Extra! Extra! – SCOTUS clarifies copyright infringement lawsuit prerequisite

Description

Abstract: Authors of work obtain exclusive rights — copyrights — in their works immediately on creation of the work. But they generally can’t file a civil lawsuit for infringement of those rights until they register the work with the U.S. Copyright Office. The federal courts of appeal have split, however, as to when a copyright infringement suit could be filed — on filing the application for copyright registration with the Copyright Office or on grant of the copyright registration by that office. This article reviews a unanimous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court resolving the issue once and for all. Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-Street.com, LLC, No. 17-571, Jan. 8, 2019, U.S.S.C.