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Christopher R. Costa is a Member of Christopher R. Costa, LLC and practices e-commerce, computer, software and intellectual property law and litigation for technology companies. Mr. Costa has practiced law for over 17 years and presents and writes on topics of interest. Since the inception of e-commerce, he has represented e-commerce and internet startups and companies. Mr. Costa represents intellectual property content providers, distributors, resellers and licensees, service providers, web developers, software developers and licensees, database providers and licensees, and other technology companies in commercial, intellectual property, internet-related and litigation matters.

Admissions to Practice

District of Columbia, Maryland, New York & Virginia 

Professional Affiliations

Member (2001-2003), Membership Committee, D.C. Bar

Member (2002-2003), Dues Ceiling Committee, D.C. Bar

Treasurer (1999-2000), District of Columbia Bar ("D.C. Bar") 

Member (1999-2000), Board of Governors, D.C. Bar 

Member (1999-2000), Budget & Finance Committees, D.C. Bar 

Member (1998-2000), Technology Task Force & Bar Operations Subcommittee, D.C. Bar 

Member (1998-99), Finance Committee, Council on Sections, D.C. Bar 

Co-Chair (1996-98)& Steering Committee (1995-99), Computer and Telecommunications Law Section ("CTLS"), D.C. Bar 

Co-Chair, Commercial & Government Contracts Committee (1994-95) and Intellectual Property Committee (1993-94), Computer Law Section, D.C. Bar 

President (1993), Director (1991-94) & Member, D.C. Computer Law Forum, Inc. 

Member, Computer Law Association, Inc. 

Member, Maryland State Bar Association, Inc. 

Member, Bar Association of Montgomery County, Inc. 

Court Admissions

Supreme Court of the United States 

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 

United States District Court for the District of Columbia 

United States District Court for the District of Maryland 

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 

United States Tax Court 

United States Claims Court 

United States Court of International Trade 

United States Court of Military Appeals 

Court of Appeals of District of Columbia 

Court of Appeals of Maryland 

Supreme Court of New York, 3d Appellate Division 

Supreme Court of Virginia 

Education

The Washington College of Law, The American University, Washington, D.C., J.D., 1985 

Vice-President, Student Bar Association, 1983 
Founding member, Computer Law Students' Group, 1983 
Who's Who Among American Law Students, 1984 
 

The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 

M.S., Mathematics, 1981 
Senator, Urbana-Champaign Senate, 1981 
 

The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 

B.A., Philosophy & Mathematics (double major) with distinction, 1980 

Selected Presentations

Mr. Costa is a frequent speaker on topics of interest to high-tech clients and their legal counsel. Mr. Costa's presentations include: 

"Practical Legal Issues in e-Commerce," Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education for Lawyers, Inc. (MICPEL), Columbia, MD, 2000. 

"eCommerce: Will You Be Ready for Your Firm and Your Clients?," MSBA Technology Showcase, Maryland State Bar Association, Linthicum (BWI), MD, 2000. 

"E-Commerce Developments & Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA)," Intellectual Property Section, Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland Inc.,1999; 

"UCITA, UETA & Recent Developments Affecting E-Commerce," Technology Law for the Information Age Conference (5th Annual), CTLS, D.C. Bar, 1999; 

"Counseling High Tech Clients," (full day CLE course), Sequoia Professional Development Corp. ("SPDC"), Fairfax, Virginia, 1999; 

"Recent Legislative Developments in Computer Law," Mid-Year Technology Showcase, Maryland State Bar Association, Annapolis, Maryland, 1999; 

"Software License Agreements" (full day CLE course), SPDC: (1999) Orlando, Fla.; (1998) New York, NY, Chicago, Ill., & King of Prussia, PA.; (1997) Orlando, Fla, New York, N.Y., & Hartford, Conn.; 

"Internet Service Provider Liability Limitations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Pub. L. No. 105-304," Intellectual Property Law Group, Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C.,1998. 

Moderator: "E-Commerce Legal Issues," Technology Law for the Information Age Conference (4th Annual), CTLS, D.C. Bar, Washington, D.C., 1998; 

"Fair Use and the Internet (including Digital Millennium Copyright Act)," Arts, Entertainment & Sports Law Section, D.C. Bar, Washington, D.C., 1998; 

Program Chair: Technology Law for the Information Age (3rd Annual) (full day conference), CTLS, D.C. Bar, 1997; 

"Practicing Computer Law," Intellectual Property Law Association, Washington College of Law, American University,1997; 

"A Sampler of Legal Issues in the Digital Age: Intellectual Property, Contracts, Litigation & the Internet; D.C. Bar 1997 Winter Convention, CTLS Program, Washington, D.C., 1997; 

"How to Litigate: Computer Litigation;" D.C. Bar/ George Washington University Law School Continuing Legal Education Program, Co-Sponsored by D.C. Bar Litigation Section, Washington, D.C., 1996; 

"Starting & Running Software & Multimedia Consulting Companies," First Class, Inc., Washington, D.C., 1995; 

"Liability Arising from Illegally Copied Software," Special User's Group, Bethesda, Maryland, 1994; 

"Advising High Tech Clients," SPDC, Fair Oaks, Virginia, 1994; 

"Intellectual Property Rights in the European Community," The Institute for Public Policy, George Mason University, 1993; 

Guest lecturer: Computer law seminar, National Law Center, George Washington University, 1992; 

"The EC Software Directive," Computer Law Section of the Fairfax Bar Association, Virginia, 1991; 

"Important Issues in Distribution of Information," Computer Law Conference, Institute for International Research, Inc., New York, 1990; 

Guest lecturer: Computer law seminar, Washington College of Law, American University, 1985. 

Selected Publications 

Mr. Costa publishes articles and materials on topics of interest to high-tech clients and their legal counsel. His publications include: 

Recent Developments (firm newsflashs for clients) & presentation materials. 

Softcover: E-Commerce & Internet Agreements, Checklists & Issues; 

Article: Coming to a State Legislature Near You: The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act, (release in 2000). 

Article: A Sampler of Legal Issues in the Digital Age: Intellectual Property, Contracts, Litigation & the Internet; CTLS, D.C. Bar, webpage http://www.ctls.org/costa.htm, February 1997- December 1999. 

Article: 7th Circuit "Shrinkwrap License" Ruling Favors Computer Industry Practices, The Daily Record, November 9, 1996, at 28A. 

Article: Seventh Circuit Holds "Shrinkwrap" License Agreements Enforceable & Not Preempted by Copyright Act - ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg, Fall 1996 Newsletter, CTLS, D.C. Bar, at 4-6; and Spring Quarter 1997, IPLS Newsline, Virginia State Bar, Intellectual Property Law Section Newsletter, at 17-20. 

Article: Classification and Protection Crucial For All Trade and Service Marks, The Daily Record, March 23, 1996, at 5 & 11. 

Article: Selection of Trade & Service Marks & The USPTO Application Process, Point & Click, Official Magazine of the NMAA, 1996. 

Article: Copyright Registration of Multimedia Works, Point & Click, Official Magazine of the NMAA, July 1995, at 22. 

Article: Is Cyberspace Public Property? If So, It Should Accommodate The Disabled, Computer Digest, May 1995, at 1. 

Article: Legal Frontiers: Multimedia Works, Online Services and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Point & Click, Official Newsletter of the NMAA, March/April 1995, at 1. 

Article: Supreme Court's Decisions Impact Software Developers, Computer Digest, May 1994, at 1. 

Article: Crafting Employment Agreements for High Technology Companies, Computer Law Strategist, October 1993. 

Quarterly digest: The American Computer Law Digest, briefs of recent decisions and legislation concerning computer law. Editor and publisher, 1983 - 1986.