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Decision of Note: 6th Cir. Says No 'Magic Words' to 'Elect' Copyright Statutory Damages
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit decided that §504 of the U.S. Copyright Act doesn't require any “magic words incantation” for a copyright infringement plaintiff to choose a statutory damages award, that “[t]he word 'elect' does not by itself require formal procedures.” Smith v. Thomas, 911 F.3d 378.
Soul artist Bigg Robb (Robert Smith) sued soul artist Bishop Bullwinkle (Bernard Thomas) over an unlicensed sampling. Bigg Robb's song “Looking for a Country Girl” in Bishop Bullwinkle's “Hell 2 Da Naw Naw.” The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio awarded Bigg Robb 50% of the ownership rights to “Hell 2” and $30,000 in statutory damages. In a pre-trial filing, Bigg Robb stated, “Plaintiff is entitled to statutory damages for each instance of contributory infringement or inducement of infringement.” During the trial, he said: “I took a look at the law, it said that damages up to $150,000 could be awarded by the Court.” So we are certainly asking for that amount financially.” The Sixth Circuit noted that and added: “He also testified about the willful nature of the infringement, which is only relevant to statutory damages. Smith's invocations of the Act's willfulness enhancement and $150,000 maximum, combined with an explicit mention of 'statutory damages,' indicated his election — he did not need to cite the provision itself.”
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Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
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The Stranger to the Deed Rule
In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.