Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
5.0 /5.0
124 Client Reviews
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Steve C. Vondran
also known as Attorney Steve®
Virtual Consultation Available
Free Consultation
About Steve
Biography
Welcome to The Law Offices of Steven C. Vondran, P.C. ("Vondran Legal"). Home of Attorney Steve™ and Copyright Watchdog™
Copyright & Photo Infringement, Software Audits, Strike 3 Holdings & Malibu Media Torrent Defense.
As we like to say, "this is not your Daddy's law firm." We do things differently. We don't charge for copies and paper clips or staples. We don't double We don't load three attorneys on your case and try to rack up a large legal bill. We aren't stuffy. We are responsive and effective. We offer tenacious legal representation and low flat rate legal fees for mant non-litigation cases. Some cases we may also able to take on a contingency fee basis (for example photo infringement recovery or right of publicity cases).
The types of cases we take vary, but basically we handle the following types of legal issues:
- Software audits with business software alliance ("BSA"), Autodesk, SIIA, Vero, Siemens, Adobe, Microsoft, Apple and others
- Torrent p2p file sharing defense (allegations of illegal download of Strike 3 Holdings, Malibu Media and other movies)
- Photo infrigement cases (representing both Plaintiff and Defendants)
- California right of publicity cases
- Trademark registration and office action letters / Domain disputes (UDRP)
- Copyright infringement litigation (ex. jewelry infringement, font infringement)
- Entertainment law issues
- Internet & social media disputes / California anti-SLAPP
- TV signal piracy (cable and satellite piracy claims)
To see me in action visit our business & civil litigation law Youtube channel at . We are now over 12,000 subscribers and over 1.5 MILLION VIDEO VIEWS! Make sure to SUBSCRIBE for free updates.
Call us at to discuss your case. We look forward to working with you!
____________________________________________________________________
Top 5 reasons our firm might be a good match for you:
1. You don’t want a law firm that charges you to make copies, or charges you for staples, postage fees, or paper clips. This is just silly and we won’t do it.
2. You don’t want a long-winded lawyer that pontificates on and on, never really explaining anything to you, and then sending you a bill for the all the time. Lawyers must be concise, honest, straight-forward and to the point. That’s what we do.
3. You do not want to hire a law firm and then have three lawyers working on your case, each billing time (“triple billing” or “double billing” by a partner and associate). This wastes your money and is honestly a slap in your face.
4. You want a firm that solves problems and not creates them. We fight for you, we are in your corner, and we want to get your legal issues resolved as bad as you do, (hire us so we can handle the problem and let you focus on your work and what you do best).
5. You have serious legal issues that need to be resolved, in the shortest amount of time possible, and at a fair and honest price.
For more information about who we are, read our Client reviews.
Over 48k YouTube subscribers - Copyright infringement, Software Audit Defense, BitTorrent Litigation (Strike 3 Holdings, LLC), Photo Infringement, Fair Use Opinions, DMCA, Right of Publicity, IPTV, Celebrity Endorsement, Metaverse, NFT, Domain Disputes (UDRP), and Boxing Piracy.
We are a leading Software, Technology & Copyright Infringement law firm in the United States. Business Software Alliance and Microsoft SPLA audits, Autodesk, Siemens, Vero software, Solidworks, Adobe and other publisher EULA audits and piracy defense. Social media disputes-Facebook, Twitter.
We handle copyright law involving books, music, podcasts, film, software, computer fonts, jewelry, designs, Youtube videos, and more. DMCA takedown and bad faith claims. Entertainment contract review and counsel. Entertainment arbitration, mediation and litigation.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Copyright Infringement
80%
22 years | 1,500 cases
Copyright Application
10%
Entertainment
10%
22 years | 100 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 325-495 per hour
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Licenses
Licensed in Arizona for 18 years
State: Arizona
Acquired: 2008
No misconduct found
Licensed in California for 21 years
State: California
Acquired: 2004
No misconduct found
Location
The Law Offices of Steven C. Vondran, P.C.
One Sansome, Suite 3500, San Francisco, CA, 94104
vondranlegal.comThe Law Offices of Steven C. Vondran, P.C
620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1100, Newport Beach, CA, 92660
vondranlegal.comThe Law Offices of Steven C. Vondran, P.C.
401 Wilshire Blvd, 12th Floor, Santa Monica, CA, 90401
vondranlegal.comGallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find Steve online.
Steve C. Vondran's Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (123)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
Lawsuits & Disputes (60)
Copyright Infringement (44)
Intellectual Property (23)
Business (12)
Contracts & Agreements (5)
Real Estate (5)
Banking (4)
Foreclosure (4)
Internet (4)
Licensing (4)
Privacy (4)
Administrative Law (3)
Bankruptcy & Debt (3)
Debt Settlement (3)
Litigation (3)
Consumer Protection (2)
Debt & Lending Agreements (2)
Entertainment (2)
Debt Collection (1)
Financial Markets and Services (1)
Government (1)
Immigration (1)
Medical Malpractice (1)
Securities & Investment Fraud (1)
Trademark Infringement (1)
What Clients Mention
Case Results (85)
Recommendation (50)
Practice Area Knowledge (49)
Advocacy (44)
Cost of Services (38)
Professionalism (33)
Communication Style (27)
Responsiveness (27)
Staff & Support (20)
General Knowledge (19)
Trustworthiness (17)
Character & Conduct (16)
Compassion (9)
Free Consultations (2)
Punctuality (2)
Showing 16 - 20 of 44 reviews | Copyright Infringement
Posted by anonymous | September 30, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Copyright Infringement
Extremely grateful for Steve and Lisa
First of all, if by some miracle you’re reading this and you haven’t been notified of an infringement, please take my advice and DO NOT download illegal copy written material. It will catch up with you. Trust me. I was served with a notice of discovery, and I am so glad I contacted Steve before it...
Steve Vondran
Replied last October 07, 2021Thank you so much for taking the time to share your views. I agree, the only way to stop the "Strike 3 Holdings" train of lawsuits being filed in federal courts in California and other states is to educate others. In the unfortunate event you get a notice of subpoena from your ISP (setting a deadline to challenge or object), call us to discuss. I am glad we were able to apply our skill and experience to your case. We sincerely wish you the best going forward. Attorney Steve Vondran
Posted by anonymous | August 27, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Copyright Infringement
Got hit with copyright infringement? Hire Steve!
We first received a letter from our ISP stating that our IP address showed signs of copyright infringement. Then we received an email from Harness Dickey with a letter of copyright infringement over the use of software produced by Dassault Systeme. It was until that moment that we realized we were in...
Steve Vondran
Replied last August 27, 2021Thank you for the review. There are many software companies (even during a global health crisis as we are facing) that will continue to enforce their EULA's and go after alleged infringers. Sometimes they are operating on the correct information, and sometimes not. We have helped hundreds of clients over the year respond to copyright infringement allegations (ex. over-installing software or using pirated software, crack codes, key generators, etc.) and have helped successfully navigate software audit, software litigation (ex. DMCA 1202 ant-circumvention claims), and other software related disputes. There are not many attorneys or law firms who have the breadth of experience dealing with many of the large software publishers (such as Adobe, Microsoft, Siemens, Vero, Solidworks, Autodesk and others, including the main trade association The Software Alliance (in Washington D.C.). This is not an area of law for new law grads or "rookies" in the copyright software infringement space. In fact, many times we are engaged by corporate counsel. Thank you for putting your trust in us, and our law firm. Steve Vondran, Esq.
Posted by anonymous | July 29, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Copyright Infringement
Hire Steve
Steve and Lisa make a great team and you could not be in better hands. Got a Strike 3 subpoena and I was panicking because I didn't know what I had done. Getting yelled at by your family is no fun and very stressful. Turns out it was the renters who were misbehaving. Steve was able to negotiate a ver...
Posted by anonymous | June 22, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Copyright Infringement
The Best Attorney
We received a Strike 3 letter from our ISP. We hired Steve Vondran to represent us. If you are not certain who to hire, or who has your best interest, we can assure you Steve Vondran is an expert in this area and represented our best interests. We cannot say enough about Steve and Lisa’s knowledge in...
Posted by James | May 22, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Copyright Infringement
Worthy of a five star review
I recently engaged Steve as an attorney to handle a case with strike 3 holdings. He was professional, responsive, quick and easy to deal with. Once he started the process, I felt I was in good hands, his advice was sound and I felt comfortable during the whole process. I hope I don't have to hire an ...
Steve Vondran
Replied last May 22, 2021Thanks for the nice comments. Many of my clients find me through my YouTube channel at AttorneySteveVideos.com. We are closing in on 30k subscribers. My clients are super educated when they come to me. This allows us to be more productive working together making sure we are asking the right questions and covering all of the legal issues. Dealing with Strike 3 Holdings in BitTorrent litigation has become a passion of ours and we love helping our clients get out of these (many times) federal court lawsuits and get their cases resolved so they can move on with their lives. In this niche area of copyright law there is simply no substitute for experience. Thank you for placing your trust in us and for taking the time to share your experience. All the best! Steve Vondran
Steve C. Vondran's Lawyer Endorsements
"Steve is one of the best. Brilliant legal mind, but can bare nuckle with the best of them. He is also a truly great guy and someone you would love to call a friend. Trustworthy."
"Steve is one of the leading attorneys in the field of copy write and consumer protection. He is as up to date on the newest changes in this exciting area of law, as anyone. Take a moment to watch his videos and articles he writes and you'll soon realize, if you need representation - Steve is the one to call!"
"I have known Steve for many years as a fellow lawyer and have referred several matters to him. Steve is an extremely knowledgeable and capable attorney, but a couple of attributes stand out: (1) he truly cares about his clients and goes the extra mile to assist them, and (2) he is very responsive, which is a feat in and of itself given his busy caseload. One of the first matters I referred to Steve stands out in my mind. This client had an urgent matter with only a couple of days to obtain some sort of resolution. Steve jumped in to help and worked with her outside of his normal working hours to ensure that she received the assistance she needed. Steve is personable, responsive and skilled, and he goes the extra mile for his clients. I highly recommend him."
"One of the many excellent answers of Mr. Vondran particularly caught my attention. It was customized to the needs of the Avvo asker, while bringing a depth of analysis that was of value even to lawyers practicing in the field. These are the qualities that every client should look for when hiring an attorney."
"Mr. Vondran is the real deal. He is type of attorney we all strive to be like. He knows his stuff and gives back so much to the community by way of videos and publications."
"Steve is the kind of Attorney who puts his clients first always and his track record shows that he achieves great results. As a fellow Attorney here in Arizona, I endorse Steve's experience, skills and compassion without hesitation. I highly recommend and endorse this lawyer."
"Steve genuinely cares about his clients. I've seen him take what looks like an impossible case and make a real difference for his client. I would recommend Steve without hesitation!"
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Steve Vondran is an outstanding Real Estate and Intellectual Property Attorney. He is licensed to practice law in California and Arizona and comes high recommended by me. I would refer my clients to no one other than Steve."
"I had the opportunity to work with Steve on a rather complex unlawful detainer proceeding. Steve handled himself with the utmost professionalism and always with the client's best interest in mind. Based on this experience, I endorse Steve."
"Steve’s professionalism and his commitment to his clients has always impressed me. He constantly thinks outside the box to reach the best results for his clients. I truly valued the time we spent working together."
"Steve is a leader in the real estate law community, particularly in foreclosure defense matters. I have referred MANY clients to Steve and Steve has been able to resolve their matters to the clients' satisfaction. When friends or family come to me for real estate advice, Steve is the first person I turn to."
"Having worked with Steve Vondran since we were both in law school, I can honestly say that you will not find a more professional, knowledgeable or ethical real estate attorney. For clients seeking a real estate attorney, you cannot go wrong with Steve Vondran. For attorneys with clients in need of assistance on real estate matters, Steve Vondran will make you look like a star for referring him. Great guy and great lawyer."
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Insurance lawyer
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Brian Kinder
Intellectual property lawyer
Experience
Honors
2025
America's Most Honored Lawyers, America's Most Honored
2023
Top-Rated Lawyer, Avvo
2021
#1 Copyright Infringement Defense Firm in the U.S. 2020, UniCourt
2019
Top 25 Law Firm by Case Filing, Lex Machina
2000
Top Grade Entertainment Law, CALI award for Excellence in Legal Study
1999
Contracts - Top Grade in Law School Contracts Class, American Jurisprudence Award
1987
American Jurisprudence Award in Torts, Law School
Work Experience
2004 - Present
Attorney, The Law Offices of Steven C. Vondran, P.C.
2017 - 2017
CEO and Founder, Copyright Policy Institute
1999 - 2000
Information Privacy Expert, Experian
1998 - 1999
Project Manager for ASP software company, Equative.com
Associations
2017 - Present
Copyright Policy InstituteCEO & Founder
2016 - Present
Copyright Society of the USAMember
2016 - Present
San Francisco Intellectual Property Law AssociationMember
2014 - Present
American Intellectual Property Law AssociationMember
2012 - Present
International Trademark AssociationMember
2012 - Present
American Bar AssociationSports & Entertainment Forum
2012 - Present
American Bar AssociationIntellectual Property Law Section
2012 - Present
Beverly Hills Bar Association, Entertainment Law SectionMember
2007 - Present
Orange County Trial Lawyers AssociationMember
2013 - 2014
Executive counsel - Intellectual Property Arizona State BarExecutive counsel
Sample of Legal Cases
California Trade Secret Defense - TAKE NOTHING PLAINTIFF
Defense victory
Settled Strike 3 Lawsuit in California Federal Court
Settled
Vero software settlement
Out-of-court settlement
Autodesk Software Audit
Case settled with no liability
Siemens Litigation
Case settled with creative settlement solution
London Has Fallen Illegal Movie Download
Settled case on favorable terms
Malibu Media adult movie
Confidential settlement
DMCA Agent
Ongoing
BitTorrent Defense
Settled
Software audit defense
Case settled no liability
Broker defense and accusations
Many cases are subject to confidentiality agreements
BitTorrent Defense
Settlement
BSA Audit
Settled case for 90% less then original offer.
Right of Publicity
Settlement
Right of Publicity
Settlement
Commission Dispute
Settled
Cancellation of Trademark TTAB
Pending
Real Estate Broker Defense
Settlements
Real Estate Fraud case
Judgment of 1.6 million dollars.
Internet website terms of use
Website is up and running
CFL License
License obtained
Eminent Domain
Settlement
Handled Elder Abuse case
Large Judgment for our Client
Strike 3 Holdings lawsuit DISMISSED
Case dismissed with prejudice
Settled Autodesk audit with just a certificate of compliance
Case closed with no further legal action
Education
2000
Whittier College School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1994
California State University, Fullerton
BS - Bachelor of Science
1989
California State University, Fresno
Units toward BS
Speaking Engagements
2024
Clio Webinars
How to scale your law practice with legal marketing
2021
Queens Podcast Lab
IP law for content creators
2020
InventRight Seminar
How to obtain a trademark WITHOUT a lawyer
2018
Live Online Lecture Copyright Class
DMCA Copyright Law Overview
2016
Youtube IP Law
Is sharing software on BItTorent legal?
2010
Willis Report
Fox News Real Estate Analyst
Publications
2023
The Licensing Journal
Don't forget IP protection for your products and packaging
2016
2016
ScribD
Software Audit Checklist
2015
2015
Blog Talk Radio
Battling the BSA
2015
Active Rain Real Estate
Software Audits for Architects
2014
Active Rain Real Estate
Real Estate Agent Copyright Risks
2014
iTunes
Vondran Legal Podcast Series
2012
Active Rain Network
Top 10 Social Media Concerns for Real Estate Professionals
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
What does Sony v. Cox mean for the likes of YouTube and TikTok?
12 Apr 2026
Q&A
Is it legal to share game mods and APK guides on my website?
24 Sep 2025
Q&A
Do I need to pay ASCAP and/or other PRO to have live original music performed at my bar?
24 Sep 2025
Legal Guides
Video Legal Guide
What is a fair use opinion letter and how can it help protect content creators?
05 Jul 2025
Legal Guide
What to do if you received an Ansys subpoena notice
15 Apr 2025
Video Legal Guide
A public figure suing the media has its own unique challenges
26 Mar 2025