Opinion ID: 3166404
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: prima facie case of copyright infringement

Text: To prevail on a claim of copyright infringement, Adobe must prove ownership of a valid copyright and violation by Christenson, the alleged infringer, of at least one of the exclusive rights conferred by the Copyright Act. UMG ADOBE SYSTEMS, INC. V. CHRISTENSON 9 Recordings, Inc. v. Augusto, 628 F.3d 1175, 1178 (9th Cir. 2011). Adobe claims that it holds copyrights in a long list of different versions of familiar software titles, such as “Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Windows and Macintosh,” “Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended for Windows and Macintosh,” “Adobe Photoshop CS4,” and “Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended.” Each new version reflects the result of revisions and additions to the underlying source code of the initial program. As proof of ownership, Adobe submitted the certificates of registration and the registration numbers for each listed title. Christenson does not dispute that the Adobe products he bought and sold are on Adobe’s list or that the listed titles are subject to copyright protection. Adobe thus established ownership of valid copyrights of a long list of computer software. See 17 U.S.C. § 410(c) (“[T]he certificate of a registration made before or within five years after first publication of the work shall constitute prima facie evidence of the validity of the copyright and of the facts stated in the certificate.”). The Copyright Act confers several exclusive rights on copyright owners, including the right of distribution. 17 U.S.C. § 106(3) (granting a right “to distribute copies . . . of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending”). No factual dispute exists that, through the Software Surplus website, Christenson sold copies of Adobe’s copyrighted works without authorization from Adobe. Christenson did not establish any difference between the software titles listed by Adobe, shown in screenshots of the Software Surplus website, and those that he sold. Adobe easily established a prima facie case of copyright infringement. 10 ADOBE SYSTEMS, INC. V. CHRISTENSON