The Copyright Law Group To Represent Those Accused of Copyright Infringement

Aug. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- The Copyright Law Group, based in Fairfax, Virginia, assists those who are implicated in copyright infringement. The representation involves filing motions to prevent the disclosure of a user’s identity, litigation, and possibly resolving the matter out of court.
Law firms are conducting wide-ranging litigation and other enforcement campaigns against those who download movies and other copyrighted works without permission. News reports claim that 14,000 to 50,000 people in the U.S. alone are implicated.
Copyright infringement occurs when a person downloads a movie or other protected work without permission through a Peer-to-Peer (p2p) or similar network, usually with the use of torrent software. Many such copyrighted works contain tracking software that identifies the connection user (who is not necessarily the person who committed the infringement). The law protects copyright, and provides for “statutory damages” if someone infringes it. This means that the damages or penalties are predetermined, ranging from $750 to $150,000.

These enforcement actions usually begin by the law firms filing lawsuits against un-named Defendants (“John Does”) to find out the owners of the computers that were used in committing the copyright infringement. The law firms then subpoena the internet service providers (ISPs) for the names of the connection users. The ISPs usually notify the connection user that the law firm is seeking his or her identity. Thereafter, the law firms send out “demand letters” before any court action is filed, usually asking for a payment of $2,500 or more.

The time to act is when the ISP notifies the connection user that the law firm is seeking his or her identity. The connection user can then file a motion to “quash” the subpoena or file a motion to dismiss. This is usually done within 30 days and requires the assistance of a lawyer because the connection user should avoid disclosing his or her identity.

The Copyright Law Group offers those who are accused of copyright infringement effective representation. The firm assists by filing a motion to quash the subpoena that is seeking the connection user’s identity, defending the connection user in court, or possibly resolving the matter out of court if the connection user has irrefutable defenses.

The Copyright Law Group’s Partner Soyoung Lee is an experienced litigator in federal and state courts. Mike Meier, an experienced business attorney, is Of Counsel to the firm. Mr. Meier has filed many copyright registrations (including for his own works, as he is a musician when he is not a lawyer), and has litigated copyright matters in federal courts. Examples are Microsoft v. Federal Technologies, Inc. (Eastern District of Virginia, Case No. 01-1639-A), and Moubray’s Hair LLC v. Anu Day Spa (District of Columbia, Case No. 1:04cv00917 RMC).

“These law firm letters often tell you to talk to a lawyer, but also that hiring a lawyer is more expensive than just paying the penalty. That is not good advice. There are cost effective ways of defending such cases”, says Ms. Soyoung Lee.

“There are multiple reasons why the law firms may have tracked down the wrong person. For example, someone may have downloaded a movie by through a Wi-Fi network used by many people, or a minor child may have used the parents’ computer. Finally, there is the human or computer error factor, maybe the user was actually out of town when the alleged download occurred,” adds Mike Meier, of Counsel to the law firm. “Courts are still dealing with many unresolved issues in these cases where people allegedly download movies or other works from the internet.”

Meanwhile, the mass litigation and enforcement going on. The US Copyright Group, a  venture involving the Virginia law firm of Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, has sued at least 14,000 “John Doe” defendants who allegedly downloaded movies through Peer-2-Peer networks using software such as BitTorrent, uTorrent or Vuze. Their efforts involve movies including “The Hurt Locker,” “The Expendables,” “The Mechanic,” "Far Cry," and "The Gray Man." Their efforts are supported by the technology company Guardaley which identifies the connection users of the alleged illegal downloads. The US Copyright Group and other law firms then subpoena internet service provider (ISPs), such as Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, to identify the connection users.

Contact:

The Copyright Law Group
Ms. Soyoung Lee, Attorney at Law
4000 Legato Road, Suite 1100
Fairfax, Virginia 22033
Phone: (703) 385-3085
Email: contact@copyrightdefenselawyer.com
Website: http://www.copyrightdefenselawyer.com

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The Copyright Law Group, PLLC - Defending You Against Copyright Infringement Claims

Did you receive a letter from your ISP that a law firm is trying to find out your identity? Did you receive a “demand letter” from a law firm stating that you illegally downloaded a movie? Does it ask you to pay $2,500 or more? We can help.

Copyright infringement occurs when you download a movie or other protected work without permission through a peer-to-peer (p2p) or similar network. You should know that many of such copyrighted works contain tracking software.