Timothy B. Yoo

Won copyright-infringement lawsuit on behalf of international K-pop sensation BTS and its label, HYBE Corporation. The plaintiff alleged that the idea for CJ E&M and HYBE’s reality show I-Land was stolen from a written treatment for his original television series idea. The district court granted Mr. Yoo's first motion to dismiss without giving the plaintiff leave to amend—concluding that plaintiff’s claims failed as a matter of law—and entered judgment in favor of his clients. Bryan Kahn v. CJ E&M, BTS aka Bangtan Boys, and Big Hit Entertainment Company, Case No. 2:21-cv-03230-DMG-KS (C.D. Cal).

Won copyright-infringement lawsuit in favor of a joint defense group comprised of some of South Korea’s largest media companies – Kakao Entertainment, Genie Music, NHN Bugs, TJ Media, Keum Young, MBC, and TV Chosun – concerning the works of South Korean composer Jae-Ho Lee. Successfully prevailed on successive motions to dismiss, securing a dismissal with prejudice. Beom Su Lee v. TV Chosun, et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-00933-DSF-KS (C.D. Cal.).

In 2021, successfully defended world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer as lead trial counsel in a ten-day JAMS arbitration hearing in Los Angeles, California involving atmospheric water generating technology.

Represented leading test prep and college consulting company in several trademark enforcement actions, including in a trademark opposition action before the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board over a competitor’s confusingly similar trademark registration, resulting in the express abandonment with prejudice of the competitor’s mark, Elite Education Group International Inc. v. Elite Educational Advisors, LLC, TTAB Opposition No. 91270898, and a district court action against another competitor resulting in that competitor’s agreement to rebrand entirely.

As co-lead trial counsel, achieved a complete defense verdict on behalf of his client SK Hynix, the world’s second largest memory chip manufacturer, after a three-week jury trial in the Western District of Washington in a $175-million breach-of-contract lawsuit brought on behalf of the Microsoft Corporation by its subsidiary insurer. Cypress Insurance Co. v. SK Hynix America, Inc., Case No. 2:17-cv-00467-RAJ (W.D. Wash.).

As lead trial counsel, recovered millions on behalf of his LED-display manufacturer client Galaxia Electronics Co., Ltd. in a breach-of-contract case. Mr. Yoo successfully petitioned the court for a Right to Attach order—an extraordinary pre-judgment remedy that allowed Galaxia to attach millions’ worth of defendants’ assets, including bank accounts and inventories. After having its bank accounts seized, the primary defendant filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Following a vigorous pursuit of the debtor in that bankruptcy action, including extensive document discovery and a Rule 2004 examination of the company’s principal, Mr. Yoo was able to secure the recovery of several millions from the debtor’s bankruptcy estate. Galaxia Electronics Co., Ltd. v. Luxmax, U.S.A., et al., Case No. 2:16-cv-05144-JAK-GJS (C.D. Cal.).

Completely defended a $50-million copyright-infringement lawsuit on behalf of his client CJ Entertainment & Media, Korea’s largest media conglomerate, concerning the distribution of “K-pop” songs in the U.S. over the Beats Music platform. Prior to the commencement of extensive international discovery, Mr. Yoo was able to get the case dismissed in its entirety based on the doctrine of forum non conveniens, which the Ninth Circuit has noted is an “exceptional” remedy that is rarely to be used. DFSB Kollective Co. Ltd. v. CJ E&M, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:15-cv-01650-SVW-FFM (C.D. Cal.).

Defended ASRock America, a subsidiary of Taiwanese electronics contract manufacturer Pegatron Corporation, in a patent-infringement lawsuit involving high-performance WiFi routers, resulting in a favorable settlement for his client. BE Labs, Inc. v. ASRock America, Inc., Case No. 2:19-cv-2637-JAK-AS (C.D Cal.).

Successfully represented a large wireless retailer in a franchisee suit against a leading national wireless carrier. Verity Wireless, Inc. v. Sprint Solutions, Inc., 2:20-cv-02841-DSF-MRW (C.D. Cal.).

Favorably resolved a global trademark dispute on behalf of his snack-food manufacturer client World Peas Brand, the maker of Peatos™, against Frito-Lay.

Successfully defended an individual client in a trade-secrets-theft case against a tech conglomerate, resulting in the plaintiff tech company taking a license on his client’s patents (embodying the alleged trade secrets).

Served as trial counsel for leading wireless device manufacturer in a patent infringement investigation before the International Trade Commission, resulting in a determination of non-infringement and invalidity of the asserted patent. ITC Investigation (337-TA-794).

Successfully defended one of the largest American fashion retailers in a design copyright infringement lawsuit, obtaining a dismissal with prejudice before the close of fact discovery. Gold Value International Textile, Inc. v. Forever 21, Inc., 2:15-cv-07207-PSG-KS (C.D. Cal.).

• Featured in Cover Story Interview, Legal Times, July 2023
• Author, “K-Pop to Parasite—Navigating South Korean Business Culture,” Bloomberg Law, May 2020
• Author, “Proliferation of Streaming Video Services Could Lead to Increased Regulations and Taxes on OTT Providers,” Daily Journal, April 2020
• Author, “How Streaming Video Cos. Are Challenging New Taxes,” Law360, April 2020