Indiana Intellectual Property Law News
Indianapolis, Indiana – Filing on his own behalf, copyright attorney and professional photographer Richard N. Bell of McCordsville, Indiana initiated litigation in the Southern District of Indiana alleging copyright infringement by KG American Real Estate Holdings, LLC (“KG”) of Duluth, Georgia.
In 2000, Plaintiff Bell photographed the downtown Indianapolis skyline. Bell claims that the KG used this photo, U.S. Copyright Registration No. VA0001785115, without Plaintiff’s permission. Bell states that KG created “a website to promote and advertise its own real estate business” and displayed Bell’s copyrighted photo on that website. Bell further claims that this company “willfully and recklessly falsely claimed that it owned the copyrights of all images and photos” contained on its website, http://richliferealestate.com/location/indianapolis-metro/, including Bell’s photo of Indianapolis.
In this Indiana federal litigation, a single count is listed: copyright infringement and unfair competition. Bell asks for injunctive relief to prevent KG from using Bell’s copyrighted photo without consent as well as a judgment for damages, attorney’s fees and costs.
Practice Tip: Richard Bell has sued hundreds of defendants for copyright infringement in Indiana’s federal courts. Previous blog posts regarding his litigation include:
• Sovereign Immunity May Take a Toll on Bell’s Latest Copyright Lawsuit
• Appellate Court Dismisses Copyright Appeal as Premature
• Bell Rings in the Holiday Weekend with a New Copyright Lawsuit
• Bell Files New Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
• Bell Sues Georgia-Base FindTicketsFast.com for Copyright Infringement
• Richard Bell Files Two New Copyright Infringement Lawsuits
• Court Prevents Copyright Plaintiff Bell from Outmaneuvering Legal System; Orders Bell to Pay Almost $34,000 in Fees and Costs
• Three Default Judgments of $2,500 Ordered for Copyright Infringement
• Court Orders Severance of Misjoined Copyright Infringement Complaint
The case was assigned to Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson and Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch in the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division and assigned Case No. 1:15-cv-01423-JMS-DML.