University Sued for Photo on Website
On October 16, 2019, photographer Julie Dermansky ("Dermansky") filed a complaint against the University of Colorado (“University”) for copyright infringement under sections 106 and 501 of the Copyright Act.
The disputed work is a photograph, owned and registered by Dermansky, of the ongoing pipeline construction work in Atchafalaya Basin (the “Photo”). Dermansky alleges that the University reproduced and publicly displayed the Photo in an article published on the Defendant’s website without license, permission, or consent.
Dermansky claims that the University's infringement was willful, and that pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(c), she is entitled to statutory damages up to $150,000 per work. Dermansky is seeking, among other things, either 1) actual damages and the University’s profits, gains, or advantages of any kind attributed to the infringement; or 2) statutory damages of up to $150,000 per copyrighted work infringed.