Document: 523 U.S. 340118 S.Ct. 1279140 L.Ed.2d 438 C. Elvin FELTNER, Jr., Petitioner,v.COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION, INC. No. 96-1768. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Jan. 21, 1998. Decided March 31, Syllabus * Respondent Columbia Pictures Television, Inc., terminated agreements licensing several television series to three stations owned by petitioner Feltner after stations' royalty payments became delinquent. When continued broadcast programs, sued and others for, inter alia, copyright infringement. won partial summary judgment as liability on its infringement claims then exercised option afforded §504(c) Copyright Act (Act) recover statutory damages in lieu actual damages. The District denied Feltner's request for a jury trial, awarded following bench trial. Ninth Circuit affirmed, holding that neither nor Seventh Amendment provides right trial Held: 1.There is no when owner elects Section 504(c) makes mention or juries at all, providing instead should be assessed an amount "the court deems just,'' event finds'' willful innocent, discretion'' may increase decrease word "court'' this context appears mean judge, not jury. Other remedies provisions use term contexts generally thought confer authority does addressing awards profits, see §504(b), which are constitute legal relief, Dairy Queen, Inc. v. Wood, 369 469, 477, 82 894, 899-900, 8 44. reliance Lorillard Pons, 434 575, 585, 98 866, 872, 55 40, contrary interpretation misplaced. There being damages, constitutional question must addressed. See Tull States, 481 412, 417, 107 1831, 1835, 95 365. Pp. ____-____. 2.The all issues pertinent award under §504(c), including itself. (a) applies both common-law causes action actions more analogous cases tried 18th-century courts law than suits customarily equity admiralty. Granfinanciera, S.A. Nordberg, 492 33, 42, 109 2782, 2790, 106 26. To determine proper analogue, examines nature remedy sought. ibid. (b) close analogues actions. Before adoption Amendment, common statutes England country granted owners More importantly, monetary were law, thus before juries. evidence first federal 1790, changed practice; 1831 consistently unpersuaded Columbia's contention that, despite undisputed historical evidence, clearly equitable nature. (c) includes have if any, owner. overwhelming consistent practice was specifically, cases. supra -in determined although grants civil penalties Clean Water Act, Congress could constitutionally authorize judges assess penalties-is inapposite case. In Tull, there historically had paid Government, awarding such viewed sentencing criminal proceeding. Here similar analogy, clear direct juries, general matter cases, set successful plaintiff. F.3d 284, reversed remanded. THOMAS, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., STEVENS, O'CONNOR, KENNEDY, SOUTER, GINSBURG, BREYER, JJ., joined. SCALIA, filed concurring judgment. John G. Roberts, Washington, DC, petitioner. Henry J. Tashman, Los Angeles, CA, respondent. Justice THOMAS Court. 1 permits "to recover, . , sum less $500 $20,000 considers just.'' 90 Stat. 2585, amended, 17 U.S.C. §504(c)(1). case, we consider whether We hold statute silent point, determination therefore reverse. 2 Petitioner owns Krypton International Corporation, 1990 acquired southeastern States. licensed these stations, "Who's Boss,'' "Silver Spoons,'' "Hart Hart,'' "T.J. Hooker.'' After delinquent making their Columbia, entered into negotiations restructure debt. These discussions unavailing, license October 1991. Despite termination, broadcasting programs. 3 Feltner, Krypton, various subsidiaries, certain officers district alleging, arising from unauthorized sought forms relief 1976 (Copyright Act), §101 et seq., permanent injunction, §502; impoundment copies §503; or, alternative, §504; costs attorney's fees, §505. On motion, claims.1 4 "Statutory Damages'' relevant part, provides: 5 Damages- 6 " (1) Except provided clause (2) subsection, elect, any time final rendered, infringements involved action, with respect one work, just '' 7 case where sustains burden proving, finds, committed willfully, [in] discretion $100,000. infringer aware reason believe his her acts constituted copyright, reduce $200 §504(c). ruling would two days judge held each episode separate work airing same different controlled violations; accordingly, been total 440 further found fixed per act Applying number infringement, entitled $8,800,000 plus fees. 9 Appeals affirmed respects. Television Broadcasting Birmingham, 284 (1997).2 Most importantly present purposes, rejected argument he Relying Sid & Marty Krofft Productions, McDonald's Corp., 562 F.2d 1157 (C.A.9 1977)-which §25(b) 1909, predecessor required damages3 -the grant reasoned [i]f intended overrule having it altered'' language "as just'' F.3d, 293. concluded "Seventh provide issue because nature.'' Ibid. certiorari. 521 ----, 118 30, 138 1059 (1997). II 10 inquiring applicability ""first ascertain construction fairly possible [constitutional] avoided.''' n. 3, 365 (1987) (quoting Curtis Loether, 415 189, 192, 6, 94 1005, 1007, 39 260 (1974)). Such here, cannot discern "any congressional intent trial,'' U.S., S.Ct., damages.4 11 Statutory Further, may, within limits, §504(c)(2). phrases, like entire provision, make matter, all. 12 Cf. F.W. Woolworth Co. Contemporary Arts, 344 228, 232, 73 222, 225, 97 L.Ed. 276 (1952) (referring "judicial necessary court's choice between computed measure damage imputed by'' 1909) (emphasis added). fact, other rather See, e.g., §502 ("court temporary injunctions''); §503(a) ("the order impounding phonorecords''); §503(b) (" [a]s part decree, destruction reasonable disposition §505 allow recovery full costs'' litigation also fee''). contrast, subsection relief. 899, 44 (1962) (action trademark "subject cognizance law''); Arnstein Porter, 154 464, 468 (C.A.2 1946) (copyright "triable "law' right''); Video Views, Studio Ltd., 925 1010, 1014 (C.A.7 1991) ("little exists endeavors prove damages''); M. Nimmer D. Nimmer, §12.10[B] (1997) ("beyond dispute plaintiff who seeks trial'' (footnotes omitted)). 13 relies 40 (1978), Age Discrimination Employment 1967 (ADEA), 81 602, 29 §621 unpaid wages even though authorizes appropriate,'' §626(b). That holding, however, turned crucial factors: ADEA's remedial expressly enforced accordance Fair Labor Standards 1938, uniformly interpreted 580-581, 869-870; used "legal,'' "term art'' "in available rights determined'' id., 583, 871. 504(c), explicit reference another has "legal'' denoting rights.5 14 Accordingly, reach question. III 15 [i]n Suits value controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, preserved Const., Amdt. 7. Since Story's time, understood "Suits law'' refer "not merely [to] suits, recognized among old settled proceedings, but ascertained determined, contradistinction those alone recognized, administered.'' Parsons Bedford, Pet. 433, 447, 732 (1830) original). only "actions brought enforce ordinarily decided English late 18th century, opposed heard admiralty.'' 26 (1989) (citing 193, 1007-1008). admiralty, examine 2790. 16 Unlike many our recent modern unknown England, see, Wooddell Brotherhood Electrical Workers, 502 93, 112 494, 116 419 (1991) (alleged violations union's duties Management Relations 1947, Labor-Management Reporting Disclosure 1959); Granfinanciera rescind fraudulent preference Bankruptcy Act); (government's claim (claim Title VIII Civil Rights 1968), seeking By middle 17th author's prevent publication manuscript. Stationers Patentees, Carter's Rep. 89, 124 Eng. 842 (C.P.1666). This protection derived principle manuscript product intellectual labor much property material written. Millar Taylor, Burr. 2303, 2398, 201, 252 (K.B.1769) (Mansfield, J.) (common-law "it just, Author reap pecuniary Profits own ingenuity Labour''); W. Patry, Law Practice (1994). Actions invasions rights, supra, 2396-2397, Rep., 251. McClenachan McCarty, Dall. 375, 378, 183 (1788); Moore, Moore's Federal ¶38.11[5] (2d ed.1996); Chitty, Treatise Pleading Parties Actions, 164 (1892). 18 1710, statute, Statute Anne, enacted protect published books. Anne ch. 19 (1710). Under "one Penny every Sheet [the infringer's] custody, either printed printing, published, exposed Sale,'' half ("one Moiety'') go Crown owner, recovered Debt, Bill, Plaint, Information.'' §1. Like earlier regard law. Beckford Hood, T.R. 621, 627, 101 1164, 1167 (K.B.1798) [T]he vested author, gives violation it'') (Kenyon, C.J.). trying followed country, protections Constitution. 1783, Continental passed resolution recommending secure authors. Office, Enactments: Laws Passed 1783 Relating Copyright, Bulletin p. (rev. ed.1963) (hereinafter Enactments). Twelve (all except Delaware) responded enacting statutes, cause none made jurisdiction. At least state stated through (in Connecticut, double infringed copy State''); Georgia, enforceable due course New York, law''), while four "action debt,'' prototypical F. Maitland, Forms Action Common Law, 357 (1929) Maitland); Enactments 4-9 Massachusetts, Hampshire, Rhode Island, debt''); South Carolina, shilling sheet "debt, bill, plaint information''). Although short-lived, hence few occasion interpret them, suggests Hudson Patten, Root 133, 134 (Conn.Super.1789) (jury £100 Connecticut statute). 20 Moreover, specifically authorized range, today. £5 £3,000); £1,000); £3,000). suppose deviate traditional practice: 4-9, Maitland 357. 21 similarly infringements. May 15, §§2, 124, 125. 1790 works fifty cents possession, debt record wherein cognizable.'' §2. moiety'') For unpublished manuscript, "all occasioned injury, special founded upon act, thereof.'' §6. 22 As noted, required. __, __.6 1831-which differed (increased $1 50 cents) infringing sheets-were Backus Gould, How. 798, 802, 919 (1849) $2,069.75); Reed Carusi, Cas. 431, 432, 11,642 (D.Md.1845) (CCMd.1845) $200); Millett Snowden, 374, 375 (S.D.N.Y.1844) $625); Dwight Appleton, F.Cas. 183, 185 (C.D.N.Y.1843) $2,000). 23 evidence. attempt draw analogy action-including characterized equitable, disgorgement improper profits. Teamsters Terry, 494 558, 570-571, 110 1339, 1347-1348, 108 519 (1990); 424, 1838-1839. Rather, contends 24 persuaded. "general rule'' legal, 570, serve purposes traditionally associated compensation punishment. 196, 1009 (actual "traditional form offered 422, 1838 ("Remedies punish culpable individuals issued equity''). Nor, previously stated, rendered simply readily calculable formula.'' Id, 7, 1838, And involving discretionary Coryell Colbaugh, N.J.L. 77 (1791) "exemplary damages'' promise marriage). conclude 25 It long "by damages.'' Lord Townshend Hughes, Mod. 150, 151, 86 994, 994-995 (C.P. 1677). Thus Dimick Schiedt, 293 474, 296, 79 603 (1935), rule existed Constitution'' uncertain[,] assessment so peculiarly province alter it.'' Id., 480, 298 (internal quotation marks citations omitted). Duke York Pilkington, Show. 246, 89 918 (K.B.1760) £100,000 slander action); Wilkes Lofft 1, 19, 489, 499 (K.B.1763) £1,000 trespass); Huckle Money, Wils. 205, 768 (upholding £300 trespass, assault imprisonment); Genay Norris, S.C.L. (1784) £400); (sustaining correctness exemplary marriage); K. Redden, Punitive Damages §2.2, 27 (1980) (describing "primacy damages''). Root, 134, example, permitted copy. addition, sheet. 802 432 (same, $2,000); $625). award. relating 33 §§1251, 1319(d),7 425, 1839-1840, went decide penalties, 426-427, 1840-1841.8 According demonstrates preserve substance jury.''' 426, 1840 Colgrove Battin, 413 149, 157, 93 2448, 2453, 37 522 (1973)). 28 presented Government.9 Government 428, 1841 (SCALIA, dissenting part).10 Here, course, inapposite. result, party demands, 1840. 30 foregoing reasons, below reversed, remand proceedings opinion. 31 ordered. 32 often enough enactment unconstitutional. I do here-not (I issue), can read 34 [W]here susceptible constructions, grave doubtful questions arise avoided, duty adopt latter.'' ex rel. Attorney General Delaware Co., 213 366, 408, 527, 536, 53 836 (1909). concludes "fairly possible,'' ante, __ omitted), authorizing disagree. 35 parlance, [t]he judges, distinguished counsel jury.'' Webster's Dictionary 611 ed.1949) (def. 10d). But broader meaning, 10b: "The persons duly assembled administration justice''); Black's 318 (5th ed.1979) (". A body organized administer justice, jury''). §626(b), afford backpay 1967. 36 correctly observes, include provision explicitly referred ""powers, remedies, procedures''' well established Lorillard, 580, 870. provision's "legal relief'' strongly suggested 871-872. text lacks indications sense. absence hardly reading (1987). significant cited proposition "Copyright use[s] "court' jury,'' "does relief,'' __. fair observation, not, my view, probative compel doubtful. light contradictory history, chooses ignore. descendant created performance dramatic compositions 1856 statute. hundred dollars first, subsequent performance, thereof appear equivalent remedy.'' Aug. 18, 1856, 169, 138, 139. Because seems original revisions omitted "action[s] case,'' they carried forward specifying July 8, 1870, 230, §101, Stat., 214; January 1897, 4, 482. extended permit profits 320, §25(b), 1081. prior 38 "were broadened [in 1909] copyrights limitations amount, proceeded-that committing sense subject prescribed limitations-was retained. new old, says just.''' L.A. Westermann Dispatch Printing 249 100, 107, 194, 63 (1919). If meaning phrase insist latest reenactment. [W]here, adopts incorporating sections normally presumed knowledge given incorporated insofar affects statute.'' 581, contend "jury'' necessarily best text. perhaps correct pointing change predominate. written elsewhere, however: 41 doctrine doubt require problem-avoiding preferable one-the event. standard deprive function. "Adopt avoids one' produces precisely result "adopt interpretation.' comes play "susceptible of' interpretation, 536-when reasonable, best.'' Almendarez-Torres 1219, 1243-1244, --- ---- (1998) dissenting). 42 majority's discussion amply demonstrates, considerable about constitutionality did §540(c) invalidation reserve day. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber Lumber 200 321, 337, 282, 287, 499. During litigation, dropped against parties Feltner. vacated remanded (for explanation) Court's fees Columbia. 296. 1909 assessing discretion, amounts hereinafter newspaper reproduction copyrighted photograph, [$200] [$50], [$5,000] [$250] Mar 1081 (later amended codified §101(b)). Courts unanimously avoid Cass County Music C.H.L. R., 88 635, 641 (C.A.8 1996); 1991); Gnossos Mitken 653 117, 119 (C.A.4 1981); Oboler Goldin, 714 211, 1983); §14.04[C] elect "at rendered.'' agree, indication contrary, election occur returned verdict unlikely jury, already reconvened Stevens Gladding, 155 (1855), jurisdiction Feb. 1819, 481, statute's suit equity. 455; Callaghan Myers, 128 617, 663, 177, 190, 547 (1888) (Stevens Gladding §7 1319(d) violators "shall penalty $10,000 day'' during period violation. 414, 1833-1834. portion arguably dicta, us reverse lower determination. noted tension Bank Hamilton Lessee Dudley, 492, 496 (1829), improvements real estate, bars additur.

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