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
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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 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Contracts & Agreements
Posted by anonymous | October 12, 2023 | Contracts & Agreements
Inspire you to fight
Don't roll over. Use Steve as an inspiration to fight. Because Autodesk doesn't care about your agreement or even your compliance. They want more money. Always more. We used his online resources to aid us and we were successful.
Steve Vondran
Replied last October 16, 2023Yes, Autodesk can be tough to work with, especially when they are going after simple "over-assignment" of licenses (which their software allows you to do - their attorney claimed to me this could not be fixed - yeah right), and they often seek a TON OF MONEY to settle these innocent EULA issues. I really wish they would change their policies, but till then we will continue to fight and educate good paying customers. Thank you for the review. We are the clear leader in the United States handling software audits with Autodesk, Hexagon/Vero, Dassaultes/Solidworks, Siemens, Synopsis, Ansys, Altium and more.
Posted by Paul | April 27, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Contracts & Agreements
Successful Software Compliance Mitigation
“Working with Steve and the Vondran legal team was a great experience. They were able to give me a voice with an opposing software compliance legal team representing a multi-billion-dollar company that was not listening to my position. This resulted in mitigating a $89,000 compliance fee that was unf...
Steve Vondran
Replied last April 27, 2023Thanks for the great comment, and we're glad Vondran Legal® served your interests well. Yes, when the economy gets tight, many software companies ramp up their compliance efforts in order to create a "profit center." When this happens, they can tend to get VERY AGGRESSIVE and see if they can hit business owners with MAXIMUM PENALTY. That's where we come in to help create a strong case for our clients, and to seek a fair and honest resolution if one is needed. Having handled hundreds and hundreds of software audits and EULA license compliance matters, we are thankful that you put your trust in us. All the best!!! Steve Vondran, Esq.
Posted by anonymous | January 07, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Contracts & Agreements
Outstanding resolution to my license requirements with AutoDesk
Steve Vondran was instrumental in assisting my small architecture firm to resolve the licensing requirements with AutoDesk for three AutoCAD licenses. I felt very confident in his experience and expertise in finding a positive solution with AutoDesk and their attorney. I highly recommend Steve.
Steve Vondran
Replied last January 07, 2020Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to post this review of our Autodesk audit services. Autodesk has a long history of going after architects who use their AutoCAD, LT and other products. Getting an audit demand letter from Autodesk internally, or their preferred law firm Donahue Fitzgerald in the San Francisco Bay area can be very intimidating. Our goal for all of our clients is to keep the audit confidential, avoid any "onsite" visits to the "facility" of the client (their EULA terms of use may give them this legal right believe it or not), and to seek to resolve the case confidentially (to stay out of the online "law of the press" and to negotiate the best possible terms of settlement. Software licensing compliance audits are a specialty practice area and best handled by a very experienced law firm. To our knowledge, there is no firm that has handled as many Autodesk licensing cases as we have. This includes both small companies (1-5 employees) on up to very large architect, design and engineering corporations. Thank you again for putting your trust in us! Steve Vondran, Esq.
Posted by anonymous | June 26, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Contracts & Agreements
Hands down the best experience
I hired Steve to look over a music contract. I'm a composer and music producer. Steve really came in clutch. He was extremely knowledgeable and just provided so much peace of mind during what could have potentially become a stressful time. He researched unique information pertaining to my situation a...
Steve Vondran
Replied last June 26, 2019Thank you for sharing your comments. We really enjoyed working on the project, which was very high profile and getting the job done quickly, efficiently, and to your satisfaction. We look forward to a strong future relationship as your music career grows even more!! Thank you, Steve
Posted by Rohan | February 09, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Contracts & Agreements
Very knowledgeable and great to work with!
After getting a letter from the legal council of a large company (whose name rhymes with Bot-O-Desk), we were worried about the potential costs and time that this case would consume. Steve was great in talking us through the problem, and recommending and executing a settlement agreement with the o...
Steve Vondran
Replied last February 09, 2017Thank you for taking time to share your comments with others. We take great pride in helping companies across the United States in handling software licensing compliance issues. Whether we are dealing with large firms like Siemens, Microsoft or CNC Mastercam or software trade associations such as the business software alliance, or SIIA, we absolutely love fighting for our clients and seeking the most cost effective legal result possible. Thank you again.
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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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
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
Q&A
Can i use public domain pictures of famous people in a book i am writing and intend to sell the book. famous e.g. the beetles
28 Feb 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