Indiana Intellectual Property Law News
Indianapolis, Indiana – Copyright attorney and Plaintiff Richard Bell of McCordsville, Indiana filed a new group of lawsuits in the Southern District of Indiana asserting infringement of a copyrighted photo.
The photo in question in these latest lawsuits, Bell’s “Indianapolis Nighttime Photo,” was registered on August 4, 2011 with the U.S. Copyright Office under Registration No. VA0001785115. In most of Bell’s prior litigation asserting infringement of his copyrighted photos (see “Practice Tip” below), only his “Indianapolis Photo,” taken during the daytime, has been at issue.
Three new Defendants are the subjects of these copyright lawsuits: Dave Tipton of Indianapolis, Indiana, Keith Buckley of Fishers, Indiana and A Place for Mom, Inc. of Everett, Washington. Bell contends that each Defendant “downloaded or took the Indianapolis Nighttime Photo from the internet without permission from the owner, Richard N. Bell and copied on to [sic] a webserver controlled by the Defendant” and, in so doing, committed copyright infringement.
Each of the lawsuits lists a count of “Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition.” Bell seeks injunctive relief along with statutory damages, costs and attorneys’ fees.
Practice Tip: We have blogged about Bell’s copyright lawsuits numerous times in the past. See:
• Attorney/Plaintiff Accuses Wisconsin Analytics Firm of Copyright Infringement
• Bell Names Aramark in Latest Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
• Attorney/Photographer Sues North Carolina Hotel Operator
• Attorney/Plaintiff Bell Files Three New Lawsuits Over Photo of Indianapolis Skyline
• Eight New Infringement Lawsuits Filed by Attorney/Plaintiff
• Attorney/Photographer Files Two New Infringement Lawsuits
• Lawsuit by Frequent Copyright Litigant Dismissed for Lack of Jurisdiction
• District Court Terminates Copyright Suit Over Photo; Plaintiff Appeals
• Remaining Copyright Defendants in Bell Lawsuit to be Dismissed
• Attorney/Photographer Sues Georgia Real Estate Company for Infringing Copyrighted Photo
• 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-Based 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 Tipton litigation was assigned to Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson and Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch in the Southern District of Indiana and assigned Case No. 1:16-cv-02436-JMS-DML.
The Buckley litigation was assigned to Judge Tanya Walton Pratt and Magistrate Judge Denise K. LaRue in the Southern District of Indiana and assigned Case No. 1:16-cv-02434-TWP-DKL.
The litigation against A Place for Mom was assigned to Judge Sarah Evans Barker and Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch in the Southern District of Indiana and assigned Case No. 1:16-cv-02451-SEB-DML.