Source: http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=5a942c65-1b56-48dc-ac71-f7da2c32a0f7
Timestamp: 2017-02-24 02:30:36
Document Index: 589729323

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 501', '§ 101', '§ 1331', '§ 1338', '§ 1400', '§ 1391', '§ 102', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 502', '§ 504', '§ 505']

Court Docket | Righthaven V. Brian D. Hill | Brian Hill - JDSupra
Righthaven V. Brian D. HillCourt Docket
Brian D. Hill of USWGO Alternative News is being sued for copyright infringement over the usage of a TSA enhanced pat-down photo that Righthaven claims was originally posted on The Denver Post.
The lawsuit settlement damages charge is at around $150,000 and the seizure of the sites domain name uswgo.com. Also the court document alleges that Mr. Hill intentionally knew the photo was copyrighted and directed it against Colorado Citizens but Mr. Hill denies these allegations.
Righthaven LLC is a Las Vegas based limited-liability company that is known for buying the copyrights of content they do not create themselves then sues bloggers for hundreds of thousands of US Dollars along with a domain seizure unless they pay a settlement to the Righthaven Settlement attorney, the one that tried to get Mr. Hill to pay $6,000 is Ike Odunze.
USWGO Alternative News is a non-profit based organization that uses freelance and volunteer reporters to get the truth out and even rehashes news from other sources with links to the original source to let the readers know what is going on with the political agenda that Mr. Hill wants the readers to know about and backing it up with credible information but apparently that is what is getting him sued this time by a Copyright Troll (cite wikipedia: Copyright Troll).
Mr Hill's comment in response to the lawsuit is, "All the allegations by Righthaven prosecuting attorney Steven George Ganim show no merit since non of these allegations are actually true. I don't know how they persuaded the judge to accept the civil court trial in the first place but I have a feeling it isn't legal. My whole website is pro 1st amendment and represents the beauty of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press and I will fight hard in the court to counter-sue Righthaven for abusing my mental and physical health and wasting my time plus the courts time. When the TSA photo was posted on my website it was not copyrighted at all but then 7 days later Righthaven got the copyright to the photo but around that time my website had been shut down due to a Suspension notice from Arvixe at around December 7th 2010".
At around February 7th 2011 Mr. Hill has received the court summons to answer the allegations by Righthaven and Mr. Hill has not been given a court date to attend the Jury trial as of yet.
So far the American Free Press is interviewing Mr. Hill on the matter, Steve Green from the Las Vegas Sun, Jon Newton at p2pnet, Admin of the Bobofiles political blog, and Popeye (nickname) the Founder of Federal Jack. The Denver Daily is also reporting on the Righthaven case against Mr. Hill.
Download PDF IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO Civil Action No.:_________________________ RIGHTHAVEN LLC, a Nevada limited-liability company, Plaintiff, v. BRIAN D. HILL, an individual, Defendant. COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Righthaven LLC (“Righthaven”) complains as follows against Brian D. Hill (“Mr. Hill”) on information and belief: NATURE OF ACTION 1. This is an action for copyright infringement pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 501. PARTIES 2. Righthaven is, and has been at all times relevant to this lawsuit, a Nevada limitedliability company with its principal place of business in Nevada. 3. Righthaven is, and has been at all times relevant to this lawsuit, in good standing with the Nevada Secretary of State. 4. Mr. Hill is, and has been at all times relevant to this lawsuit, identified as the “founder of USWGO” and the Internet domain found at <uswgo.com> (the “Domain”), as evidenced by the content accessible on Mr. Hill’s Twitter profile, attached hereto as Exhibit 1. Case 1:11-cv-00211-JLK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 65. Mr. Hill reproduced an unauthorized copy of the photograph entitled: “TSA Agent performs enhanced pat-downs” (the “Work”), attached hereto as Exhibit 2, and displayed said unauthorized copy (the “Infringement”), attached hereto as Exhibit 3, as part of the content accessible on the Domain (the content accessible through the Domain and the Domain itself known herein as the “Website”). JURISDICTION 6. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties under the copyright laws of the United States, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., as well as jurisdictional provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a). 7. Righthaven is the owner of the copyright in and to the Work. 8. On or about December 1, 2010, Mr. Hill willfully reproduced the Work on an unauthorized basis, from a source emanating from Colorado. 9. On or about December 1, 2010, Mr. Hill displayed, and continues to display, the Infringement on the Website. 10. The composition, at least in part, of the Work and the Infringement, is a Transportation Security Administration Agent performing an enhanced pat-down search in the Denver, Colorado airport. 11. The focal point of the Infringement is Denver, Colorado. 12. The only geographic location that is associated with, and related to, the Work is Denver, Colorado. 13. The Work was originally published in The Denver Post. 14. Mr. Hill knew that the Work was originally published in The Denver Post. 15. Mr. Hill knew that the Work originally emanated from Colorado. 16. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, the Infringement, as publicly displayed on the Website, was and is accessible to persons in Colorado. Case 1:11-cv-00211-JLK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 USDC Colorado Page 2 of 617. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, the Infringement occurred and continues to occur in Colorado. 18. Mr. Hill’s display of the Infringement was and is purposefully directed at Colorado residents. 19. The harm caused by the Infringement, was experienced, at least in part, in Colorado. VENUE 20. The United States District Court for the District of Colorado is an appropriate venue, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1400 (a), because Mr. Hill is subject to personal jurisdiction in Colorado. 21. The United States District Court for the District of Colorado is an appropriate venue, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2), because a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claim for relief are situated in Colorado. FACTS 22. The Work constitutes copyrightable subject matter, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 102(a)(5). 23. Righthaven is the owner of the copyright in and to the Work. 24. The Work was originally published on or about November 18, 2010. 25. On December 8, 2010, the United States Copyright Office (the “USCO”) granted Righthaven the registration to the Work, copyright registration number VA0001751279 (the “Registration”) and attached hereto as Exhibit 4 is evidence of the Registration in the form of a printout of the official USCO database record depicting the occurrence of the Registration. 26. On or about December 1, 2010, Mr. Hill displayed, and continues to display, the Infringement on the Website. Case 1:11-cv-00211-JLK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 USDC Colorado Page 3 of 627. Mr. Hill did not seek permission, in any manner, to reproduce, display, or otherwise exploit the Work. 28. Mr. Hill was not granted permission, in any manner, to reproduce, display, or otherwise exploit the Work. CLAIM FOR RELIEF: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT 29. Righthaven repeats and realleges the allegations set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28 above. 30. Righthaven holds the exclusive right to reproduce the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 106(1). 31. Righthaven holds the exclusive right to prepare derivative works based upon the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 106(2). 32. Righthaven holds the exclusive right to distribute copies of the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 106(3). 33. Righthaven holds the exclusive right to publicly display the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 106(5). 34. Mr. Hill reproduced the Work in derogation of Righthaven’s exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(1). 35. Mr. Hill created an unauthorized derivative of the Work in derogation of Righthaven’s exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(2). 36. Mr. Hill distributed, and continues to distribute, an unauthorized reproduction of the Work on the Website, in derogation of Righthaven’s exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(3). 37. Mr. Hill publicly displayed, and continues to publicly display, an unauthorized reproduction of the Work on the Website, in derogation of Righthaven’s exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(5). Case 1:11-cv-00211-JLK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 USDC Colorado Page 4 of 638. Mr. Hill has willfully engaged in the copyright infringement of the Work. 39. Mr. Hill’s acts as alleged herein, and the ongoing direct results of those acts, have caused and will continue to cause irreparable harm to Righthaven in an amount Righthaven cannot ascertain, leaving Righthaven with no adequate remedy at law. 40. Unless Mr. Hill is preliminarily and permanently enjoined from further infringement of the Work, Righthaven will be irreparably harmed, and Righthaven is thus entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against further infringement by Mr. Hill of the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 502. PRAYER FOR RELIEF Righthaven requests that this Court grant Righthaven’s claim for relief herein as follows: 1. Preliminarily and permanently enjoin and restrain Mr. Hill, and Mr. Hill’s officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, related companies, partners, and all persons acting for, by, with, through, or under Mr. Hill, from directly or indirectly infringing the Work by reproducing the Work, preparing derivative works based on the Work, distributing the Work to the public, and/or displaying the Work, or ordering, directing, participating in, or assisting in any such activity; 2. Direct Mr. Hill to preserve, retain, and deliver to Righthaven in hard copies or electronic copies: a. All evidence and documentation relating in any way to Mr. Hill’s use of the Work, in any form, including, without limitation, all such evidence and documentation relating to the Website; b. All evidence and documentation relating to the names and addresses (whether electronic mail addresses or otherwise) of any person with whom Mr. Hill have communicated regarding Mr. Hill’s use of the Work; and Case 1:11-cv-00211-JLK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 USDC Colorado Page 5 of 6c. All financial evidence and documentation relating to Mr. Hill’s use of the Work; 3. Direct Arvixe, LLC, the current registrar, and any successor domain name registrar for the Domain, to lock the Domain and transfer control of the Domain to Righthaven; 4. Award Righthaven statutory damages for the willful infringement of the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(c); 5. Award Righthaven costs, disbursements, and attorneys’ fees incurred by Righthaven in bringing this action, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 505; 6. Award Righthaven pre-and post-judgment interest in accordance with applicable law; and 7. Grant Righthaven such other relief as this Court deems appropriate. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Righthaven requests a trial by jury pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Dated this twenty-seventh day of January, 2011. By: /s/Steven G. Ganim STEVEN G. GANIM, ESQ. Righthaven LLC 9960 West Cheyenne Avenue, Suite 210 Las Vegas, Nevada 89129-7701 Tel: (702) 527-5900 Fax: (702) 527-5909 sganim@righthaven.com SHAWN A. MANGANO, ESQ. SHAWN A. MANGANO, LTD. 9960 West Cheyenne Avenue, Suite 170 Las Vegas, Nevada 89129-7701 Tel: (702) 304-0432 Fax: (702) 922-3851 shawn@manganolaw.com Attorneys for Plaintiff Righthaven LLC Case 1:11-cv-00211-JLK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 USDC Colorado Page 6 of 6
Reference Info:Legal Memoranda: Pre-Trial Motions | Federal, Federal Circuit, Claims Court | United States Send
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