Copyright registration

jjordan@alston.com
Fri, 14 Jun 1996 01:55:07 -0400 (EDT)


Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 01:55:07 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <199606140555.BAA27782@foyer.homecom.com>
From: jjordan@alston.com
Subject: Copyright registration     

     >without actual damages or pre-infringement registration, the 
     >likelihood of an infringement suit is minimal. 
     
     While I agree with the assessment that not many of these suits are 
     actually pursued, one should not assume: (1) that any actual damages 
     are required to sue for injunctive relief and attorney fees, (2) that 
     actual damages do not exist just because the work was distributed for 
     free or (3) that a federal copyright registration must precede the 
     infringement to make it actionable.  One must register in order to 
     invoke federal jurisdiction before filing the Complaint, but this is 
     frequently done at the last minute, and *after* the infringement.
     
     Jim Jordan
     Intellectual Property Group
     Alston & Bird

     jjordan@alston.com



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