Recent News Story - Copyright Infringement

[Ben Chase]

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?n.../02/25/0159250

This looks pretty encouraging.

[Peter Mounier]

I just read about this on Photo.net
Here's a link to the whole story...
http://www.cgstock.com/essays/vilana

Peter

[Capocheny]

Hi Ben,

Congratulations on the ruling... I love it when David takes down Goliath!

The unfortunate thing is that there are too many individuals/corporations out there who "think" they can do what they want and "actually believe" that they can get away with their actions!

It's a crazy world we live in!

So, it's great to see a story like yours turn out the way it should.

Cheers

[John Bowen]

Ben,

That is just wonderful. Now, please let us know if you ever COLLECT any of the judgement.....

[QT Luong]

The infringer's behavior couldn't have been worse. They lied repeatedly, forged a licensing contract, and tried to intimidate the photographer with a counter-suit. Yet, they were fined only with a relatively modest $20,000. Look on the photographer's webpage to see everything he had to do. Had the photographer retained a lawyer, I am wondering if this would have been enough to even cover his costs ?

[Ben Chase]

This didn't happen to me - I just found it while perusing Slashdot...
I almost wish it had happened to me - the payoff might have been worth it.

[John Bowen]

Ben,

Sorry, I thought you were the victim. In the article they hinted that the corporation may have changed names or something like that. My thought was that the guilty corporation had probably filed for bankruptcy and the owner started a "Newly Formed" corporation (with absolutely no obligation to pay the photographer a single dime) to conitnue on the previous "business"..

Getting a favorable judgement is much easier then collecting a judgement. I wish the photographer the best in collecting the judgement.

[domenico Foschi]

And he represented himself in trial!
Now, that is truly impressive.
Way to go.

[John Berry]

This didn't happen to me - I just found it while perusing Slashdot...
I almost wish it had happened to me - the payoff might have been worth it.

Dang Ben, I was hoping to see what kind of new camera you would have next time we shoot at steptoe.

[Donald Miller]

While I am pleased about the judgment, collecting the award is another matter. It might be wise to see if this snake has taken steps to hide assets under the new business entity.

On the separate but related matter of criminal perjury, I believe that the claimant could file a report of criminal misconduct with the disctrict attorney of the applicable jurisdiction. It would seem a reasonable course to pursue in this case.