Porkka v. University of South Florida, 17-cv-00245
On March 3, 2017, Antti Porkka filed a copyright infringement suit against the University of South Florida. In 1995, Porkka, a citizen of Finland, published a work of visual arts, “consisting of two unique vectored elements that abstractly depict the right and left half of the letter ‘H’.” Porkka alleges that USF made use of a “digitally identical … ‘H’ Logo.”
In response to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), USF started a “Navigator” program, to help enroll “Kids and Families” in the Health Insurance Marketplace. As part of the navigator program, USF used an “H” Logo, which Porkka alleges is substantially similar to his “H” Logo. In addition, Porkka alleges that USF “received revenue or profits as a direct result of their infringement” because USF “received remuneration for each person that they guided through the [Navigator program].” Porkka is seeking a permanent injunction from the use of the “H” logo, and monetary damages.