Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-05262/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-05262-27/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 17:501 Copyright Infringement

---

U

nite

d

States District C

o

u

rt

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

U

nite

d

States District C

o

u

rt

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHRISTOPHER R. HARRIS,

Plaintiff,

 v.

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS,

Defendant.

 /

No. C 04-05262 CRB

PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTION AS

TO FAIR USE

In advance of tomorrow’s hearing on jury instructions, the parties shall consider the

following proposed instruction on fair use:

AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE—FAIR USE

One who is not the owner of the copyright may use the copyrighted work in a

reasonable way under the circumstances without the consent of the copyright owner if it

would advance the public interest. Such use of a copyrighted work is called a fair use. The

owner of a copyright cannot prevent others from making a fair use of the owner’s

copyrighted work. 

The defendant contends that the defendant made fair use of the copyrighted work for

the purpose of criticism, comment, and news reporting. The defendant has the burden of

proving this defense by a preponderance of the evidence. 

Case 3:04-cv-05262-CRB Document 354 Filed 08/03/06 Page 1 of 2
U

nite

d

States District C

o

u

rt

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

G:\CRBALL\2004\5262\proposed fair use jury instruction.wpd 2

In determining whether the use made of the work was fair, you should consider the

following factors:

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a

commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted

work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

You should also consider whether or not the public interest is served by the

defendant’s use of the photograph.

In order to determine whether fair use applies, you must balance the various fair use

factors. None is definitive or determinative.

If you find that the defendant proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the

defendant made a fair use of the plaintiff’s work, your verdict should be for the defendant.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 3, 2006

 

CHARLES R. BREYER

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:04-cv-05262-CRB Document 354 Filed 08/03/06 Page 2 of 2