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<p>Just thinking out loud on the legal theory and (therefore)
jurisdiction. I think it might depend on whether the wrongdoing is
(1) the other authors deny that your client is also an author, (2)
they agree your client is an author, but deny that they deserve a
share of the prize, or (c) both.</p>
<p>If it's (1), a claim of repudiation of ownership is a federal
copyright claim with a three year time period running from the
time of the clear repudiation of ownership. I think it is pleaded
as a claim of ownership (i.e., not infringement) but I'm not 100%
sure how to properly plead it. I would find a some decisions on
challenges to ownership of copyright, which are fairly easy to
find, and go look at the complaints. I don't know whether the
claiming author has to have a registration (which I guess will be
informed by how the claim is styled), but that should be fairly
easy to figure out.<br>
</p>
<p>If its (2), I'm pretty sure it's a claim under state law for
disgorgement. A bell is ringing about a New York case, so maybe
that theory is specific to New York, but it's a starting point.</p>
<p>I guess if it's (3), you start in federal court to resolve part
(1) and then have the federal court decide (2) under its
supplemental jurisdiction.</p>
<p>That's all speculation, but you asked for theories!</p>
<p>Pam<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-signature">Pamela S. Chestek<br>
Chestek Legal<br>
300 Fayetteville St.<br>
Unit 2492<br>
Raleigh, NC 27602<br>
+1 919-800-8033<br>
pamela@chesteklegal<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.chesteklegal.com">www.chesteklegal.com</a></div>
<div class="moz-signature"><br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/18/2024 9:50 PM, Craig McLaughlin
via Copyright wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Trying to figure out what a joint author
(P) of architectural drawings can do to protect her rights.
Assume P is part of a team who supplied a proposal including
architectural drawings for a new building, of which P
contributed. The team won the competition, but then several
months ago P was cut out as to prize money and, of course, the
much larger fees going forward to complete the project.
Registration has not been applied for or determined (a
prerequisite to file an infringement claim) and such
registration I understand takes 6-7 months these days after
application, with more speed (not sure how much quicker?) for
an $800 special processing fee. It seems that statutory
damages and fees are unavailable under copyright law (, but
what of the use of the drawings going forward toward the
completion of the building where construction has not yet
commenced? Can actionable infringements going forward be
expected? Theories appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Craig McLaughlin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seal Beach, CA<o:p></o:p></p>
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