Source: https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/New_York_Southern_District_Court/1--20-cv-03909/Gattoni_v._Microsoft_Corporation/1/
Timestamp: 2020-08-08 17:43:21
Document Index: 646122225

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 101', '§ 101', '§ 1331', '§ 1391', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 505', '§ 106', '§ 504', '§ 505']

Gattoni v. Microsoft Corporation, 1:20-cv-03909, No. 1 (S.D.N.Y. May. 19, 2020)
Case 1:20-cv-03909 Document 1 Filed 05/19/20 Page 1 of 5
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
`- against -
` Defendant.
`Docket No. 1:20-cv-3909
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`MATILDE GATTONI,
` Plaintiff,
`MICROSOFT CORPORATION
`COMPLAINT
`Plaintiff Matilde Gattoni (“Gattoni” or “Plaintiff”) by and through her undersigned
`counsel, as and for her Complaint against Defendant Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft” or
`“Defendant”) hereby alleges as follows:
` NATURE OF THE ACTION
`1.
`This is an action for copyright infringement under Section 501 of the Copyright
`Act. This action arises out of Defendant’s unauthorized reproduction and public display of a
`copyrighted photographs of women leading China’s wine revolution, owned and registered by
`Gattoni, a professional photographer. Accordingly, Gattoni seeks monetary relief under the
`Copyright Act of the United States, as amended, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`This claim arises under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., and this Court
`2.
`has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
`Case 1:20-cv-03909 Document 1 Filed 05/19/20 Page 2 of 5
`3.
`Upon information and belief, this Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant
`because Defendant resides and/or transacts business in New York and is registered with the New
`York State Department of State Division of Corporations.
`4.
`5.
`Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b).
`PARTIES
`Gattoni is a professional photographer in the business of licensing her
`photographs to online and print media for a fee having a usual place of business at Via Sandra
`Botticelli, 22, 20133, Milan Italy.
`6.
`Upon information and belief, Microsoft is a foreign business corporation duly
`organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with a place of business at 11
`Times Square, New York, New York 10036. Upon information and belief, Microsoft is
`registered with the New York State Department of Corporations to do business in New York. At
`all times material hereto, Microsoft has owned and operated a website at the URL:
`www.MSN.com (the “Website”).
`STATEMENT OF FACTS
`A.
`7.
`Background and Plaintiff’s Ownership of the Photographs
`Gattoni photographed women leading China’s wine revolution (the
`“Photographs”). A true and correct copy of the Photographs is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
`8.
`Gattoni is the author of the Photographs and has at all times been the sole owner
`of all right, title and interest in and to the Photographs, including the copyright thereto.
`9.
`The Photographs were registered with United States Copyright Office and were
`given Copyright Registration Number VA 2-134-533.
`B.
`Defendant’s Infringing Activities
`Case 1:20-cv-03909 Document 1 Filed 05/19/20 Page 3 of 5
`10. Microsoft ran an article on the Website entitled These are the women leading
`China’s wine revolution. See: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/these-are-the-women-
`leading-chinas-wine-revolution/ar-BBZiauE#image=BBZiauE_1|3. The article featured the
`Photographs. Screenshots of the Photographs on the Website are attached hereto as Exhibit B.
`11. Microsoft did not license the Photographs from Plaintiff for its article, nor did
`Microsoft have Plaintiff’s permission or consent to publish the Photographs on its Website.
`CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`(COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AGAINST DEFENDANT)
`(17 U.S.C. §§ 106, 501)
`Plaintiff incorporates by reference each and every allegation contained in
`Paragraphs 1-11 above.
`13. Microsoft infringed Plaintiff’s copyright in the Photographs by reproducing and
`publicly displaying the Photographs on the Website. Microsoft is not, and has never been,
`licensed or otherwise authorized to reproduce, publically display, distribute and/or use the
`Photographs.
`14.
`The acts of Defendant complained of herein constitute infringement of Plaintiff’s
`copyright and exclusive rights under copyright in violation of Sections 106 and 501 of the
`Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §§ 106 and 501.
`15.
`Upon information and belief, the foregoing acts of infringement by Microsoft
`have been willful, intentional, and purposeful, in disregard of and indifference to Plaintiff’s
`rights.
`16.
`As a direct and proximate cause of the infringement by the Defendant of
`Plaintiff’s copyright and exclusive rights under copyright, Plaintiff is entitled to damages and
`Defendant’s profits pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(b) for the infringement.
`Case 1:20-cv-03909 Document 1 Filed 05/19/20 Page 4 of 5
`17.
`Alternatively, Plaintiff is entitled to statutory damages up to $150,000 per work
`infringed for Defendant’s willful infringement of the Photographs, pursuant to 17 U.S.C.
`§ 504(c).
`18.
`Plaintiff further is entitled to her attorney’s fees and full costs pursuant to
`17 U.S.C. § 505
`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests judgment as follows:
`That Defendant Microsoft be adjudged to have infringed upon Plaintiff’s
`copyrights in the Photographs in violation of 17 U.S.C §§ 106 and 501;
`That Plaintiff be awarded either: a) Plaintiff’s actual damages and Defendant’s
`profits, gains or advantages of any kind attributable to Defendant’s infringement
`of Plaintiff’s Photographs; or b) alternatively, statutory damages of up to
`$150,000 per copyrighted work infringed pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504;
`That Defendant be required to account for all profits, income, receipts, or other
`benefits derived by Defendant as a result of its unlawful conduct;
`That Plaintiff be awarded her costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees pursuant to 17
`U.S.C. § 505;
`That Plaintiff be awarded pre-judgment interest; and
`Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable in accordance with Federal
`Rule of Civil Procedure 38(b).
`Dated: Valley Stream, New York
`Case 1:20-cv-03909 Document 1 Filed 05/19/20 Page 5 of 5
`May 19, 2020
`LIEBOWITZ LAW FIRM, PLLC
`By: /s/Richard Liebowitz
` Richard P. Liebowitz
`11 Sunrise Plaza, Suite 305
`Valley Stream, NY 11580
`Tel: (516) 233-1660
`RL@LiebowitzLawFirm.com
` Attorneys for Plaintiff Matilde Gattoni