S. Ct. Resolves 'Raging' Debate Over the Use of the Laches Defense

The Supreme Court in <i>Petrella v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.</i>, recently resolved a split amongst the circuit courts in a 6-3 decision, holding that the equitable doctrine of laches could not be invoked to preclude a claim for damages within the statute of limitations for copyright cases.

10 minute read July 01, 2014 at 02:10 PM
By
Andrew Pequignot
S. Ct. Resolves 'Raging' Debate Over the Use of the Laches Defense

For many years, circuit courts were split on whether and how the equitable doctrine of laches should be applied in copyright cases. The Fourth Circuit, for example, previously held that laches was never an available defense to copyright infringement, regardless of the remedy that was sought by the plaintiff.

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