Legalish is where the law meets the internet and things get weird.

I'm Brian Lynch. I'm Of Counsel at Lynch LLP, an intellectual property firm where I specialize in trademarks, copyrights, and internet-related legal matters. I've spent years advising clients in tech, media, entertainment, and online platforms — helping them navigate everything from USPTO filings to brand enforcement to the weird corner of the law where memes and fair use collide.

The Internet Stuff

I'm the founder and top moderator of /r/law, one of the largest legal communities on the internet with over 5.5 million weekly visitors. I've been running it for over a decade, which means I've seen pretty much every flavor of legal chaos the internet has to offer.

In 2024, I co-authored an amicus brief filed with the United States Supreme Court in Moody v. NetChoice — the landmark First Amendment case about whether states can force social media platforms to carry content they'd otherwise moderate. The brief drew on our firsthand experience moderating massive online communities, including the reality of removing death threats, doxxing, and harassment at scale. We argued that content moderation is protected editorial discretion under the First Amendment, and that the Texas and Florida laws at issue would make it functionally impossible to run a community like /r/law. The Court agreed, vacating both laws.

The Writing Stuff

My writing has appeared in the opinion and editorial sections of the New York Times and WIRED. I've been cited in Time Magazine and the book New Power. I also contributed to and co-authored the foreword to Reddit's book, Ask Me Anything, a project that raised funds for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Legalish started in 2020 as a newsletter about legal news — which quickly evolved into commentary about legal news, time machines, and the occasional extended metaphor involving Jon Hamm's anatomy. I'm bringing it back because the intersection of law and the internet keeps getting weirder and someone should be taking notes.

The Law Practice

At Lynch LLP, I handle trademark prosecution and portfolio strategy, brand enforcement and litigation, copyright matters, online reputation and platform issues, and internet and social media counseling. If you need help protecting your brand or navigating IP issues, book a consultation.

Education

  • J.D., California Western School of Law
    • B.S., Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology (with high honors)

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