If I used a copyrighted image in 4 item listings on a selling platform (all using the same image), would this constitute 1 infringement, 4 infringements, or a number of infringements equal to the number of items sold?
1 Answer
In criminal law we might talk in terms of a number of "counts" of an offence. E.g. "the defendant is charged with 4 counts of copyright infringement".
However you've asked about civil law copyright infringement, so that isn't relevant. If you are sued, the claimant is not seeking to convict you of X number of offences. Instead, they are probably seeking some combination of the following:
- A mandatory injunction to compel you to remove the copyrighted material.
- A prohibitory injunction to prevent you from using the material again.
- Damages to compensate them for your past use of the material.
So, it is not useful to think about how many "infringements" there were as such. What matters is the extent and circumstances of the infringement insofar as it is relevant for determining how much damages should be awarded. For example, in england-and-wales, section 97(2) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 provides:
The court may in an action for infringement of copyright having regard to all the circumstances, and in particular to—
(a) the flagrancy of the infringement, and
(b) any benefit accruing to the defendant by reason of the infringement,
award such additional damages as the justice of the case may require.
In the european-union, article 13(1) of the Enforcement Directive 2004/48/EC provides:
Member States shall ensure that the competent judicial authorities, on application of the injured party, order the infringer who knowingly, or with reasonable grounds to know, engaged in an infringing activity, to pay the rightholder damages appropriate to the actual prejudice suffered by him as a result of the infringement.
When the judicial authorities set the damages:
(a) they shall take into account all appropriate aspects, such as the negative economic consequences, including lost profits, which the injured party has suffered, any unfair profits made by the infringer and, in appropriate cases, elements other than economic factors, such as the moral prejudice caused to the rightholder by the infringement; or
(b) as an alternative to (a), they may, in appropriate cases, set the damages as a lump sum on the basis of elements such as at least the amount of royalties or fees which would have been due if the infringer had requested authorisation to use the intellectual property right in question.
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In my case there were 13 items sold in totalling £270 (approx $380) and none in the State where lawsuit has come from and none in the USA despite them being advertised on a well known selling platform in the USA. I am confused as they state in the action all points about 51 in total but most are inaccurate to some extent and some accurate - but because each of the COUNTS I am asked to answer refer to the (1-51) and about half are wrong or just statements I presume I DENY the COUNTS - not sure? I have prepared an Answer but don't know if correct or who can check– AmeliaSep 16, 2021 at 11:30
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I have reached out to the Plaintiff's lawyer but never had any response and meant to ensure this is filed with Court by 30th September. If it did go to court can the Plaintiff's counsel show that we had other listings (not the one they are charging us with copyright for - but others that were on our ebay shop ? or is it inadmissible as it is not what is in the Civil Litigation ie nothing to do with their client's copyright work? Thank you for any help in advance– AmeliaSep 16, 2021 at 11:33
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1I'm afraid questions asking for legal advice are off-topic on this site. All we can do is explain what the law is; we can't tell what you should or shouldn't do in your specific circumstances. For that you may want to consider speaking to a lawyer.– JBentleySep 16, 2021 at 11:36
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ok do you know who I could speak to about checking the elements above as in checking my response Answer? does anyone do a checking service that you know?– AmeliaSep 16, 2021 at 11:37
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If it is purely a procedural issue (e.g. "which form should I use?" or "in which box should I write such-and-such information?" or "on whom and how should I serve my response?") then you may be able to ask the court. But if it is anything specific to your case then really only a lawyer is likely to be suitably qualified to help you with that.– JBentleySep 16, 2021 at 11:40