Re: Web display and "publication" in photography

From: William T. McGrath <WMcGrath[_at_]DMMLaw.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 16:00:21 -0500


You may want to look at Getaped.com v. Cangemi, 188 F. Supp. 2d 398 (S.D.N.Y 2002) which held that a website was "published" under the definition in the Copyright Act. The court was looking at the issue of publication in order to determine whether the plaintiff was eligible for statutory damages under Section 412. The court based its ruling on the principle that publication occurs when the public has the ability to "gain control . . . or a possessory interest" in the work. The court felt that by accessing the website, a user could not only view but also copy the website. The court said it is more than a mere display because the creator loses the ability to control either duplication or further distribution of the work.

Bill McGrath

At 04:25 PM 11/17/2003 -0500, you wrote:

> . . . . I would appreciate any comments or references to case law on
> publication as it relates to display of works on the web.
>



William T. McGrath
Davis, Mannix & McGrath
125 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60606-4402
Phone: 312-332-4748
Fax: 312-332-6376 Received on Tue Nov 25 2003 - 02:00:21 GMT

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