
Michael is an intellectual property attorney whose practice encompasses trademark and copyright enforcement, technology transactions and licensing, patent and trademark portfolio management, and online protection and enforcement. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/US, and is active in advising clients on fair use, generative AI, social media, and branding in the metaverse. His clients range from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies in a broad range of industries, including software, sports, toys, housewares, entertainment, and digital & social media.
The rights enforcement side of Michael’s practice includes trademark, trade dress, copyright and design patent matters, in addition to domain name proceedings, and advising clients on publicity and privacy rights.
A national expert, Michael has been interviewed on television and quoted in national media outlets. According to World Trademark Review, Mr. Graif, “epitomizes the term ‘IP expert’,” and has “a breadth of experience in trademark work and can clearly explain legal concepts and strategies to people who may not be well versed in law.” Along with appearing on Bloomberg Television and Reuters Television, he has been quoted in the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Above the Law, The Guardian of London and The Daily Deal, and other news outlets. He teaches social media law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Prior to joining Mintz, Michael was chair of the intellectual property group at a New York-based international law firm, where he was a partner for a decade. Earlier, he was a partner at a Washington, DC-based national law firm.
Experience
- Represented SILAC f/k/a Equitable Life Insurance Company in obtaining preliminary injunction for trademark infringement against AXA Equitable.
- Appointed as expert witness for Kraft/Heinz in trade dress dispute in Australia with Bega Cheese.
- Represented Umbra, LLC in successful design patent infringement case against Oxo International, Ltd. over housewares
- Represented Wood One Co. Ltd. in successful defense of a TTAB opposition by CCA Global Partners, Inc.
- Represented Kostopoulos Investment Holdings, Inc. in defeating preliminary injunction motion for trademark infringement brought by ATL Pain Management, Inc.
- Counseled MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. on intellectual property in its $550 Million Acquisition of the North American distribution business of Barnes Group Inc.
viewpoints
Supreme Court: Parody Not a Shield from Trademark Infringement
June 9, 2023 | Blog | By Michael Graif
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS: Intellectual Property — The Vulnerable Icon: Prince, Warhol, and the Supreme Court’s Latest on Copyright Law
June 6, 2023 | Podcast | By Andrew DeVoogd, Michael Graif
Lensa: Are AI Art Generators Copyright Infringers?
February 15, 2023 | Blog | By Frank Gerratana, Michael Graif, Sebastian Navarro
New York Attorney General: Data Breaches Will Cost You
August 1, 2022 | Blog | By Michael Graif
Amazon’s Utility Patent Neutral Evaluation Proceeding: Let the Seller Beware
March 22, 2022 | Blog | By Michael Graif, Matthew Hurley
The Trademark Modernization Act’s New Cancellation Procedures are Now Effective
December 28, 2021 | Blog | By Michael Graif
Quentin Tarantino’s Secret NFTs
December 8, 2021 | Blog | By Michael Graif, Frank Gerratana
NYC Businesses: Do you have your “biometric identifier collection” notice up?
July 12, 2021 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose, Michael Graif
Get Ready for New York City’s New Biometric Identifier Information Law
June 22, 2021 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose, Michael Graif
Supreme Court to Consider When Inaccurate Information in a Copyright Registration Affects its Validity in Unicolors v. H&M
June 9, 2021 | Blog | By Michael Graif
News & Press
Mintz’s Trademark Practice Recognized in 2023 WTR 1000 Rankings
February 14, 2023
Justices Bolster Copyrights With Decision Curbing Challenges
February 25, 2022
NYC’s Scary Biometric Data Law
August 1, 2021
Google v Oracle: A Closer Look at the Dissent
April 16, 2021
SCOTUS ‘Scares’ Copyright Owners with Fair Use Expansion
April 9, 2021
Mintz, Practitioner Ranked in 2021 World Trademark Review 1000
February 23, 2021
How to Protect a Trademark or Copyright Internationally
July 30, 2019
DC Spy Museum in New Cold War With New York’s KGB Museum
January 23, 2019
Joining IP Hiring Wave, Mintz Adds Ex-Practice Chair at Curtis
October 3, 2018
Events & Speaking
Transformative Fair Use After Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith
AIPLA Annual Meeting
National Harbor, MD

Is Your Microwave Listening? Privacy and other Legal Issues in the Smart Home
The Inspired Home Show
Chicago, Illinois

Trademark Essentials for In-House Counsel
In-House Connect
Mintz, 666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
AI, Robotics, and Championship Prospects to Harness the Power behind Algorithms
UPenn's Asian Law Review 2020 Symposium
Levy Conference Center, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Lawyers 2020
Practising Law Institute
Practising Law Institute, 1177 Avenue Of The Americas, Second Floor, New York, NY
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Legal Services Providers 2019
Practising Law Institute
PLI New York Center, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, (2nd floor), entrance on 45th Street, New York, New York
Free Speech and Online Platforms
Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal and Cardozo's Philosophy and Law Society
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 55 Fifth Avenue, New York
Fake News and the New Administration
University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law Volume 19 Symposium Hate Crime v. Hate Speech: Exploring the First Amendment
Philadelphia, PA
Digital Creativity: Culture Reimagined
World IP Day 2016
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY
Selected Ethics Issues in IP Rights Enforcement and Defense
Practicing Law Institute Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement 2016 Seminar
New York, NY
Monetizing and Marketing Musicians Through Social Media (and avoiding missteps along the way)
Entertainment Business Law Seminar, CMJ Music Marathon
New York, NY
Attorney Advertising and Social Media and Ethical Implications
Hot Topics in Intellectual Property Law, New York Intellectual Property Law Association
New York, NY
EU Digital Single Market/Safe Harbor
Europe Team Meeting of U.S. Trade Commissioners stationed in Europe
New York, NY
Athletes’ Rights in Evolving Sports Media
Third Annual Cardozo Sports Law Symposium
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY
Intellectual Property Fundamentals: What Every Attorney Needs to Know
Brooklyn Bar Association
Brooklyn, NY
The Rise of Fantasy Sports and Sports Gambling: The Legal Issues Surrounding The Rising Popularity of Fantasy Sports Gambling
Cardozo Sports Law Symposium
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY
Protecting Licensing Income Streams - Negotiating a Good Deal is no Guarantee!
Licensing Executives Society New York Chapter Fall Meeting
New York, NY
Ethics and Social Media - Why Can't We Be Friends?
New York State Bar Association's Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section's 25th Anniversary Celebration
New York, NY
Publications
Co-author, Copyright Trends: Substantial Similarity in the Age of Electronic Music, New York Law Journal, (January 2014)
Read lessRecognition & Awards
- World Trademark Review: WTR 1000 Leading Trademark Practitioners (2013 – 2023)
- Pro Bono Award, Legal Aid Society (2005)
- Included on the New York Super Lawyers list (2013 – 2019)
Involvement
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, New York Intellectual Property Law Association
- Member, Law Society of Upper Canada
- Member, International Trademark Association