John Groom

John's practice has three main strands: (1) copyright and digital media; (2) online and digital regulation; and (3) product counselling on new technologies. Most of his time is currently spent advising clients on: (1) Impact of the EU Digital Services Act and UK Online Safety Bill; (2) Generative AI, associated regulation and copyright issues; and (3) Metaverses and interactive content.

John writes regularly on these topics and his chapter (with Ben Allgrove) “Enforcement in a digital context: intermediary liability” was published in Tanya Aplin (Ed.) Research Handbook on Intellectual Property and Digital Technologies in January 2020.

John has led complex copyright litigation in the Copyright Tribunal and in arbitration, as well as commercial litigation in the High Court. He has also assisted with copyright litigation at the Supreme Court and CJEU.

In 2013 he went on a client secondment to a leading international internet services and online advertising company, advising on a range of brand protection, licensing and general commercial issues. In 2017 he completed a client secondment to a leading social media and advertising company, advising on a range of intellectual property, commercial and music licensing issues.

John writes regularly on these topics and his chapter (with Ben Allgrove) “Enforcement in a digital context: intermediary liability” was published in Tanya Aplin (Ed.) Research Handbook on Intellectual Property and Digital Technologies in January 2020.

John is also heavily involved in the Firm’s tech-focused pro bono work, as well as its social mobility initiatives.

• Providing complex advice to a number of new media, social and online platform clients, relating to intermediary liability and online regulation, including the DSA and OSA.

• Leading a position paper and report on artificial intelligence and predictive policing approaches and technologies for a leading technology firm.

• Acted for TikTok in the UK Copyright Tribunal and subsequent arbitration in relation to a major copyright licensing dispute with ICE (PRS, GEMA, Stim) impacting music use by users on TikTok in over 100 countries.

• Leading specialist advice on difficult notice and takedown issues for many social and online platform clients.

• Advising a number of new media, social and online platform clients in relation to content regulation, platform regulation, and associated digital media issues.

• Leading litigation and various contentious matters for one of the world’s largest music service providers, together with connected central strategic advice and licensing strategies.

• Advising a number of new media and online platform clients in respect of various music licensing issues: licensing negotiations, rights mapping exercises and risk profiling.

• Advising a number of augmented and virtual reality gaming companies and platforms on a range of novel product counsel issues related to their immersive technologies.

• Advising a leading gaming platform in relation to technology, copyright and privacy issues, including on flagship functionality changes, product counsel, and identifying and shutting down a major cheat site.

• Advising a leading virtual reality company in relation to a broad range of content issues, ranging from content regulation to ratings and consumer law issues.

• Advising a leading crowdfunding platform on product counsel, data protection issues, and its international expansion activities.

• Advising a leading US tools company in relation to a broad range of trade secrets issues in the UK.

• Acting for a cutting edge global fitness brand on an emergency injunction in the High Court against a former franchisee.

• Coordinating global IP enforcement and brand protection programmes for leading pharmaceuticals and digital brands.

• Part of the team that acted for Meltwater in the landmark CJEU and UK Supreme Court copyright case NLA v Meltwater and PRCA.

• Up and Coming Partner, Media: Social Media, Gaming and Interactive Technology (UK), Chambers UK, (October 2021-)
• Next Generation Partner, TMT (UK), Legal500 (October 2021-)
• Stand out Lawyer, Thomson Reuters (January 2021-)
• One to Watch, TMT (UK), Best Lawyers (June 2022-)

• Tech UK Data Analytics and AI Leadership Committee
• Law Society of England and Wales
• AIPPI