Copyright Infringement Suit - Legal Briefs

This post from the Wall Street Journal Law Blog discusses the recent ruling in the copyright lawsuit against Westlaw and LexisNexis.  The judge has ruled that copyright registration is a prerequisite to filing a claim.

“Back in February, Raymond Bragar and Gregory Blue sued legal database providers Westlaw and LexisNexis, claiming they were engaged in the “unabashed wholesale copying of thousands of copyright-protected works” created and owned by lawyers and law firms. Those works, of course, are legal briefs.

But who really registers their legal briefs with the copyright office? Edward L. White, for one. He’s one of the plaintiffs, representing a purported class of lawyers who have gone to the trouble. Another plaintiff, Kenneth Elan, represents the vast majority of lawyers who have not.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan booted the would-be class of lawyers without registration from the lawsuit.”

 This will be an interesting one to watch.  Hopefully we’ll see some consideration for public access.

(dkh)