Opinion ID: 852355
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did Gray Loon Commit Conversion?

Text: Piece of America appeals the trial court's denial of its counterclaim, which alleged that Gray Loon converted its property by failing to make a backup copy of the original version of the website, for which it made payment. (Appellants' Br. at 11-12; Appellants' App. at 17-18.) A person who loses property as a result of criminal conversion may bring a civil action against the person who caused the loss for up to three times the amount of the damage, plus the costs of the action, reasonable attorney's fees, and certain other costs. Ind.Code § 34-24-3-1 (2008). Such a claimant must show the elements of conversion by a preponderance of the evidence. Romanowski v. Giordano Mgmt. Group, LLC, 896 N.E.2d 558 (Ind.Ct.App. 2008). Our Code provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally exerts unauthorized control over property of another person commits criminal conversion. Ind.Code § 35-43-4-3 (2008). The action that POA argues constitutes conversion amounts to Gray Loon's destruction of the paid-for website. Piece of America claims that Gray Loon specifically and unambiguously represented that POA owned the work product. (Transfer Pet. at 3-4, citing Appellants' App. at 59.) While this is true, Gray Loon's representation did not vest ownership in POA. The Copyright Act of 1976 protects original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression. 17 U.S.C. § 102(a) (2006). The protection extends to a broad array of subject matter including pictorial, graphic, sculptural, and literary works, § 102(a)(1), which includes computer programs. [10] See Qad, Inc. v. ALN Assocs., Inc., 974 F.2d 834, 835 (7th Cir.1992). Although authors who follow certain formalities, such as registering with the U.S. Copyright Office, may see additional benefits, material receives copyright protection without authors taking these steps. See 1 Paul Goldstein, Goldstein on Copyright § 1.2 (3d ed.2008). Because ownership is at the heart of POA's claim, we analyze how copyright law affects the legal status of the site.