented Instagram in a global trademark dispute against Kirusa involving the INSTAVOICE trademark used in connection with Kirusa’s InstaVoice mobile app and competing social networking website. This dispute spanned for several years in extended trademark office proceedings around the world, until Kirusa filed suit against Instagram in the District of Delaware, seeking declaratory judgment as to non-trademark infringement and non-trademark dilution, among other related claims. After initial discovery and preliminary motion practice, the case was resolved favorably during an extensive and complex mediation.

eyebobs, LLC v. Snap Inc. Represented Snap against trademark infringement claims brought by Minneapolis-based eyebobs. eyebobs sought a preliminary injunction based on the alleged similarity of its eyeball logo for its eyeglasses business and Snap’s logo for its recently launched Spectacles video-recording and social-media-connected eyewear. Defeated the preliminary injunction motion entirely, and eyebobs voluntarily dismissed the case with prejudice shortly afterwards.

Razor USA LLC v. VIZIO, Inc. Represented VIZIO against trademark infringement and dilution claims brought by Razor USA relating to VIZIO’s launch of a Razor LED sub-branded television. Litigated for nearly two years, won partial summary judgment as to non-willfulness which led to Razor dropping its damages claims, and ultimately led to a favorable settlement.

British Broadcasting Corporation v. Scott Stander & Associates, Inc. Represented BBC in complaint for trademark infringement and dilution of the famous Dancing With The Stars trademark, as well as for breach of and interference with BBC’s contracts with its professional dancers, by defendants’ competing live dance show. Won partial summary judgment, which led to a favorable settlement, including a consent judgment and permanent injunction against defendants.

Cheap Stuff, Inc. v. Yahoo! Inc. Represented Yahoo in breach of contract and “click-fraud” case against internet advertising company Cheap Stuff. Litigated for several years, defeated Cheap Stuff’s summary judgment motion, and favorably settled dispute after winning critical motions to compel on key issues.

Instagram, LLC v. Zhou Murong. Represented Instagram in complaint against several Chinese nationals seeking a declaratory judgment as to the validity of the domain name purchase agreement for Instagram.com, enjoining the defendants from using the INSTAGRAM trademark, and transferring 21 infringing domain names. Concurrently, managed a trademark dispute against defendants in China, until the matters were ultimately resolved through a favorable global settlement.

Delphi Connection Systems LLC v. Koehlke Components Inc. Represented Koehlke Components against allegations of trademark infringement and counterfeiting relating to government-contracted manufacturing of technical parts for aircrafts and military weapons. Favorably resolved dispute while cross-motions for summary judgment were pending.

Damask Fabrics v. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. Represented American Eagle Outfitters against copyright infringement claims brought by Damask Fabrics. Favorably and efficiently settled dispute prior to summary judgment filings.

M Seven System Limited v. Leap Wireless International, Inc. Obtained favorable settlement for Korean mobile device developer (M Seven) against competitor for trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement.

Retail Property Trust (RPT) v. Orange County People for Animals (OCPA). Represented OCPA in free speech case brought by RPT. RPT filed a preliminary injunction motion seeking to prohibit OCPA from protesting outside of a pet shop inside of a mall owned by RPT. Successfully defeated the preliminary injunction motion and obtained a ruling that the mall’s rules regulating free speech were unconstitutional. Filed and won an anti-SLAPP motion, resulting in dismissal of RPT’s claims and full award of OCPA’s attorneys’ fees. Successfully defeated RPT’s appeal, resulting in full award of attorneys’ fees on appeal as well.

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Insights
Education

University of San Diego School of Law J.D. (2010)

Auburn University B.S. (2006) Economics

Admissions

California (2010)

Court Admissions

California (2010)

Professional & Community Activities

American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Litigation Section, Member

California State Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section, Member

Beverly Hills Bar Association, Member

Santa Monica Bar Association, Member

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