Name of Attorney: Ed Pisacreta

Name of Firm: Holland & Knight LLP

Client Served: NPower NY (NPower)

Accomplishment: Assisted NPower in creating an end-user license agreement and federal copyright protection for a grants manager software application for nonprofits.

Founded in 2000, NPower NY has grown into the largest nonprofit technology provider in New York City, working to provide state-of-the-art technology services and solutions to more than 600 organizations a year.

NPower came to Lawyers Alliance in April 2009 seeking counsel on copyright and other intellectual property issues related to its new Grants Manager software product. NPower sells this product to its nonprofit clients at a significant cost savings over similar products on the market and also provides installation and ongoing support services. NPower needed to create an appropriate end-user license agreement and also wanted intellectual property protection in place to guard against duplication, modification, or attempts by third parties to copy and re-market the product.

Ed Pisacreta, Partner at Holland & Knight LLP, was instrumental in making sure that NPower’s contract structure and license agreement protected NPower’s rights to the application. He also secured copyright protection for the software, user’s guide, and program documentation. By putting in place these protections, Mr. Pisacreta helped secure the financial viability of the product. NPower is able to offer the data management software to its nonprofit clients at an affordable cost, allowing these clients to use the power of technology to enhance their impact on their communities. At the same time, NPower diversifies and supplements it revenue streams, resulting in an increased level of sustainability outside of donations.