Source: http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/washington/wawdce/2:2013cv00626/191997/47
Timestamp: 2014-11-23 16:01:33
Document Index: 389436621

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 501', '§ 501', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 502', '§ 502', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', '§ 106', '§ 106', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'arts 1', 'art\n13', 'art 1', '§ 503', '§ 503', '§ 503', '§ 503', '§ 504', 'art 1', 'arts 1', 'art 1']

ORDER AWARDING STATUTORY DAMAGES AND ENTERING PERMANENT INJUNCTION by Judge James L for Getty Images (US), Inc. v. Virtual Clinics et al :: Justia Dockets & Filings Justia.com
ORDER AWARDING STATUTORY DAMAGES AND ENTERING PERMANENT INJUNCTION by Judge James L. Robart. (RS) Modified on 3/20/2014/cc pro se parties (RS).
STATUTORY DAMAGES AND
The court ordered default judgment against Defendants Kendra and Ryan Camp
19 (“the Camps”) on January 31, 2014, and awarded Plaintiff Getty Images (US), Inc.
20 (“Getty”) $21,433.00 in actual damages under 17 U.S.C. § 504(b) and prejudgment
21 interest for the Camps’ infringement of ten unregistered images. (See 1/31/14 Ord. (Dkt.
22 # 40).) Getty also requested maximum statutory damages for infringement of two
1 registered images and a permanent injunction against the Camps. (See id.) After
2 considering the evidence presented at a February 25, 2014, evidentiary hearing on these
3 requests, Getty’s post-hearing briefing (see Brief (Dkt. # 46)), and the relevant law, the
4 Court awards Getty maximum statutory damages of $300,000.00 under 17 U.S.C.
5 § 504(c)(2) for the Camps’ willful copyright infringement and ENJOINS the Camps from
6 engaging in future infringing activity.
Getty controls the intellectual property rights to numerous pictures of cats and
9 dogs, 12 of which are at issue in this case. (Compl. (Dkt. # 1) ¶¶ 22-23.) Getty owns
10 some of the images it licenses and also acts as a distributor for third-party content
11 suppliers. (Id. ¶ 14.) As Getty explained at the evidentiary hearing, Getty licenses
12 images under different pricing structures. Getty customers who license rights-managed
13 images have exclusive use and control of those images. Rights-managed images are
14 often used by companies for major advertising campaigns, and customers pay a higher
15 premium for the exclusivity associated with this model.
17 home. (Camp Decl. (Dkt. # 16) ¶ 2.) They design websites for veterinarians and
18 veterinary clinics, doing business as “Vet Web Designers.”1 (Id.) They use pictures of
19 cats and dogs in the websites they design.
22 are associated in one way or another with the Camps and their online businesses serving the
Getty brought a single claim of copyright infringement against the Camps in April
2 2013,2 alleging that the Camps used pictures of cats and dogs exclusively licensed to
3 Getty in designing websites for veterinarians. (See Compl. ¶¶ 25, 33.) Getty also alleged
4 that the Camps continued to use the images after they became aware of their
5 infringement. (Id. at ¶ 34.)
The Camps moved to dismiss the case for lack of personal jurisdiction under
7 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) on June 3, 2013. (See Mot. to Dismiss (Dkt.
8 # 15)): Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2). Between the Camps’ filing of that motion and the
9 court’s order denying the motion on September 9, 2013, the Camps’ attorney withdrew
10 from the case. (See generally 7/19/13 Ord. (Dkt. # 21); 9/9/13 Ord. (Dkt. # 31).) After
11 that point, the Camps stopped defending the action. (See generally Dkt.) The court
12 entered default against the Camps on October 15, 2013. (10/15/13 Ord. (Dkt. # 34).)
Getty subsequently moved for default judgment, and on January 31, 2014, the
14 court ordered default judgment against the Camps, and awarded Getty actual damages of
15 $21,433.00 and prejudgment interest for copyright infringement of ten unregistered
16 images. (See generally Mot. for Def. Judg. (Dkt. # 35); 1/31/14 Ord.) The court also
17 ordered an evidentiary hearing to determine the appropriate amount of statutory damages
18 for willful copyright infringement of two registered images under 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(2)
21 Virtual Clinics US, Veterinary Web Designers, and several John Doe defendants. (See id.)
As the exclusive licensee of these images, Getty may bring copyright infringement
22 claims to protect the copyrights under 17 U.S.C. § 501(b). See 17 U.S.C. § 501(b).
1 and whether the court should issue a permanent injunction. (See 1/31/14 Ord.) At the
2 conclusion of the evidentiary hearing on February 25, 2014, the court requested
3 additional briefing from Getty about the scope of Getty’s proposed permanent injunction.
4 (See generally Brief.)
The court finds that an award of maximum statutory damages of $300,000.00 for
7 the Camps’ willful infringement is appropriate in this case. The Camps infringed Getty’s
8 copyrights with the knowledge that they were doing so, and saved expenses and
9 generated profit through their infringing use. The Camps’ actions also cost Getty revenue
10 it otherwise would have received had the two rights-managed images been properly
11 licensed to maintain their exclusivity. Further, an award of maximum statutory damages
12 in this case will serve to protect the copyright system from flagrant violation of the law.
The court has wide discretion in determining the amount of statutory damages to
14 be awarded within the ranges provided by 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(1)-(2). Harris v. Emus
15 Records Corp., 734 F.2d 1329, 1335 (9th Cir. 1984). The court is directed to do “what is
16 just in the particular case, considering the nature of the copyright, the circumstances of
17 the infringement and the like . . . but with the express qualification that in every case the
18 assessment must be within the prescribed [statutory range]. Within these limitations the
19 court’s discretion and sense of justice are controlling . . . .” F.W. Woolworth Co. v.
20 Contemporary Arts, Inc., 344 U.S. 228, 232 (1952) (citing L.A. Westermann Co. v.
21 Dispatch Printing Co., 249 U.S. 100, 106-07 (1919)). “Statutory damages are
22 particularly appropriate in a case . . . in which [a] defendant has failed to mount any
1 defense or to participate in discovery . . . .” Jackson v. Sturkie, 255 F. Supp. 2d 1096,
2 1101 (N.D. Cal. 2003). Further, “[b]ecause awards of statutory damages serve both
3 compensatory and punitive purposes, a plaintiff may recover statutory damages ‘whether
4 or not there is adequate evidence of the actual damages suffered by plaintiff or of the
5 profits reaped by defendant.’” L.A. News Serv. v. Reuters Television Intern., Ltd., 149
6 F.3d 987, 996 (9th Cir. 1998) (quoting Harris, 734 F.2d at 1335). If a plaintiff
7 demonstrates that the infringer’s conduct was willful, the court may award maximum
8 statutory damages of $150,000.00 per infringement. See 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(2).
In its order granting default judgment, the court stated that four factors would
10 inform its determination of the appropriate amount of statutory damages. (1/31/14 Ord.
11 at 15-16.) The factors are: (1) the infringer’s profits and expenses saved because of the
12 infringement; (2) the plaintiff’s lost revenues; (3) the strong public interest in ensuring
13 the integrity of copyright laws; and (4) whether the infringer acted willfully. See, e.g.,
14 Pac. Stock, Inc. v. MacArthur & Co. Inc., Civil No. 11–00720 JMS/BMK, 2012 WL
15 3985719, at *5 (D. Haw. Sept. 10, 2012); Controversy Music v. Shiferaw, No. C03–5254
16 MJJ, 2003 WL 22048519, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 20, 2003); Original Appalachian
17 Artworks, Inc. v. J.F. Reichert, Inc., 658 F. Supp. 458, 465 (E.D. Pa. 1987); Rare Blue
18 Music, Inc. v. Guttadauro, 616 F. Supp. 1528, 1530 (D. Mass. 1985); Milene Music, Inc.
19 v. Gotauco, 551 F. Supp. 1288, 1296 (D.R.I. 1982). The first two factors are largely
20 analogues of each other so the court will analyze them together. The balance of factors
21 counsels in favor of granting Getty maximum statutory damages of $300,000.00.
a. The Camps’ Profits and Expenses Saved, as well as Getty’s Lost Revenue,
Support a Heightened Statutory Damages Award
The first two factors—(1) the infringer’s profits and expenses saved and (2) the
plaintiff’s lost revenues—are relatively straightforward inquiries. However, these factors
are generally given less weight than the others because of the inherent uncertainty in
calculating an infringer’s profits and a plaintiff’s lost revenue. Milene Music, 551 F.
Supp. at 1296. Indeed, “most courts that have pondered the issue do not attach great
weight to profits gained or to income lost, because these amounts are difficult to
monetize, and may be marginal at best.” Id.
In this case, the profits that the Camps made from their infringing conduct and the
amount of revenue Getty has lost because of the Camps’ activity are uncertain. Getty has
presented evidence that the Camps have made over $1 million from the websites they
have designed and that $21,794.00 of that amount was directly attributable to five
websites on which the Camps illegally posted the two images for which Getty seeks
statutory damages. (See Mot. for Def. Judg. at 16 (citing Houck Decl. (Dkt. # 24) ¶ 4).)
The Camps’ profits were not negligible, even if modest and uncertain.
Getty also conservatively estimates that its lost revenue and the licensing costs
saved by the Camps are a relatively minor $4,655.00. However, Getty contends that
rights-managed images, like the two at issue here, are particularly subject to adverse
commercial consequences when they are infringed because the images lose their
exclusivity. It is therefore possible that Getty lost additional revenue from customers
who might have licensed these images or other rights-managed images, but did not do so
1 because Getty could not guarantee the images’ exclusivity. Therefore, although the lost
2 revenue and profits gained in this case seem to be relatively modest, the broader impact
3 of the Camps’ infringement on Getty’s revenue generation supports a heightened
4 statutory damages award.
These two factors, therefore, support a statutory damages award above the
6 statutory minimum, but do not on their own support a maximum statutory damages
7 award. See 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(1)-(2). However, because there need not be “actual
8 evidence” of an infringer’s profits or a plaintiff’s losses for maximum statutory damages
9 to be appropriate, the court turns to the remaining two factors. See L.A. News, 149 F.3d
10 at 996.
The Public’s Strong Interest in Maintaining the Integrity of Copyright Laws
Supports a Maximum Statutory Damages Award
Under this factor, courts often evaluate the public’s interest in ensuring the
integrity of copyright laws by looking at the severity of the infringers’ conduct. If the
infringing conduct is severe, a court is more likely to award higher statutory damages
because the higher award will deter such conduct in the future. See, e.g., Warner Bros.
Enter. v. Caridi, 346 F. Supp. 2d 1068, 1074 (C.D. Cal. 2004). “An award of the
statutory maximum protects not only the copyrighted materials at issue, but also the
entire entrepreneurial system upon which [a copyright holder] relies.” Teri Woods Pub.,
L.L.C. v. Williams, No. 12-4554, 2013 WL 6179182, at *4 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 25, 2013).
“[C]ourts have repeatedly emphasized that defendants must not be able to sneer in the
face of copyright owners and copyright laws.” Tu v. TAD Sys. Tech. Inc., No. 08-CV22
1 3822 (SLT) (RM), 2009 WL 2905780, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 10, 2009) (quoting N.Y.
2 Chinese TV Prog., Inc. v. U.E. Enter., Inc., No. 89 Civ. 6082RWS (KAR), 1991 WL
3 113283, at *4 (June 14, 1991)). This factor dovetails with the “goal of discouraging
4 wrongful conduct.” Controversy Music, 2003 WL 22048519, at *2 (citing F.W.
5 Woolworth, 344 U.S. at 233).
In the present case, the Camps failed to end their infringement despite repeated
7 notifications of their infringing use and opportunities to settle the matter swiftly with
8 Getty. (See Pinto Decl. (Dkt. # 36) at 13-22.) Their infringing conduct is similar to that
9 in other cases in the Ninth Circuit where maximum statutory damages have been
10 imposed. In IO Group, Inc. v. Antelope Media LLC, No. C-08-4050 MMC, 2010 WL
11 2198707, at *1-2 (N.D. Cal. May 28, 2010), the district court found maximum statutory
12 damages for copyright infringement appropriate where the defendants “gained
13 commercial advantage by using plaintiff’s copyrighted works, specifically, by displaying
14 plaintiff’s works on defendants’ websites”; transferred “ownership of their websites to
15 fictitious names” after the suit was instituted; and precluded the “plaintiff from
16 determining [the] actual loss . . . incurred.” In addition, the district court in Caridi
17 imposed a maximum statutory damages award on the defendant in part because he failed
18 “to proffer any defense or participate in discovery or engage in settlement negotiations.”
19 346 F. Supp. 2d at 1074. The facts of these cases are similar to the one before the court.
20 The Camps similarly gained commercial advantage by using Getty’s copyrighted works
21 on their websites, engaged in deception by using fictitious names, and failed to
22 participate beyond limited discovery early in the case. (See Pinto Decl. at 13-22;
1 Wojtczak Decl. (Dkt. # 28) at 2.) A maximum award of $300,000.00 alerts copyright
2 infringers that they may not “sneer in the face of . . . copyright laws” without facing
3 consequences. Tu, 2009 WL 2905780, at *6. Thus, it is in the public interest to protect
4 the copyright system by awarding Getty maximum statutory damages.
The Camps Acted Willfully in Infringing Getty’s Copyrights
Getty must show that the Camps’ acted willfully such that their infringing conduct
7 occurred “with knowledge that [it] constituted copyright infringement.” Danjaq LLC v.
8 Sony Corp., 263 F.3d 942, 957 (9th Cir. 2001). This factor is typically given the most
9 weight by courts in determining an appropriate amount of statutory damages. See Milene
10 Music, 551 F. Supp. at 1296 (“Courts . . . have focused largely on the element of
11 intent . . . .”). “[T]he per-infringement award tends understandably to escalate, in direct
12 proportion to the blameworthiness of the infringing conduct.” Id. “Where defendants
13 have ignored or disregarded notices of the need for licensing, willful infringement has
14 been found.” Street Talk Tunes v. Vacaville Recreation Corp., No. CIV S-0515 2401FCDJFM, 2006 WL 2423429, at *2 (E.D. Cal. 2006).
At the evidentiary hearing, Getty provided substantial evidence that the Camps
17 were aware that their conduct infringed Getty’s copyrights. Getty first informed the
18 Camps of their infringing activity in 2007, and the Camps continued to infringe images
19 licensed exclusively to Getty, even after this suit was instituted in April 2013. (Pinto
20 Decl. at 13-22.) The Camps received notice of their infringement because “Abe
21 Goldstien,” the Camps’ purported attorney, responded to Getty at least 21 times to deny
22 that the Camps had engaged in any infringement. (Wojtczak Decl. at 2.) The Camps also
1 initially participated in the suit, moving to dismiss the case for lack of personal
2 jurisdiction. (See generally Mot. to Dismiss.) Therefore, the Camps knew by at least
3 2007 that they were infringing Getty’s copyrights, but nevertheless continued their
4 infringement. Such sustained violation of the law supports a maximum award.
For the reasons discussed above, the court in its discretion GRANTS Getty
6 $300,000.00 for the Camps’ willful infringement of two registered copyrights. An award
7 of maximum statutory damages is appropriate particularly because of the Camps’ willful
8 conduct and the public interest in protecting copyrights against sustained infringement.
D. PERMANENT INJUNCTION UNDER 17 U.S.C. § 502(A)
The Copyright Act authorizes a court to “grant temporary and final injunctions on
11 such terms as it may deem reasonable to prevent or restrain infringement of a copyright.”
12 17 U.S.C. § 502(a). But “an injunction [does not] automatically follow[] a determination
13 that a copyright has been infringed.” eBay Inc. v. MercExchange, L.L.C., 547 U.S. 388,
14 392 (2006). “An injunction should issue only where the intervention of a court of equity
15 ‘is essential in order effectually to protect property rights against injuries otherwise
16 irremediable.’” Weinberger v. Romero-Barcelo, 456 U.S. 305, 312 (1982) (quoting
17 Cavanaugh v. Looney, 248 U.S. 453, 456 (1919)). If granted, “[a] permanent injunction
18 must be carefully crafted,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer v. Grokster, 518 F. Supp. 2d 1197,
19 1226 (C.D. Cal. 2007), and must be specific, Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(d). Indeed, “‘[i]njunctive
20 relief should be narrowly tailored to fit specific legal violations.’” Silicon Images, Inc. v.
21 Analogix Semiconductor, 642 F. Supp. 2d 957, 966 (N.D. Cal. 2008) (quoting Waldman
22 Pub. Corp. v. Landoll, Inc., 43 F.3d 775, 785 (2d Cir. 1994)).
Four factors govern a court’s decision whether to grant a permanent injunction in a
2 copyright infringement case: (1) whether the plaintiff has suffered irreparable injury; (2)
3 whether the plaintiff can be adequately compensated by a remedy at law such as
4 monetary damages; (3) whether the balance of hardships between the plaintiff and
5 defendant favors the plaintiffs; and (4) whether the permanent injunction will serve the
6 public. eBay, 547 U.S. at 390.
8 infringing activities,” “employed deception in furtherance of their business,” and
9 “encouraged harassment of Getty Images.” (Mot. for Def. Judg. at 19.) Getty’s
10 requested injunction in Part I enjoins the Camps from doing several acts: (a)
11 “reproducing, distributing, displaying or making any other infringing uses” of the 12
12 images at issue in this case; (b) “modifying, altering or incorporating copyright-protected
13 elements” of the 12 images “in new works”; (c) infringing any other images owned or
14 licensed by Getty; and (d) “assisting, aiding or abetting any other person or entity in
15 engaging or performing any activities” listed above (See Prop. Inj. (Dkt. # 35-2) at 2-3).
16 The court finds that the four-part test supports granting permanent injunctive relief and
17 that Getty’s proposed injunction is narrowly tailored to prevent the Camps from
18 continuing to infringe Getty’s copyrights. The court therefore adopts Getty’s proposed
19 injunction in full at the end of this order.
Getty Has Suffered Irreparable Injury
22 company’s competitive position caused by copyright infringement,” or where there is
1 “the threat of the loss of prospective customers, goodwill, or reputation . . . .” Bean v.
2 Pearson Educ., Inc., No. CV 11–8030–PCT–PGR, 2011 WL 1211684, at *2 (D. Ariz.
3 Mar. 30, 2011); accord Stuhlbarg Intern. Sales Co., Inc. v. John D. Brush & Co., Inc.,
4 240 F.3d 832, 841 (9th Cir. 2001) (“Evidence of threatened loss of prospective customers
5 or goodwill certainly supports a finding of the possibility of irreparable harm.”). Such
6 “intangible injuries are irreparable because quantifying their harm is impractical or
7 impossible, and . . . cannot be fully remedied with a financial award.” Bean, 2011 WL
8 1211684, at *2. Irreparable harm must be “real and significant, not speculative or
9 remote.” Id. There is no presumption of irreparable harm just because a copyright has
10 been infringed. Flexible Lifeline Sys., Inc. v. Precision Lift, Inc., 654 F.3d 989, 995 (9th
11 Cir. 2011).
Getty has suffered irreparable harm in this case. As discussed above, the 12 images
13 the Camps have infringed are rights-managed images, which require exclusivity. Getty
14 has demonstrated that it faces a potential loss of customers, goodwill, and reputation from
15 the Camps’ threat to Getty’s exclusivity. (Compl. ¶ 37 (“[D]efendants’ infringements
16 interfere with Getty Images’ goodwill and customer relations.”).) These intangible
17 injuries support a finding of irreparable harm and enjoining the Camps from future
18 infringing activity.
Getty Cannot Be Adequately Compensated by a Remedy at Law
21 as monetary damages, are inadequate to compensate for the injury.” eBay, 547 U.S. at
22 391. “[T]he requisite analysis for [this] factor . . . inevitably overlaps with that of the
3 obtaining the remedy would require a “multiplicity of suits.” See, e.g., Grokster, 518 F.
Getty has shown that monetary damages are inadequate to compensate them for the
7 Camps’ infringement. Given that the Camps have not participated in this case since they
8 moved the court to dismiss the case for lack of personal jurisdiction in June 2013, it is
9 likely that Getty will be unable to collect its monetary judgment from the Camps. (See
10 Mot. to Dismiss (Dkt. # 15); see generally Dkt.) In addition, the Camps have infringed
11 additional Getty images since this suit was instituted in April 2013. It is therefore likely
12 that Getty would have to institute additional suits to end the Camps’ infringement and
13 collect its judgment if a permanent injunction were not entered. Thus, the court finds that
14 monetary damages alone are inadequate to compensate Getty for the Camps’
15 infringement.
The Balance of Hardships Favors Getty
18 parties by the grant or denial of Plaintiffs’ motion for a permanent injunction.” Grokster,
19 518 F. Supp. 2d at 1220. The court looks at the plaintiff’s hardship if the infringing
20 behavior does not stop, as well as the defendant’s “hardship in refraining from its
21 infringement.” See, e.g., Amini Innovation Corp. v. KTY Intern. Mktg., 768 F. Supp. 2d
22 1049, 1057 (C.D. Cal. 2011). A court may find that the balance of hardships favors a
1 defendant where there is a “separate legitimate business purpose” for the infringement.
2 See, e.g., Grokster, 518 F. Supp. 2d at 1220 (discussing how the balance of hardships
3 may favor an infringing defendant).
There is no evidence that the Camps have a legitimate business purpose for their
5 infringement; rather, the evidence produced at the hearing suggests that the Camps’
6 infringement stems from an unwillingness to obtain proper licensing for the images they
7 wish to use. In contrast, Getty stands to lose business and the ability to protect the
8 content it licenses from photographers and offers to its customers on an exclusive basis.
9 Because there is no legitimate purpose for the Camps’ infringement and there is a threat
10 to Getty’s business, the balance of hardships favors Getty.
A Permanent Injunction Will Serve the Public Interest in Protecting
Copyrights and Copyright Holders
serve the public. Courts usually find that “the public interest is . . . served when the
rights of copyright holders are protected against acts likely constituting infringement.”
Perfect 10 v. Amazon.com, Inc., 487 F.3d 701 (9th Cir. 2001); accord Disney Enter., Inc.
v. Delane, 446 F. Supp. 2d 402, 408 (D. Md. 2006) (“[T]here is a greater public benefit in
securing the integrity of Plaintiffs’ copyrights than in allowing [a defendant] to make
Plaintiffs’ copyrighted material available to the public.”). In short, the court asks whether
the public will benefit from protecting the plaintiff’s copyright or from protecting the
defendant’s infringing conduct. See, e.g., Grokster, 518 F. Supp. 2d at 1221. This factor
is largely the same as that analyzed under the statutory damages analysis.
The public interest favors protecting Getty’s copyrights. At the evidentiary
2 hearing, Getty presented evidence that its relationship with photographers who license
3 their photos to Getty depends on Getty’s ability to enforce copyrights. Further, the
4 rights-managed images model loses its exclusivity if people like the Camps are allowed
5 to infringe copyrights. In contrast, the public would not benefit from protecting the
6 Camps’ infringement because the Camps have no legitimate reason for doing so.
Therefore, all four factors support entering a permanent injunction against the
8 Camps. Getty has suffered irreparable injury, cannot be adequately compensated by
9 monetary damages, and is faced with greater hardship than the Camps. Further, it is in
10 the public’s interest to protect copyrights from severe and sustained infringement like that
11 in which the Camps have engaged.
The Scope of Getty’s Proposed Permanent Injunction is Narrowly Tailored
The court turns next to the scope of the injunction, which must be narrowly
14 tailored. Silicon Images, 642 F. Supp. 2d at 966. At the evidentiary hearing, the court
15 requested supplemental briefing from Getty regarding the final four parts of its proposed
16 injunction to ensure that any permanent injunction the court would issue would be
17 “carefully crafted” to specify exactly what infringing conduct is enjoined. The court
18 finds that Getty’s proposed permanent injunction is narrowly tailored to preventing future
19 infringement of the same character. The court will address each component of the
20 proposed injunction in turn.
Part 1(a) of Getty’s proposed permanent injunction would enjoin the Camps from
22 further infringement of the 12 images at issue in the suit. (Prop. Inj. at 2.) Specifically,
1 Part 1(a) would prevent the Camps from “reproducing, distributing, displaying, or
2 making any other infringing uses of the [12] copyrighted works.” (Id.) The court finds
3 this part of the injunction reasonable because it is directed toward ending the Camps’
4 infringement of the 12 copyrights in this case.
Part 1(b) of the proposed injunction seeks to enjoin the Camps from “modifying,
6 altering, or incorporating copyright-protected elements” of these 12 images in new
7 works. (Prop. Inj. at 2.) Getty alleged that the Camps altered its images by “adding spots
8 and making other alterations to the photographs.” (Mot. for Def. Judg. at 5.) Essentially,
9 Getty seeks to prevent the Camps from using Getty’s images to create unauthorized
10 derivative works, one of the exclusive rights granted to copyright holders under 17
11 U.S.C. § 106. See 17 U.S.C. § 106. Getty has demonstrated that the Camps, when
12 confronted with their infringement, modified some of Getty’s images in an apparent
13 attempt to circumvent liability for their infringement. (See, e.g., Mot. for Def. Judg. at 5.)
14 Therefore, the court finds that this part of the proposed injunction is narrowly tailored to
15 prevent the Camps from engaging in the same kind of infringing behavior they have
16 engaged in since at least 2007.
Part 1(c) would enjoin the Camps from infringing any other images that Getty
18 owns or licenses. (Prop. Inj. at 3.) Although this part of the proposed injunction may
19 seem far-reaching at first glance, Ninth Circuit precedent supports enjoining infringers
20 from infringing other materials owned or produced by the plaintiff. See, e.g., Apple Inc.
21 v. Psystar Corp., 658 F.3d 1150, 1152 (9th Cir. 2011) (Apple II). In Apple II, the Ninth
22 Circuit Court of Appeals permanently enjoined future infringement of copyrighted works
1 “because liability has been established as between the parties, and the threat of harm
2 through future infringement . . . is real.” Id. at 1161. In this case, liability has been
3 established between Getty and the Camps through the Camps’ default, and Getty has
4 demonstrated a threat of future infringement by the Camps, particularly in light of their
5 continued infringement even after this lawsuit was filed. Therefore, the court finds that it
6 is appropriate to include this provision in the injunction because, even with it included,
7 the injunction remains narrowly tailored to prevent legal violations of a similar kind to
8 those that have already occurred: namely, direct infringement of Getty copyrights by the
9 Camps.
Part 1(d) of the proposed injunction would prevent the Camps from “assisting,
11 aiding or abetting any other person or entity in engaging or performing any of the
12 activities” in Parts 1(a)-(c) of the proposed injunction. (See Prop. Inj. at 2-3.) This part
13 of the injunction is meant to “enjoin the Camps from conduct that does not constitute
14 direct infringement” (Brief at 5), because Getty has alleged that the Camps encouraged
15 infringement of Getty’s photos, (Mot. for Def. Judg. at 3, n.1). The court finds that the
16 Ninth Circuit’s rationale regarding enjoining defendants from infringing additional works
17 beyond those at issue in the case extends to enjoining defendants from engaging in other
18 forms of infringement against the same plaintiff. See Apple II, 658 F.3d at 1152; see also
19 Microsoft Corp. v. Lopez, No. C08-1743-JCC, 2009 WL 959219, at *5 (W.D. Wash. Apr.
20 7, 2009) (using “aiding and abetting” language in a permanent injunction to prevent
21 defendants from engaging in contributory infringement); Microsoft Corp. v. EEE
22 Business, Inc., 555 F. Supp. 2d 1051, 1061 (N.D. Cal. 2008); DFSB Kollective Co., Ltd.
1 v. Bing Yang, No. C 11-1051 CW, Permanent Injunction (Dkt. # 39) (N.D. Cal. Mar. 28,
2 2013); contra Grokster, 518 F. Supp. 2d. at 1226-27 (refusing to enjoin defendants from
3 engaging in direct infringement of a copyright when they had engaged in only
4 contributory infringement). Where liability has been established between the parties and
5 there is a threat of future harm to plaintiffs from defendants’ continued infringement,
6 enjoining a defendant from engaging in contributory and vicarious infringement, as well
7 as direct infringement, is reasonable and narrowly tailored to prevent similar
8 infringement against the same plaintiff. The court therefore finds Part 1(d) narrowly
9 tailored to preventing the Camps’ further infringement.
Destruction of the Infringing Materials Under 17 U.S.C. § 503(b) is
Under 17 U.S.C. § 503(b), a court has authority to order the destruction of all
copies of the infringing material used by the defendants to infringe a copyright. See 17
U.S.C. § 503(b). Getty proposes in its injunction a provision that would order “the
Camps [to] delete all copies of the copyrighted works listed in Paragraph 1(a) and any
other photographic images owned or exclusively licensed to Getty Images from their
computers and the websites they control.” (Prop. Inj. at 3.) Courts in the Ninth Circuit
have ordered the destruction of electronic materials used to infringe copyrights under 17
U.S.C. § 503(b). See, e.g., Sony BMG Music Enter. v. Gray, No. C-07-3854 WDB, 2008
WL 4239219, at *3-4 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 15, 2008); Autodesk, Inc. v. Flores, No. 10-CV20
01917-LHK, 2011 WL 337836, at *11 (N.D Cal. Jan. 31, 2011). The court finds that
ordering the Camps to destroy all images exclusively licensed or owned by Getty and to
1 take down the infringing material from the websites they have designed is a meaningful
2 step toward preventing the Camps from continuing to infringe Getty’s copyrights. Thus,
3 this provision of the proposed injunction is also narrowly tailored to prevent further
4 infringement of a similar character.
For the reasons outlined above, the court adopts Getty’s proposed injunction and
6 ENJOINS the Camps from infringing copyrights Getty owns or licenses pursuant to the
7 terms of the proposed injunction.
For the foregoing reasons, the court awards Getty maximum statutory damages of
10 $300,000.00 under 17 U.S.C. § 504 and ENJOINS the Camps from engaging in further
11 infringing conduct according to Getty’s proposed permanent injunction.
The court permanently enjoins the Camps, doing business as Virtual Clinics,
Virtual Clinics USA, Veterinary Website Designers, and Vet Web Designers, their
3 agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and other persons acting in concert or
participating with them from engaging in the following acts and practices:
1. reproducing, distributing, displaying or making any other infringing uses of
the following copyrighted works:
a. 200374104-001 Dog sleeping in bed between two people (focus on feet)
(Certificate of Registration VA 1-850-496);
b. 200396789-001 Brown and white dog licking tabby cat (Certificate of
Registration VAu 713-178);
c. 200518841-002 Mixed breed dog with paws covering eyes (Certificate
of Registration VA 1-881-280);
d. 200355950-001 Dog with suitcase, wearing Hawaiian shirt (VA 1-850499);
e. 200523984-003 Young woman lying on floor with dog using mobile
phone (Certificate of Registration VA-1-851-063);
f. 10104008 DOG COUPLE (Certificate of Registration VA 1-881-287);
g. BD8365-001 Chinchilla cat wearing diamond tiara (Certificate of
Registration VA 1-881-285);
h. CB8638-001 Male executive wearing telephone headset, smiling,
portrait (Certificate of Registration VA 1-881-281);
i. 200137589-001 Pit bull mix dog with tongue out, close-up (Certificate
of Registration VA 1-881-277);
j. 887206-001 Tabby cat wearing toy glasses and stethoscope, close-up
(Certificate of Registration VA 1-881-278);
k. 489050-016 White, standard poodle sitting on sofa watching television,
pink cast (Certificate of Registration VA 1-881-283); and
l. sb10069917c-001 Profile of Dalmatian yawning, fly going into mouth
(Certificate of Registration VA 1-740-624).
2. modifying, altering, or incorporating copyright-protected elements of the
copyrighted works listed in Part 1(a) in new works;
3. making any infringing uses of photographic images owned or exclusively
licensed to Getty; and
4. assisting, aiding, or abetting any other person or entity in engaging in or
performing any of the activities referred to in Parts 1(a)-1(c).
The court also orders the Camps to delete all copies of the copyrighted works
listed in Part 1(a) and any other photographic images owned or exclusively licensed to
7 Getty from the Camps’ computers and the websites the Camps control. The court retains
jurisdiction to entertain such further proceedings and to enter such further orders as
8 necessary or appropriate to implement and enforce the provisions of the permanent
injunction. The court may award damages and other relief to Getty upon proof that the
9 Camps have violated any provisions of this permanent injunction.