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3 comments:

  1. A copyright infringement suit involving derivative works has been filed in the United States District Court; Northern District of Californa, Oakland Division.

    The defendant, Sarah Morris is alleged to have taken origami crease designs and used them to create images of her own by colorizing the designs.

    Samples of the crease designs as well as Ms. Morris' paintings have been entered as exhibits with the court.

    Ms. Morris has stated publicly that the images she used to create her 'origami paintings' were found diagrams, designs and traditional diagrams.

    The suit further states that Ms. Morris willfully and without permission copied works of six (6) different origami crease artists.

    Please note that if the Plaintiff(s) Artists are found to be the aggrieved parties they may be awarded the following damages and costs:

    Compensatory Damages, all gains and profits previously claimed by Ms. Morris through her infringment; statutory damages; exemplary damages, attorney's costs as well as permanent injunction prohibiting the sale of any of the infringing works.

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  2. Will be interesting to see how this plays out in the court system. Please keep us posted!

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  3. THE FOLLOWING BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN MAY TO THE SENATE, AND REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUNE 20, 2011. THE BILL IS REQUESTING HARSHER PENALTIES FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT:


    S.978 -- To amend the criminal penalty provision for criminal infringement of a copyright, and for other purposes. (Reported in Senate - RS)


    S 978 RS


    Calendar No. 77


    112th CONGRESS


    1st Session



    S. 978

    To amend the criminal penalty provision for criminal infringement of a copyright, and for other purposes.



    IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES



    May 12, 2011

    Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. CORNYN, and Mr. COONS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary



    June 20 (legislative day, June 16), 2011

    Reported by Mr. LEAHY, without amendment

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    A BILL

    To amend the criminal penalty provision for criminal infringement of a copyright, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

    SECTION 1. CRIMINAL INFRINGEMENT OF A COPYRIGHT.

    (a) Amendments to Section 2319 of Title 18- Section 2319 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
    (1) in subsection (b)--
    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
    `(2) shall be imprisoned not more than 5 years, fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, if--
    `(A) the offense consists of 10 or more public performances by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copyrighted works; and
    `(B)(i) the total retail value of the performances, or the total economic value of such public performances to the infringer or to the copyright owner, would exceed $2,500; or
    `(ii) the total fair market value of licenses to offer performances of those works would exceed $5,000;'; and
    (2) in subsection (f), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
    `(2) the terms `reproduction', `distribution', and `public performance' refer to the exclusive rights of a copyright owner under clauses (1), (3), (4), and (6), respectively of section 106 (relating to exclusive rights in copyrighted works), as limited by sections 107 through 122, of title 17;'.
    (b) Amendment to Section 506 of Title 17- Section 506(a) of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
    (1) in paragraph (1)(C), by inserting `or public performance' after `distribution' the first place it appears; and
    (2) in paragraph (3)--
    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting `or public performance' after `unauthorized distribution'; and
    (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting `or public performance' after `distribution'.
    Calendar No. 77


    112th CONGRESS


    1st Session



    S. 978



    A BILL

    To amend the criminal penalty provision for criminal infringement of a copyright, and for other purposes.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    June 20 (legislative day, June 16), 2011



    Reported without amendment

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