Opinion ID: 1217808
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jurisdiction to determine copyright claim

Text: Appellants argue the master was without jurisdiction to make any findings of fact regarding copyrights because it is within the exclusive jurisdiction of federal courts. Federal district courts have original jurisdiction to hear any civil actions arising under any Act of Congress relating to copyrights. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1338(a) (1999). The mere fact that a case concerns a copyright does not necessarily mean the case comes within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts. Enhanced Computer Solutions, Inc. v. Rose, 927 F.Supp. 738, 739 (S.D.N.Y.1996). An action arises under the federal copyright law where the complaint seeks a remedy specifically granted by the Copyright Act or requires construction of the Act. Merchant v. Levy, 92 F.3d 51, 55 (2d Cir.1996). Many disputes over copyright ownership will arise under state law and involve no federal questions. Arthur Young & Co. v. City of Richmond, 895 F.2d 967, 969 (4th Cir.1990). In the underlying case, Horry County counterclaimed for copyright infringement, sought damages, and removed the case to federal court. At the argument before the district court magistrate, Appellants asserted they were not challenging Horry County's ability to own a copyright, but they were instead challenging the ability to assert copyright protection to circumvent FOIA. Appellants argued that the case was not a matter of whether a copyright existed, but it was rather a matter of exclusive state law concerning whether Horry County could withhold public information. Appellants later argued that whether Horry County has the authority to obtain a copyright is a question of state law and the extent of such copyright is a federal question. The district court adopted the magistrate's recommendation that the case be remanded to state court because the case did not involve the validity, scope, or infringement of a copyright claim and the case related specifically to state law requests pursuant to FOIA. Despite moving to remand the matter to state court, arguing before the magistrate that they were not challenging the ability of Horry County to obtain a copyright, and failing to appeal the district court's finding that the case did not involve the validity of a copyright, Appellants now argue the master was without jurisdiction to find Horry County had a copyright and was entitled to protect its interests. In light of Appellants' previous concession, the fact that the case concerned matters of interpreting state FOIA law, and the fact that the case did not concern a challenge under the Copyright Act, we find the master had jurisdiction to make a finding that a copyright existed. The Appellant's argument is wholly without merit.