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Copyright Violation in Action: The Case of the Paul Kopeikin Gallery


National Writers Union Opinion

What follows is a letter to Marc J. Kopeikin, attorney for Paul Kopeikin, from Susan E. Davis, Grievance Officer, of the National Writers Union, of which I'm a founding member. As of this date -- February 12, 2003 -- the situation remains unresolved. You can retrace the development of this case via the links in this section. Updates will be posted here as the case unfolds.

-- A. D. C.

March 20, 2002

Marc J. Kopeikin
9454 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 600
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Dear Mr. Kopeikin:

I am writing on behalf of A. D. Coleman, a member of the National Writers Union (NWU). The NWU, an affiliate of the United Auto Workers, with more than 7,200 members, is committed to protecting writers' rights, to fostering communications among writers concerning acceptable industry practices, and to promoting the highest ethical standards regarding writers’ work.

According to documentation supplied by Mr. Coleman, his intellectual property was posted without his knowledge, permission, or payment on the Paul Kopeikin Gallery Web site (www.paulkopeikingallery.com). Such action violated Mr. Coleman’s intellectual property rights and constitutes, as the Supreme Court ruled in June 2001 case Tasini et al. v. The New York Times et al., an infringement of his copyright. A copy of the Times article detailing the decision is enclosed.

Since that ruling, three other cases have led to similar findings. The rulings against Napster have been widely publicized. Last fall the Supreme Court upheld the ruling in Greenberg v. National Geographic Society; the ruling found against National Geographic magazine, which had reproduced Greenberg’s photography on a CD-ROM without his knowledge, permission, or additional payment. In the case of Kelly v. Arriba Soft, Inc., which was decided on Feb. 6, 2002, the court found that photographer Les Kelly’s work had been harvested from his Web site and posted on the Arriba Soft Web database without his knowledge, permission, or payment. In all these cases the plaintiffs have successfully sued for damages to compensate for the theft and unethical use of their copyrighted materials.

Mr. Coleman sent Mr. Kopeikin a new invoice on March 15 for $3,868. Please see that a check for $3,868 is remitted to Mr. Coleman upon receipt of this letter or no later than April 3. Otherwise, he and the NWU will be forced to take further action.

If you wish to discuss this matter with me, you are welcome to call me at 212.989.6756. You may also write me at 258 West 22nd St., Apt. 4A, New York, NY 10011. Thank you for your prompt cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

/s/ Susan E. Davis
Grievance Officer, National Writers Union

cc: A. D. Coleman

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