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Online Attorney
mission program embodying a performance of such a work.
(d) Additional Damages in Certain Cases. - In any case in which
the court finds that a defendant proprietor of an establishment who
claims as a defense that its activities were exempt under section
110(5) did not have reasonable grounds to believe that its use of a
copyrighted work was exempt under such section, the plaintiff shall
be entitled to, in addition to any award of damages under this
section, an additional award of two times the amount of the license
fee that the proprietor of the establishment concerned should have
paid the plaintiff for such use during the preceding period of up
to 3 years.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2585;
Pub. L. 100-568, Sec. 10(b), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2860; Pub. L.
105-80, Sec. 12(a)(13), Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1535; Pub. L.
105-298, title II, Sec. 204, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2833; Pub. L.
106-160, Sec. 2, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1774.)
-MISC1-
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
HOUSE REPORT NO. 94-1476
In General. A cornerstone of the remedies sections and of the
bill as a whole is section 504, the provision dealing with recovery
of actual damages, profits, and statutory damages. The two basic
aims of this section are reciprocal and correlative: (1) to give
the courts specific unambiguous directions concerning monetary
awards, thus avoiding the confusion and uncertainty that have
marked the present law on the subject, and, at the same time, (2)
to provide the courts with reasonable latitude to adjust recovery
to the circumstances of the case, thus avoiding some of the
artificial or overly technical awards resulting from the language
of the existing statute.
Subsection (a) lays the groundwork for the more detailed
provisions of the section by establishing the liability of a
copyright infringer for either "the copyright owner's actual
damages and any additional profits of the infringer," or statutory
damages. Recovery of actual damages and profits under section
504(b) or of statutory damages under section 504(c) is alternative
and for the copyright owner to elect; as under the present law, the
plaintiff in an infringement suit is not obliged to submit proof of
damages and profits and may choose to rely on the provision for
minimum statutory damages. However, there is nothing in section 504
to prevent a court from taking account of evidence concerning
actual damages and profits in making an award of statutory damages
within the range set out in subsection (c).
Actual Damages and Profits. In allowing the plaintiff to recover
"the actual damages suffered by him or her as a result of the
infringement," plus any of the infringer's profits "that are
attributable to the infringement and are not taken into account in
computing the actual damages," section 504(b) recognizes the
different purposes served by awards of damages and profits. Damages
are awarded to compensate the copyright owner for losses from the
infringement, and profits are awarded to prevent the infringer from
unfairly benefiting from a wrongful act. Where the defendant's
profits are nothing more than a measure of the damages suffered by
the copyright owner, it would be inappropriate to award damages and
profits cumulatively, since in effect they amount to the same
thing. However, in cases where the copyright owner has suffered
damages not reflected in the infringer's profits, or where there
have been profits attributable to the copyrighted work but not used
as a measure of damages, subsection (b) authorizes the award of
both.
The language of the subsection makes clear that only those
profits "attributable to the infringement" are recoverable; where
some of the defendant's profits result from the infringement and
other profits are caused by different factors, it will be necessary
for the court to make an apportionment. However, the burden of
proof is on the defendant in these cases; in establishing profits
the plaintiff need prove only "the infringer's gross revenue," and
the defendant must prove not only "his or her deductible expenses"
but also "the element of profit attributable to factors other than
the copyrighted work."
Statutory Damages. Subsection (c) of section 504 makes clear that
the plaintiff's election to recover statutory damages may take
place at any time during the trial before the court has rendered
its final judgment. The remainder of clause (1) of the subsection
represents a statement of the general rates applicable to awards of
statutory damages. Its principal provisions may be summarized as
follows:
1. As a general rule, where the plaintiff elects to recover
statutory damages, the court is obliged to award between $250 and
$10,000. It can exercise discretion in awarding an amount within
that range but, unless one of the exceptions provided by clause
(2) is applicable, it cannot make an award of less than $250 or
of more than $10,000 if the copyright owner has chosen recovery
under section 504(c).
2. Although, as explained below, an award of minimum statutory
damages may be multiplied if separate works and separately liable
infringers are involved in the suit, a single award in the $250
to $10,000 range is to be made "for all infringements involved in
the action." A single infringer of a single work is liable for a
single amount between $250 and $10,000, no matter how many acts
of infringement are involved in the action and regardless of
whether the acts were separate, isolated, or occurred in a
related series.
3. Where the suit involves infringement of more than one
separate and independent work, minimum statutory damages for each
work must be awarded. For example, if one defendant has infringed
three copyrighted works, the copyright owner is entitled to
statutory damages of at least $750 and may be awarded up to
$30,000. Subsection (c)(1) makes clear, however, that, although
they are regarded as independent works for other purposes, "all
the parts of a compilation or derivative work constitute one
work" for this purpose. Moreover, although the minimum and
maximum amounts are to be multiplied where multiple "works" are
involved in the suit, the same is not true with respect to
multiple copyrights, multiple owners, multiple exclusive rights,
or multiple registrations. This point is especially important
since, under a scheme of divisible copyright, it is possible to
have the rights of a number of owners of separate "copyrights" in
a single "work" infringed by one act of a defendant.
4. Where the infringements of one work were committed by a
single infringer acting individually, a single award of statutory
damages would be made. Similarly, where the work was infringed by
two or more joint tortfeasors, the bill would make them jointly
and severally liable for an amount in the $250 to $10,000 range.
However, where separate infringements for which two or more
defendants are not jointly liable are joined in the same action,
separate awards of statutory damages would be appropriate.
Clause (2) of section 504(c) provides for exceptional cases in
which the maximum award of statutory damages could be raised from
$10,000 to $50,000, and in which the minimum recovery could be
reduced from $250 to $100. The basic principle underlying this
provision is that the courts should be given discretion to increase
statutory damages in cases of willful infringement and to lower the
minimum where the infringer is innocent. The language of the clause
makes clear that in these situations the burden of proving
willfulness rests on the copyright owner and that of proving
innocence rests on the infringer, and that the court must make a
finding of either willfulness or innocence in order to award the
exceptional amounts.
The "innocent infringer" provision of section 504(c)(2) has been
the subject of extensive discussion. The exception, which would
allow reduction of minimum statutory damages to $100 where the
infringer "was not aware and had no reason to believe that his or
her acts constituted an infringement of copyright," is sufficient
to protect against unwarranted liability in cases of occasional or
isolated innocent infringement, and it offers adequate insulation
to users, such as broadcasters and newspaper publishers, who are
particularly vulnerable to this type of infringement suit. On the
other hand, by establishing a realistic floor for liability, the
provision preserves its intended deterrent effect; and it would not
allow an infringer to escape simply because the plaintiff failed to
disprove the defendant's claim of innocence.
In addition to the general "innocent infringer" provision clause
(2) deals with the special situation of teachers, librarians,
archivists, and public broadcasters, and the nonprofit institutions
of which they are a part. Section 504(c)(2) provides that, where
such a person or institution infringed copyrighted material in the
honest belief that what they were doing constituted fair use, the
court is precluded from awarding any statutory damages. It is
intended that, in cases involving this provision, the burden of
proof with respect to the defendant's good faith should rest on the
plaintiff.
AMENDMENTS
1999 - Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 106-160, Sec. 2(1), substituted
"$750" for "$500" and "$30,000" for "$20,000".
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 106-160, Sec. 2(2), substituted
"$150,000" for "$100,000".
1998 - Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105-298 added subsec. (d).
1997 - Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105-80 substituted "the court in
its discretion" for "the court it its discretion".
1988 - Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 100-568, Sec. 10(b)(1),
substituted "$500" for "$250" and "$20,000" for "$10,000".
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 100-568, Sec. 10(b)(2), substituted
"$100,000" for "$50,000" and "$200" for "$100".
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1999 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 106-160, Sec. 4, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1774, provided
that: "The amendments made by section 2 [amending this section]
shall apply to any action brought on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act [Dec. 9, 1999], regardless of the date on
which the alleged activity that is the basis of the action
occurred."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1998 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 105-298 effective 90 days after Oct. 27,
1998, see section 207 of Pub. L. 105-298, set out as a note under
section 101 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 100-568 effective Mar. 1, 1989, with any
cause of action arising under this title before such date being
governed by provisions in effect when cause of action arose, see
section 13 of Pub. L. 100-568, set out as a note under section 101
of this title.
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 109, 111, 115, 119, 122,
401, 402, 405, 411, 412, 510, 511, 1101 of this title; title 28
section 1498.
-End-
-CITE-
17 USC Sec. 505 01/19/04
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 17 - COPYRIGHTS
CHAPTER 5 - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES
-HEAD-
Sec. 505. Remedies for infringement: Costs and attorney's fees
-STATUTE-
In any civil action under this title, the court in its discretion
may allow the recovery of full costs by or against any party other
than the United States or an officer thereof. Except as otherwise
provided by this title, the court may also award a reasonable
attorney's fee to the prevailing party as part of the costs.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2586.)
-MISC1-
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
HOUSE REPORT NO. 94-1476
Under section 505 the awarding of costs and attorney's fees are
left to the court's discretion, and the section also makes clear
that neither costs nor attorney's fees can be awarded to or against
"the United States or an officer thereof."
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 109, 111, 115, 119, 122,
411, 412, 510, 511, 1101 of this title.
-End-
-CITE-
17 USC Sec. 506 01/19/04
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 17 - COPYRIGHTS
CHAPTER 5 - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES
-HEAD-
Sec. 506. Criminal offenses
-STATUTE-
(a) Criminal Infringement. - Any person who infringes a copyright
willfully either -
(1) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial
gain, or
(2) by the reproduction or distribution, including by
electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies
or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a
total retail value of more than $1,000,
shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18,
United States Code. For purposes of this subsection, evidence of
reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work, by itself,
shall not be sufficient to establish willful infringement.
(b) Forfeiture and Destruction. - When any person is convicted of
any violation of subsection (a), the court in its judgment of
conviction shall, in addition to the penalty therein prescribed,
order the forfeiture and destruction or other disposition of all
infringing copies or phonorecords and all implements, devices, or
equipment used in the manufacture of such infringing copies or
phonorecords.
(c) Fraudulent Copyright Notice. - Any person who, with
fraudulent intent, places on any article a notice of copyright or
words of the same purport that such person knows to be false, or
who, with fraudulent intent, publicly distributes or imports for
public distribution any article bearing such notice or words that
such person knows to be false, shall be fined not more than $2,500.
(d) Fraudulent Removal of Copyright Notice. - Any person who,
with fraudulent intent, removes or alters any notice of copyright
appearing on a copy of a copyrighted work shall be fined not more
than $2,500.
(e) False Representation. - Any person who knowingly makes a
false representation of a material fact in the application for
copyright registration provided for by section 409, or in any
written statement filed in connection with the application, shall
be fined not more than $2,500.
(f) Rights of Attribution and Integrity. - Nothing in this
section applies to infringement of the rights conferred by section
106A(a).
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2586;
Pub. L. 97-180, Sec. 5, May 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 93; Pub. L. 101-650,
title VI, Sec. 606(b), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5131; Pub. L.
105-147, Sec. 2(b), Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2678.)
-MISC1-
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
HOUSE REPORT NO. 94-1476
Four types of criminal offenses actionable under the bill are
listed in section 506: willful infringement for profit, fraudulent
use of a copyright notice, fraudulent removal of notice, and false
representation in connection with a copyright application. The
maximum fine on conviction has been increased to $10,000 and, in
conformity with the general pattern of the Criminal Code (18
U.S.C.), no minimum fines have been provided. In addition to or
instead of a fine, conviction for criminal infringement under
section 506(a) can carry with it a sentence of imprisonment of up
to one year. Section 506(b) deals with seizure, forfeiture, and
destruction of material involved in cases of criminal infringement.
Section 506(a) contains a special provision applying to any
person who infringes willfully and for purposes of commercial
advantage the copyright in a sound recording or a motion picture.
For the first such offense a person shall be fined not more than
$25,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. For any
subsequent offense a person shall be fined not more than $50,000 or
imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
AMENDMENTS
1997 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-147 amended subsec. (a)
generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows:
"(a) Criminal Infringement. - Any person who infringes a
copyright willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or
private financial gain shall be punished as provided in section
2319 of title 18."
1990 - Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101-650 added subsec. (f).
1982 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97-180 substituted "shall be punished
as provided in section 2319 of title 18" for "shall be fined not
more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or
both: Provided, however, That any person who infringes willfully
and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain
the copyright in a sound recording afforded by subsections (1),
(2), or (3) of section 106 or the copyright in a motion picture
afforded by subsections (1), (3), or (4) of section 106 shall be
fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than one
year, or both, for the first such offense and shall be fined not
more than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than two years, or
both, for any subsequent offense".
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 101-650 effective 6 months after Dec. 1,
1990, see section 610 of Pub. L. 101-650, set out as an Effective
Date note under section 106A of this title.
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 101, 109, 111, 115, 119,
122, 411, 501, 509 of this title; title 18 section 2319; title 19
section 1595a.
-End-
-CITE-
17 USC Sec. 507 01/19/04
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 17 - COPYRIGHTS
CHAPTER 5 - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES
-HEAD-
Sec. 507. Limitations on actions
-STATUTE-
(a) Criminal Proceedings. - Except as expressly provided
otherwise in this title, no criminal proceeding shall be maintained
under the provisions of this title unless it is commenced within 5
years after the cause of action arose.
(b) Civil Actions. - No civil action shall be maintained under
the provisions of this title unless it is commenced within three
years after the claim accrued.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2586;
Pub. L. 105-147, Sec. 2(c), Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2678; Pub. L.
105-304, title I, Sec. 102(e), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2863.)
-MISC1-
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
HOUSE REPORT NO. 94-1476
Section 507, which is substantially identical with section 115 of
the present law [section 115 of former title 17], establishes a
three-year statute of limitations for both criminal proceedings and
civil actions. The language of this section, which was adopted by
the act of September 7, 1957 (71 Stat. 633) [Pub. L. 85-313, Sec.
1, Sept. 7, 1957, 71 Stat. 633], represents a reconciliation of
views, and has therefore been left unaltered.
AMENDMENTS
1998 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-304 substituted "Except as
expressly provided otherwise in this title, no" for "No".
1997 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-147 substituted "5" for "three".
-End-
-CITE-
17 USC Sec. 508 01/19/04
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 17 - COPYRIGHTS
CHAPTER 5 - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES
-HEAD-
Sec. 508. Notification of filing and determination of actions
-STATUTE-
(a) Within one month after the filing of any action under this
title, the clerks of the courts of the United States shall send
written notification to the Register of Copyrights setting forth,
as far as is shown by the papers filed in the court, the names and
addresses of the parties and the title, author, and registration
number of each work involved in the action. If any other
copyrighted work is later included in the action by amendment,
answer, or other pleading, the clerk shall also send a notification
concerning it to the Register within one month after the pleading
is filed.
(b) Within one month after any final order or judgment is issued
in the case, the clerk of the court shall notify the Register of
it, sending with the notification a copy of the order or judgment
together with the written opinion, if any, of the court.
(c) Upon receiving the notifications specified in this section,
the Register shall make them a part of the public records of the
Copyright Office.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2586.)
-MISC1-
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
HOUSE REPORT NO. 94-1476
Section 508, which corresponds to some extent with a provision in
the patent law (35 U.S.C. 290), is intended to establish a method
for notifying the Copyright Office and the public of the filing and
disposition of copyright cases. The clerks of the Federal courts
are to notify the Copyright Office of the filing of any copyright
actions and of their final disposition, and the Copyright Office is
to make these notifications a part of its public records.
-End-
-CITE-
17 USC Sec. 509 01/19/04
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 17 - COPYRIGHTS
CHAPTER 5 - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES
-HEAD-
Sec. 509. Seizure and forfeiture
-STATUTE-
(a) All copies or phonorecords manufactured, reproduced,
distributed, sold, or otherwise used, intended for use, or
possessed with intent to use in violation of section 506(a), and
all plates, molds, matrices, masters, tapes, film negatives, or
other articles by means of which such copies or phonorecords may be
reproduced, and all electronic, mechanical, or other devices for
manufacturing, reproducing, or assembling such copies or
phonorecords may be seized and forfeited to the United States.
(b) The applicable procedures relating to (i) the seizure,
summary and judicial forfeiture, and condemnation of vessels,
vehicles, merchandise, and baggage for violations of the customs
laws contained in title 19, (ii) the disposition of such vessels,
vehicles, merchandise, and baggage or the proceeds from the sale
thereof, (iii) the remission or mitigation of such forfeiture, (iv)
the compromise of claims, and (v) the award of compensation to
informers in respect of such forfeitures, shall apply to seizures
and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, under
the provisions of this section, insofar as applicable and not
inconsistent with the provisions of this section; except that such
duties as are imposed upon any officer or employee of the Treasury
Department or any other person with respect to the seizure and
forfeiture of vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage under the
provisions of the customs laws contained in title 19 shall be
performed with respect to seizure and forfeiture of all articles
described in subsection (a) by such officers, agents, or other
persons as may be authorized or designated for that purpose by the
Attorney General.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2587;
Pub. L. 105-80, Sec. 12(a)(14), Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1535.)
-MISC1-
AMENDMENTS
1997 - Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105-80 substituted "merchandise, and
baggage" for "merchandise; and baggage" before "under the
provisions of the customs laws".
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 109, 111, 115, 119, 122,
411 of this title; title 18 section 2318; title 19 section 1595a.
-End-
-CITE-
17 USC Sec. 510 01/19/04
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 17 - COPYRIGHTS
CHAPTER 5 - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES
-HEAD-
Sec. 510. Remedies for alteration of programming by cable systems
-STATUTE-
(a) In any action filed pursuant to section 111(c)(3), the
following remedies shall be available:
(1) Where an action is brought by a party identified in
subsections (b) or (c) of section 501, the remedies provided by
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