Indiana Intellectual Property Law News
Lafayette, Indiana – Plaintiff Aaron Rigsby, a professional videographer, has brought suit against Defendant John W. Darnell, Inc. d/b/a All Seasons Roofing for alleged copyright infringement under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C §101 et seq.
According to the complaint, Aaron Rigsby recorded and produced a video capturing the aftermath of a tornado in Sullivan, Indiana. Rigsby then secured copyright registrations for his work, establishing his exclusive rights to its use and distribution.
Rigsby now alleges that All Seasons Roofing, operating under the account “@All Seasons Roofing and Restoration” on Facebook, unlawfully copied and displayed his video on their platform without obtaining the necessary permissions or licenses. This unauthorized use, as Rigsby contends, constitutes a violation of his exclusive rights as a copyright holder under 17 U.S.C. §106.
Under the Copyright Act, individuals possess the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and publicly display their copyrighted works. If proven, the alleged actions of All Seasons Roofing would amount to infringement, breaching Rigsby’s statutory rights.
In response to the alleged infringement, Rigsby seeks redress through the legal system. He pursues damages, including disgorgement of profits derived from the alleged infringement, as well as statutory damages and attorney’s fees as provided by law. Additionally, Rigsby requests injunctive relief to prevent further unauthorized use of his works by the defendant.
The case has been assigned to Judge Philip P. Simon and Magistrate Judge John E Martin in the U.S. District Court of Northern Indiana, and assigned Case No. 4:24-cv-00023.