Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
tardigrades_third_complaint [2019/02/03 23:21] – [Copyright Lawsuit Names Discovery Writer as Possible Link] Carlos Pedrazatardigrades_third_complaint [2019/02/04 02:48] (current) – [Conceded Points of Law] Carlos Pedraza
Line 87: Line 87:
   * **No statutory damages**. Under U.S. copyright law, plaintiffs can seek damages as high as $150,000 per infringement, but that requires registering the copyright prior to the infringement or within three months of publication. Abdin met neither of those timelines; he registered the Tardigrades copyright 10 months after //Discovery//'s premiere. \\ <wrap indent>Consequently, the most Abdin could be awarded is actual damages, which could be minimal since the game has yet to be released.  Statutory damages can in some cases be significantly more than the actual damages suffered by the rightsholder or the profits of the infringer.</wrap>   * **No statutory damages**. Under U.S. copyright law, plaintiffs can seek damages as high as $150,000 per infringement, but that requires registering the copyright prior to the infringement or within three months of publication. Abdin met neither of those timelines; he registered the Tardigrades copyright 10 months after //Discovery//'s premiere. \\ <wrap indent>Consequently, the most Abdin could be awarded is actual damages, which could be minimal since the game has yet to be released.  Statutory damages can in some cases be significantly more than the actual damages suffered by the rightsholder or the profits of the infringer.</wrap>
   *  **No claim against visual artists' rights**. Abdin's earlier complaint asserted the right to damages under the 1990 Visual Artists' Rights Act (VARA), which protects the integrity of a creator's work. However, in a letter to the judge, defense attorney Wook Hwang ruled out that claim because VARA covers only limited works of fine art (e.g., paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and still photographs) produced for exhibition, with fewer than 200 copies. The law grants no protection to diagrams, models, motion pictures, books and other publications or electronic publications.(([[http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/martin/art_law/esworthy.htm|"A Guide to the Visual Artists Rights Act," Cynthia Esworthy]], NEA Office of General Counsel, JD Washington & Lee Law School, 1997; retrieved 12/06/18.))   *  **No claim against visual artists' rights**. Abdin's earlier complaint asserted the right to damages under the 1990 Visual Artists' Rights Act (VARA), which protects the integrity of a creator's work. However, in a letter to the judge, defense attorney Wook Hwang ruled out that claim because VARA covers only limited works of fine art (e.g., paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and still photographs) produced for exhibition, with fewer than 200 copies. The law grants no protection to diagrams, models, motion pictures, books and other publications or electronic publications.(([[http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/martin/art_law/esworthy.htm|"A Guide to the Visual Artists Rights Act," Cynthia Esworthy]], NEA Office of General Counsel, JD Washington & Lee Law School, 1997; retrieved 12/06/18.))
-  * **No claim under Berne Convention**. As a Kuwati resident, Abdin's had earlier claimed jurisdiction under the Berne Convention, an international copyright agreement. Hwang, however, pointed out to the judge that since Abdin is suing in a U.S. court, he can seek no damages beyond what's offered by U.S. copyright law.+  * **No claim under Berne Convention**. As a Kuwati resident, Abdin had earlier claimed jurisdiction under the Berne Convention, an international copyright agreement. Hwang, however, pointed out to the judge that since Abdin is suing in a U.S. court, he can seek no damages beyond what's offered by U.S. copyright law.
 </WRAP> </WRAP>