Northern Illinois University
College of Law

---

Dean King teaches property, intellectual property law related courses and entertainment law. Before joining the NIU faculty, Dean King practiced intellectual property law at Husch Blackwell Sanders Welsh & Katz and Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione in Chicago, Illinois, where she engaged in domestic and international copyright and trademark prosecution, handled licensing issues and represented clients in domain name matters. In addition, she was an attorney in the City of Chicago Department of Law. Dean King is currently of counsel at Advitam IP, an intellectual property law firm in Chicago.

Dean King is a member of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, International Trademark Association, and Society for American Law Teachers. She is a recipient of the 2009 Corporate Woman of Achievement Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners and the 2012 Outstanding Professor of the Year Award by the NIU College of Law Alumni Council. She is also a 2012 inductee of the Pike High School Alumni Hall of Fame.

Dean King is a 2002 graduate of Harvard Law School, where she was a member of the Committee on Sports and Entertainment Law and Orientation Co-Chair of the Black Law Students Association. She is a member of the Illinois Bar. In 1999, she received her B.A. in Journalism, with Highest Distinction, from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, where she was a Chancellor's scholar, Central Newspapers Foundation scholar, Minority Achievement scholar and an Outstanding Woman Student Leader Award recipient.

Areas of Expertise

• Intellectual property
• Entertainment law

News

| SSRN Author Page | HeinOnline Author Profile |

Books and Book Chapters

• Tattoo Use: What Does the Right of Publicity Have To Do With It?, in Handbook on Intellectual Property and Social Justice (with Lateef Mtima, Steven D. Jamar and Lateef Mtima eds., forthcoming 2022). 
• Copyright Protection of Tattoos, in Non-Conventional Copyright: Do New and Atypical Works Deserve Protection? 111 (Enrico Bonadio and Nicola Lucchi eds., Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018).

Articles

• Why Women of Color Remain 'Invisible' in IP Law, 37 GPSolo 45 (2020) (with J. Shontavia Johnson and Tonya M. Evans).
• Solid Oak Sketches v. 2K Games: Is This Lawsuit the Beginning of the End of Uncertainty Concerning The Enforceability of Tattoo Copyrights?, 1 Interactive Ent. L. Rev. 62 (2018).
• Diversifying Intellectual Property Law: Why Women of Color Remain “Invisible” and How to Provide More Seats at the Table, Landslide, Mar./Apr. 2018, at 31 (with J. Shontavia Johnson and Tonya M. Evans).
• Tattoo Copyrights May Finally Get Their Day in Court, Law360 (April 28, 2016, 10:38 AM).
• Symposium, The Inadvisability of Nonuniformity in the Licensing of Cover Songs, 3 Belmont L. Rev. 51 (2016). (also available in SSRN)
• Symposium (remarks), Protection and Enforcement Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, 39 Colum. J.L. & Arts 437 (2016). (also available in SSRN)
• The Right-of-Publicity Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, 16 Nev. L.J. 441 (2016). (also available in SSRN)
• The Enforcement Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, 22 J. Intell. Prop. L. 29 (2014). (also available in SSRN)
• The Challenges “Facing” Copyright Protection for Tattoos, 92 Or. L. Rev. 129 (2013). (also available in SSRN)
• From Servants to Workers: South African Domestic Workers and the Democratic State, 14 Persp. on Work 55 (Summer 2010/Winter 2011) (book review).

Presentations

2021

• Presenter, Right of Publicity and Entertainment Law for the Copyright Lawyer, Advanced Copyright Law 2021: Current Issues (CLE), Practising Law Institute, New York (March 11,  2021).
• Panelist, Los Angeles Intellectual Property Association’s Judges Night Gala (February 25, 2021).

2020

• Presenter, Understanding the IP License 2020 - Right of Publicity and Entertainment Licensing, Practising Law Institute CLE (online) (November 5, 2020).
• Presenter, Diversifying Intellectual Property Law: Why Women of Color Remain “Invisible” and How to Provide More Seats at the Table (discussing her co-authored ABA Landslide article of the same name), University of Iowa College of Law Intellectual Property Law Society (online) (October 12, 2020).
• Presenter, Entertainment Law, Cary-Grove High School, Cary, Illinois (online) (September 17, 2020).
• Presenter, Epic Games Lawsuits, The Dr. LaVerne Gyant Lecture Series, Center for Black Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois (February 3, 2020).

2019

• Presenter, Right of Publicity Licensing, Licensing Executives Society Annual Meeting, McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd, Chicago, Illinois, November 19, 2019.
• Presenter, Right of Publicity Licensing, Practising Law Institute, New York City, New York, November 4, 2019.
• Presenter, Introduction to Entertainment Law, Cary-Grove High School, Cary, Illinois, September 13, 2019.
• Presenter, Right of Publicity Issues in Various Media, McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd, Chicago, Illinois, May 23, 2019.
• Panelist, Graffiti, Tattoos, and More: Fixation of Work on Property or People: Are They Your Source?, 2019 American Bar Association IPL Annual Meeting and Intellectual Property Law Conference, Arlington, Virginia, April 12, 2019.
• Panelist, What is Intellectual Property? When to Patent, Trademark, or Copyright,  Northern Illinois University EIGERlab Innovation Network, Rockford, IL, March 12, 2019.
• Keynote speaker, Publicity Rights: Identity and Economic Empowerment, Howard University Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice CLE Seminar, Washington, D.C., March 1, 2019. 

2018

• Presenter, Making A Movie, McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd, Chicago, Illinois, May 17, 2018.
• Panelist, Careers Panel, Career Planning Class, Graham Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, May 2, 2018.
• Panelist, March 28, 2018, Law School Admissions Process Panel, Pre-Law Honors Society, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, March 28, 2018.
• Guest Lecturer (virtual), Tattle Tales: Tattoos, Copyrights, and Protection, Global Perspectives in Copyright seminar, University of New Hampshire School of Law, Concord, New Hampshire, March 15, 2018.
• Presenter, Tattle Tales: Tattoos, Copyrights, and Protection, Midwest Chapter of the Copyright Society of the USA and the Chicago Bar Association Intellectual Property Committee, Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 2018.

2017

• Panelist, Know Your Rights: First Amendment, Black Student Union, Campus Life Building, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, November 15, 2017.
• Guest Lecturer, Copyright Law Overview, Technology and Assessment for Secondary Education Class, Gabel Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, November 2, 2017.
• Presenter, Introduction to Law School, Group Study in Political Science, DuSable Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, October 20, 2017.
• Presenter, The Protection and Enforcement Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, Asociacion Mexicana para la Proteccoin de la Propiedad Intelectual, A.C. (English translation: Mexican Association for Intellectual Property Protection) seminar, Mexico City, Mexico, October 18, 2017.
• Panelist, The Protection and Enforcement Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, Tats Entertainment!  Tattoos, Copyright, and the Entertainment Industry, Los Angeles Chapter of The Copyright Society of the USA, Los Angeles, California, September 28, 2017.
• Presenter, Introduction to Entertainment Law, Cary-Grove High School, Cary, Illinois, August 31, 2017.
• Presenter, Right of Publicity, McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd, Chicago, Illinois, May 25, 2017.
• Panelist, Women Faculty Panel, Women in Higher Education Class, Northern Illinois University, April 5, 2017.
• Presenter, The Challenges of Intellectual Property Protection for Tattoos, Research Roundtable, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, March 31, 2017.
• Panelist, What is Intellectual Property?  When to Patent, Copyright, or Trademark., Northern Illinois University EIGERlab Innovation Network, Northern Illinois University-Rockford, Rockford, Illinois, March 14, 2017.
• Presenter, The Enforcement Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, Hosier IP Scholars Series, DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, March 9, 2017.
• Panelist, Tattoos and Intellectual Property, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, February 16, 2017.
• Panelist, Faculty Panel, Pre-Law Workshop, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, January 14, 2017.

2016

• Presenter, Introduction to Law School, Group Study in Political Science, DuSable Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, November 4, 2016.
• Panelist, Fall 2016 Visit Day: An Introduction to NIU Law’s Trial Advocacy Program, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, November 3, 2016.
• Presenter, The Challenges for Intellectual Property Protection for Tattoos, McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd, Chicago, Illinois, October 6, 2016.
• Presenter, Introduction to Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Law, Prairie Ridge High School, Crystal Lake, Illinois, October 6, 2016.
• Presenter, Tattoos and Intellectual Property, Big IDEA Speaker Series, Drake Law School, Des Moines, Iowa, October 4, 2016.
• Guest Lecturer (virtual), The Inadvisability of Nonuniformity in the Licensing of Cover Songs, Michigan State University College of Law, Lansing, Michigan, September 29, 2016.
• Presenter, Introduction to Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Law, Cary-Grove High School, Cary, Illinois, September 1, 2016.
• Presenter, Pushing the Body Beyond its Limits: Copyright Protection of Body Art, Lutie A. Lytle Black Women Law Faculty Writing Workshop, University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa, July 9, 2016.
• Moderator, The First Amendment, Free Speech, and Lawful Assembly, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, March 23, 2016.
• Panelist, Gender Discrimination, Women’s Law Caucus Luncheon, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, March 2, 2016.
• Presenter, Thinking of a Master Plan: Protecting Your Creative Mind, National Society of Black Engineers, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, February 22, 2016. 
• Panelist, What is Intellectual Property?  When to Patent, Copyright, or Trademark., Northern Illinois University EIGERlab Innovation Network, Northern Illinois University-Rockford, Rockford, Illinois, February 9, 2016.

2015

• Presenter, The Inadvisability of Nonuniformity in the Licensing of Cover Songs, “Entertainment Law and Music Business in Transition” symposium, Belmont University College of Law, Nashville, Tennessee, October 16, 2015. 
• Panelist, “Copyright Outside the Box” symposium, Kernochan Center for Law, Media, and the Arts, Columbia Law School, New York City, New York, October 2, 2015. 
• Presenter (virtual), The Inadvisability of Nonuniformity in the Licensing of Cover Songs, Intellectual Property Law Seminar Series, Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, September 29, 2015. 
• Presenter, The Inadvisability of Nonuniformity in the Licensing of Cover Songs, 2015 Intellectual Property Scholars Conference, DePaul College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, August 6, 2015.
• Presenter, The Right of Publicity Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, May 31, 2015.
• Presenter, The Right of Publicity Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, Faculty Development Committee, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, February 25, 2015.

2014

• Presenter, The Right of Publicity Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, Eighth Annual Regional Junior Faculty Works-in-Progress Workshop, Washington University Law School, St. Louis, Missouri, December 12, 2014.
• Guest Lecturer, Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks, Graphic Design Class, Visual Arts Building, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, December 2, 2014.
• Panelist, Teaching Intellectual Property from a Progressive Perspective, The First Annual Mosaic Conference: Diverse Voices in IP Scholarship, Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 16, 2014.
• Presenter, The Enforcement Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, DuPage County Bar Association, Wheaton, Illinois, November 12, 2014.
• Presenter, Patents and Copyrights, Joseph F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center, DeKalb, Illinois, September 28, 2014.
• Panelist, Constitution Day, Supreme Court Intellectual Property Docket 2013 and 2014, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, September 17, 2014.
• Presenter, The Challenges “Facing” Copyright Protection for Tattoos, DuPage County Bar Association, Wheaton, Illinois, February 18, 2014.
• Presenter, The Enforcement Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, Chicago Junior Faculty Workshop, Valparaiso University Law School, Chicago, Illinois, February 7, 2014.

2013 and Earlier

• Panelist, Mock AALS Interview, Resistance Rising: Theorizing and Building Cross-Sector Movements, 2013 Biennial LatCrit Conference, Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois, October 3, 2013.
• Presenter, The Enforcement Challenges for Tattoo Copyrights, 2013 Intellectual Property Scholars Conference, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, New York City, New York, August 8, 2013.
• Panelist, PED Panel: Careers in the Law, Walter Payton College Prep, Chicago, Illinois, April 25, 2013.
• Presenter, The Challenges “Facing” Copyright Protection for Tattoos, Faculty Development Committee, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, March 27, 2013.
• Presenter, The Challenges "Facing" Copyright Protection for Tattoos, Central States Law Schools Association's 2012 Annual Conference, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio, October 20, 2012.
• Panelist, Northern Illinois University College of Law Black Law Student Association Presents:  "What Can I Do With My Law Degree?", Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, September 26, 2012.
• Panelist, Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, 2012 National Summit of Black Women Lawyers, Hyatt Regency Chicago on the Riverwalk, Chicago, Illinois, April 13, 2012.
• Presenter, Copyright Law, Survey of the Music Industry Class, School of Music, Northern Illinois University College of Visual & Performing Arts, DeKalb, Illinois, March 2012.
• Panelist, So You Want an A?  How to be Successful in Your Classes, Black Faculty Association-Sponsored Panel Discussion, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, February 8, 2012.
• Panelist and Organizer, Breaking In: How to Become a Law Professor or Law School Administrator, Society of American Law Teachers, The John Marshall Law School and Northern Illinois University College of Law's Breaking In Program, Chicago, Illinois, September 16, 2011.
• Presenter, Copyright Law, Survey of the Music Industry Class, School of Music, Northern Illinois University College of Visual & Performing Arts, DeKalb, Illinois, April 2010.
• Panelist, City of Chicago Department of Law’s Diversity in the Law Pipeline Program, City Council Chambers, Chicago, Illinois, February 23, 2007.