Federal court · No. 4:26-cv-01599-ALM
Van Trung Dinh filed a verified two-count copyright complaint on October 29, 2026, in the Eastern District of Texas, No. 4:26-cv-01599-ALM, against 115 defendants identified on a Schedule A filed under seal. He alleges the defendants sold greeting cards on Amazon, eBay, and Walmart that reproduce his registered artwork Christmas Snowman, VA 2-528-288, a registration that excludes AI-generated image components.
October 30, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 5:26-cv-06428
EVOX Productions LLC filed a two-count copyright complaint on October 29, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 5:26-cv-06428, against ByteDance Inc., ByteDance Ltd., and Does 1 through 10. It alleges ByteDance copied 7,095 registered EVOX vehicle photographs from the EvoxStock.com servers without authorization, says it is informed and believes the images were used to train the Seedream image generator, and alleges that Seedream generates images nearly identical to EVOX's. It pleads direct and contributory infringement and seeks statutory damages for each work.
October 30, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-09483-JGK
Linda Matlow filed a two-claim copyright complaint on October 29, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-09483-JGK, against Haute Living Inc., doing business as Haute Living, Haute Media LLC, and Does 1 through 10. She alleges, on information and belief, that the defendants posted her registered photograph of a cupcake shop on hauteliving.com without authorization, and alleges, on information and belief, that they removed her copyright management information and added false copyright management information.
October 30, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-09477-JPO
Global Weather Productions LLC filed a two-count copyright complaint on October 29, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-09477-JPO, against TEGNA Inc. It alleges that TEGNA, directly and through subsidiaries, reproduced and publicly displayed twelve registered severe-weather videos in 17 posts on the YouTube channels of ten of its local television stations without authorization, and it pleads direct and vicarious infringement. The complaint describes it as the second suit between the two companies in that court.
October 30, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-27682-JEM
Reflex MD, Inc. filed a nine-count complaint on October 29, 2026, in the Southern District of Florida, No. 1:26-cv-27682-JEM, against Dynamic Trading Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Join Layla, and Gabriel Vaturi, also known as Gabriel Zion Vaturi. It alleges that Dynamic Trading Enterprises copied substantial portions of the text, HTML, and appearance of Reflex MD's website for its competing semaglutide website at joinlayla.com, and pleads infringement of two registered website works, removal of copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202, Lanham Act trade dress infringement, Florida-law claims, and contributory and vicarious infringement claims against Vaturi.
October 30, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida · Michael P. Eddy
Seventh Circuit · No. 26-1957
On October 28, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal at screening of Calvin McMillan's copyright infringement suit against the National Football League and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. In a nonprecedential order in No. 26-1957, the court held that the phrases McMillan said were copied from his Green Bay Packers songs, including "Pack Attack," "Pack Is Back," and "Go Pack Go," are excluded from copyright protection under 37 CFR 202.1(a).
October 30, 2026 · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-12579-EMC
Glam and Glits Nail Design, Inc., doing business as Kiara Sky Professional Nails, filed an eight-count complaint on October 27, 2026, in the Northern District of California, No. 3:26-cv-12579-EMC, against Doe defendants 1 through 20 and Meta Platforms, Inc. It alleges the Does knowingly submitted six false Instagram copyright complaints against @kiaraskynails posts, that Meta removed the posts and deactivated the account, and that Meta has said it will permanently delete the account on or after January 17, 2027. Count One pleads misrepresentation of copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 512(f) against the Does.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-02333-MRH
Aleksandar Mihajlovic, an artist from Beograd, Serbia who also works as Alias Ching, filed a two-count complaint on October 27, 2026, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, No. 2:26-cv-02333-MRH, against online sellers listed on a Schedule A that is the subject of a motion to seal. It alleges the sellers sold products bearing 14 of his registered pattern designs on Amazon, Walmart, and Temu, and pleads copyright infringement and, upon information and belief, civil conspiracy.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 4:26-cv-09328
Image Professionals GmbH, doing business as StockFood, filed a one-count copyright infringement complaint on October 22, 2026, in the Southern District of Texas, No. 4:26-cv-09328, against I and M Restaurant, LLC, doing business as Marsalas Italian Grill. It alleges the Conroe, Texas restaurant displayed a professional spaghetti and meatballs photograph titled "00634692" on its website, social media, and/or printed media as advertising after the work was registered, without a license.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 5:26-cv-12225-VKD
Supergame Pte. Ltd. filed a three-count complaint on October 20, 2026, in the Northern District of California, No. 5:26-cv-12225-VKD, against Stick Hunter FZE LLC and Game District LLC (M S Game Notch). It alleges the defendants copied its registered mobile puzzle game Snake Escape into competing apps Snake Out and Snake's Way Out, then submitted October 14, 2026 DMCA notices that caused Google to remove Snake Escape from the Google Play Store. Counts include copyright infringement, knowing material misrepresentation under 17 U.S.C. 512(f), and declaratory relief.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 4:26-cv-00981
Moxie Pest Control, LP filed a two-count copyright and DMCA copyright-management-information complaint on April 7, 2026, against Echo Pest Control, LLC. It was filed in the District of Nebraska as No. 8:26-cv-00149-JFB-JMD. On September 18, 2026, that court granted Echo's motion to transfer venue, and the case was docketed in the Western District of Missouri on October 20, 2026 as No. 4:26-cv-00981. It alleges Echo reproduced Moxie's registered Sales Guide after receiving it from a Moxie licensee and altered the guide's copyright management information.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12627
OTTO Archive, LLC filed a four-count copyright complaint on October 28, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12627, against Snyder-Diamond and Viking Range, LLC f/k/a Middleby Residential, LLC. It alleges the home-improvement retailer displayed a registered kitchen-range photograph after receiving it from Viking Range, and that Viking Range published additional registered interior photographs in its own marketing, without a license, and it alleges, on information and belief, that the defendants copied the works from the internet or, as to Snyder-Diamond, received them from Viking Range rather than seeking a license.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 9:26-cv-81469
August Image, LLC filed a two-count copyright complaint on October 28, 2026, in the Southern District of Florida, No. 9:26-cv-81469, against Bright Mountain Media, Inc. d/b/a CafeMom, d/b/a LittleThings, and d/b/a MamasLatinas. It alleges the publisher displayed eighteen registered photographs from photographers it represents on its websites and social media without a license, and it alleges, on information and belief, that the defendant copied the works from the internet rather than seeking a license.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12615
Simon Stephenson filed a two-claim copyright complaint on October 28, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12615, against Alexander Payne, David Hemingson, Mark Johnson, production and distribution companies including Gran Via Productions LLC, Honest Scholar Productions, LLC, Miramax entities, Focus Features LLC, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment LLC, and NBCUniversal Media, LLC, and Does 1-10. He alleges The Holdovers screenplay and film copied protected expression from his registered screenplay Frisco, and he alleges, on information and belief, that Payne removed Frisco's copyright-management information in violation of 17 U.S.C. 1202.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-13054
Popilush, LLC filed a three-count complaint on October 22, 2026, in the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:26-cv-13054, against the partnerships and unincorporated associations identified on Schedule A. Its copyright count alleges the defendants copied two registered works, VA 2-487-576 and VA 2-506-278, in selling shapewear online. Copyright Office records list Popilush as claimant of the second and an individual as author and claimant of the first.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-13164
Lantern Press, LLC filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 26, 2026, in the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:26-cv-13164, against the partnerships and unincorporated associations identified on Schedule A. It alleges the defendants sold products derived from five of its registered illustrations through interactive online stores that, on information and belief, have sold to Illinois residents.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 9:26-cv-81463
OTTO Archive, LLC filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 27, 2026, in the Southern District of Florida, No. 9:26-cv-81463, against Bright Mountain Media, Inc. d/b/a CafeMom, d/b/a LittleThings, and d/b/a MamasLatinas. It alleges the publisher displayed eleven registered photographs to which OTTO holds exclusive rights on its website and social media without a license.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 6:26-cv-05186
The Brand Leader, Inc. filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 27, 2026, in the District of South Carolina, No. 6:26-cv-05186, against DE-KOR by Mile High Balusters, Inc. d/b/a DEKOR Lighting. It alleges that after a terminated website-migration agreement, DEKOR kept using Brand Leader-created Shopify website content, webpage designs, and photographs without a license or written transfer, and it asserts two photograph registrations, VAu 1-601-035 and VA 2-528-181. It demands a jury.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12539
Calan Beasley filed a two-count copyright complaint on October 27, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12539, against Commerce Media Holdings, LLC, which he alleges owns and operates the Pigeons & Planes brand. He alleges the company reproduced and publicly displayed four of his registered performance videos on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok without a license, and he demands a jury.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-14845
Tingting Liao filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 27, 2026, in the District of Massachusetts, No. 1:26-cv-14845, against four Amazon storefronts captioned Hooyoo, Janmoon, ONLYHIM, and XYTIDUKEJI. The complaint alleges that the storefronts offer products containing reproductions or derivative works of Liao's registered 2D leaf artwork without authorization, and alleges, on information and belief, that the defendants reside in China and are owned or commonly controlled by the same infringer(s). Liao demands a jury.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-09398 (S.D.N.Y.); No. 1:26-cv-14024 (D.N.J.)
Michael Kelley, an architectural photographer, filed two one-count copyright complaints on October 27, 2026: No. 1:26-cv-09398 in the Southern District of New York against Stylarc, LLC, over five photographs he alleges appeared on stylarc.com without authorization, and No. 1:26-cv-14024 in the District of New Jersey against Colminex USA, LLC, over two photographs he alleges appeared on acbusinesscenter.com without authorization. Both plead willful infringement and demand a jury.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-14105
Coating Equipment Technology, Inc. filed a copyright complaint on October 27, 2026 in the Eastern District of Michigan, No. 2:26-cv-14105, against Total Finishing Solutions, LLC, Pittsburgh Spray Equipment Company, and Clearwater Industries, LLC d/b/a Spraywell. It alleges that each defendant used photographs covered by the plaintiff's group registrations on its own commercial website to promote products for sale, without authorization, and that the infringement was knowing and willful.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan · Michael P. Eddy
Copyright Office · Docket No. 2026-4
The U.S. Copyright Office published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the tenth triennial rulemaking under 17 U.S.C. 1201(a)(1) on October 28, 2026 (91 FR 67788, Docket No. 2026-4). The Office says the Register intends to recommend renewal of every existing exemption except the medical device repair exemption, which the Office found drew meaningful opposition and which it will now consider as part of one of ten proposed classes of new or expanded exemptions. Initial comments are due December 7, 2026, opposition comments February 22, 2027, and reply comments March 22, 2027.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. Copyright Office · Michael P. Eddy
Seventh Circuit · No. 25-3336
On October 26, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Charles Bowman and Jean-Marie Robine on the Center for Gestalt Development's copyright infringement claims over the unpublished article "Psychopathology of Awareness," which they reproduced in a book. In No. 25-3336, the court held that the Center's 1991 rights in a collection of unpublished manuscripts gave it no copyright in the article itself, and that when it acquired the article's copyright in 2021, it took it subject to an earlier irrevocable oral license to the two.
October 29, 2026 · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12332
Elliot McGucken filed a two-claim copyright complaint on October 22, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12332, against Spyne AI Inc. He alleges, on information and belief, that Spyne copied and displayed his registered landscape photograph on a car-photography blog post at spyne.ai without authorization. He also alleges that his counsel sent Spyne a cease and desist demand on February 19, 2025 and that the defendants did not meaningfully respond.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-11969
Elliot McGucken filed a two-claim copyright complaint on October 14, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-11969, against San Diego Honey Company Inc. and GDS Platforms Inc. doing business as Eternity Essentials. He alleges, on information and belief, that the defendants copied and displayed his registered landscape photograph on Amazon storefronts without authorization. He also alleges that his counsel sent San Diego Honey a cease and desist demand on June 5, 2025, and that the photograph has not been removed.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12200
Amber May Lowe filed a copyright complaint on October 19, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12200, against Bissell Homecare, Inc. She alleges Bissell used her registered sound recording Oh, I wasn't sad as the audio of a December 26, 2024 advertisement on its @bissellclean TikTok page without a license, and that the video stayed up after written notice until on or about May 27, 2026.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12270
Steps Apparel Group, Inc. filed a four-claim complaint on October 20, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12270, against Emme, Inc. doing business as Rain & Rose. It alleges that Rain & Rose offered garments on its website with fabric designs identical to three of Steps' registered fabric designs, and seeks an injunction, damages or statutory damages, and other relief under the Copyright Act and California law.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12473
Film producer Marisa Polvino, suing individually and derivatively for OLF Productions, LLC, filed a verified complaint with 21 causes of action on October 25, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12473, over a planned film of Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. She alleges that the project, its development funds, and the film rights were moved out of OLF and away from her, and she sues fellow OLF member Kate Cohen, MarVista Entertainment, Fox entities, Anthony Robbins, his production company, and two other companies. Three counts allege infringement of OLF's registered, unpublished screenplay materials, and the complaint says all three registrations took effect after the alleged infringement began.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12510
Photographer Tony Kelly, two models, and the estate of a third model filed a six-claim complaint on October 26, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12510, against Pipes & Shaw, LLC doing business as Veronica Beard and the brand's two founders. Kelly alleges the defendants posted an altered copy of his registered fine art photograph Club Paradiso on Instagram to advertise handbags without a license, and the model plaintiffs allege the post used the models' likenesses without consent.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12481
SCR 25 Inc. filed a copyright complaint on October 26, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12481, against Amie Potsic Art Advisory, LLC. It alleges the art-advisory firm reproduced and publicly displayed on its website, without authorization, an altered copy of a registered 1992 photograph of Jerry Garcia, captioned as another artist's print and used to invite sales inquiries.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-06737
An amended complaint filed October 22, 2026 in the Eastern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-06737, alleges that Black Forest Labs Inc. copied 236 sound recordings and compositions by the band The American Dollar to train its FLUX generative AI platform. Poseidon Wave Media LLC pleads copyright infringement, a New York trade secret claim, a federal trade secret claim under 18 U.S.C. 1836, and anticircumvention under 17 U.S.C. 1201, and seeks statutory damages up to $150,000 per work.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12500
Susan Nicholson Hofheinz filed a two-count complaint on October 26, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12500, against Echelon Studios, Inc., Future Today, Inc. d/b/a Fawesome.tv, Plex, Inc., Versant Media Group, Inc. d/b/a Fandango, Play Now Media, LLC d/b/a Trashy Horror Movies, and Does. She alleges that she exclusively owns "IT Conquered The World," "Invasion Of The Saucer Men," "The Amazing Colossal Man," and "I Was a Teenage Frankenstein," and alleges, on information and belief, that Echelon distributed the films and two derivative films to the other defendants, which displayed, distributed, or otherwise used them on their websites without her authorization.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-01398
Neil Young, doing business as Silver Fiddle Music, filed a copyright complaint on October 26, 2026 in the Eastern District of Virginia, No. 3:26-cv-01398, against Trump 47 Committee, Inc. and five Doe defendants. He alleges the committee caused his song Rockin' in the Free World to be publicly performed without a license at an October 12, 2026 rally in Youngstown, Ohio, and seeks an injunction and $10,000,000 in damages.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-02296
Nahiely de Jesus Velazquez Gonzalez, an artist who sells her work under the Akbaly brand, filed a two-count complaint on October 22, 2026 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, No. 2:26-cv-02296, against online sellers listed on a Schedule A that is the subject of a motion to seal. It alleges the sellers sold products bearing her registered designs on Amazon, Walmart, and Temu, and pleads copyright infringement and, upon information and belief, civil conspiracy.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-04046
Sumfinidade Unipessoal LDA filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 22, 2026 in the Western District of Washington, No. 2:26-cv-04046, against Seagull Software, LLC. It alleges the Redmond software company used a sunset panorama of Madrid on a slide of a BarTender sales presentation without a license.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-13784
Rockefeller Photos, LLC filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 22, 2026 in the District of New Jersey, No. 1:26-cv-13784, against Spicy Affair Incorporated. It alleges the Swedesboro, New Jersey restaurant displayed a professional photograph of vegetable kabobs for its business without a license.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12403
MMAS Research LLC filed a five-count complaint on October 23, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12403, against Genentech, Inc., GE HealthCare Technologies Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and ten Doe defendants. It alleges the companies administered, scored or published the MMAS-8 medication adherence scale in clinical studies outside its registered Morisky Widget software, and pleads copyright infringement, removal of copyright management information, trade secret misappropriation, breach of a license against BMS, and declaratory relief.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-04476
Lynk Media LLC filed a three-count copyright complaint on October 26, 2026 in the District of Maryland, No. 1:26-cv-04476, against Sinclair, Inc., Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC, Sinclair Television Group, Inc. and KEYE Licensee, LLC. It alleges that on March 29, 2026, the day the video was posted on X, the defendants embedded it in a National Desk story on cbsaustin.com and, on information and belief, other station websites, without a license.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-01689
Broadcast Music, Inc. and eight music publishers filed a copyright complaint on October 23, 2026 in the Middle District of Tennessee, No. 3:26-cv-01689, against 701 Gallatin Pike Bar & Restuarant LLC, doing business as The Lucky Nut, and one of its members. They allege, on information and belief, that five songs in BMI's repertoire were publicly performed at the establishment without a license, and allege that BMI contacted the defendants more than 70 times since October 2025.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-01206
Broadcast Music, Inc. and four music publishers filed a copyright complaint on October 23, 2026 in the Middle District of Louisiana, No. 3:26-cv-01206, against Small Town Daiquiris, LLC and two of its members. They allege, on information and belief, that four songs, including Merle Haggard's Mama Tried, were publicly performed at the Clinton, Louisiana establishment on August 14, 2026 without a license, and they say BMI contacted the defendants more than 40 times since July 2025.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 4:26-cv-09372
Bee Creek Photography LLC filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 23, 2026 in the Southern District of Texas, No. 4:26-cv-09372, against Lov3 Restaurant & Lounge, LLC. It alleges the Houston company posted a nighttime aerial photograph of the Houston skyline to its Instagram account without a license.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-12214
Avanti Press, Inc. filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 6, 2026 in the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:26-cv-12214, against 208 online stores listed on Schedule A. It alleges the stores sold products copying its "Cat Reading Newspaper" greeting card image, registered as VA 1-748-967. On October 7, Judge Jorge L. Alonso questioned whether the 208 defendants can be joined in one action, and on October 16 Avanti Press filed a memorandum defending joinder.
October 27, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 5:26-cv-12473
ABG EPE IP LLC, Raleigh Music Publishing LLC, Abilene Music LLC, three trusts and their trustees, and Jason Simeon Aberbach filed a three-count complaint against Anthropic PBC on October 23, 2026, in the Northern District of California, No. 5:26-cv-12473. They allege, on information and belief, that lyrics from 274 compositions recorded by Elvis Presley were in the datasets Anthropic used to train its Claude models, and they allege that Anthropic kept the works in a permanent internal library and generates infringing outputs and derivative works through Claude. Alongside willful infringement of the 274 works, the complaint pleads circumvention of access controls under 17 U.S.C. 1201 and removal of copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202.
October 26, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-01682
Music L.A.A. filed a five-count complaint on October 23, 2026, in the Middle District of Tennessee, No. 3:26-cv-01682, against Fans First Entertainment, LLC, d/b/a The Savannah Bananas, a performer known as "The Glove Magician," and Does. It alleges that two TikTok videos used its registered musical work "Boo (original drum composition)" without a license, and that Fans First uploaded the audio to its official account labeled as the Savannah Bananas' own sound, which the complaint pleads as false copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202(a).
October 26, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-12262
A complaint filed October 6, 2026 in the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:26-cv-12262, alleges that online stores listed on Schedule A sold products copying images from Avanti Press greeting cards. It pleads one count of copyright infringement on ten registrations and seeks injunctions, actual or statutory damages, and fees. After Judge April M. Perry questioned the joinder of 200 defendants, Avanti Press filed an amended Schedule A listing one.
October 26, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-01026
A pro se verified complaint filed October 19, 2026 in the District of Utah, No. 2:26-cv-01026, alleges that KSTU, LLC d/b/a FOX 13 News Utah, three Scripps companies and six individuals broadcast and posted John Earle Sullivan's registered video of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 without a license. It pleads copyright infringement, a claim under 17 U.S.C. 1202(b) over his JAYDEN X watermark, and ten Utah state-law claims. The case is assigned to Judge Tena Campbell.
October 26, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Utah · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-09270
A complaint filed October 22, 2026 in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-09270, alleges, on information and belief, that Booking Holdings Inc. and Agoda Company Pte. Ltd., which it describes as a Booking subsidiary, used a registered photograph by landscape photographer Elliot McGucken in Agoda travel guides on agoda.com, and alleges that neither had a license. It pleads direct and vicarious or contributory infringement and seeks an injunction, profits and losses or statutory damages, and fees.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12254
A complaint filed October 20, 2026 in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12254, alleges, on information and belief, that TH2connect, LLC d/b/a Roadpass Digital and its subsidiary Roadtrippers LLC displayed a registered landscape photograph by Elliot McGucken in a Roadtrippers magazine article without authorization. It pleads infringement, vicarious and contributory infringement, and, on information and belief, false and removed copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-05362 (D. Colo.); No. 1:26-cv-03756 (D.D.C.)
A complaint filed October 20, 2026 in the District of Colorado, No. 1:26-cv-05362, alleges that America's Real Voice LLC d/b/a Real America's Voice broadcast Michelle Ong's registered video of protestors blocking a road in Black Rock Desert, Nevada in a September 2023 segment without a license. It pleads one count of direct infringement and seeks damages, an injunction, and fees. On October 27, 2026 she filed a second complaint over the same video, in the District of Columbia, No. 1:26-cv-03756, against Bentley Media Group LLC, which she alleges operates Just the News and showed the video on its website, Rumble, and Facebook.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Courts for the District of Colorado and the District of Columbia · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-12865
A complaint filed October 20, 2026 in the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:26-cv-12865, alleges that Red First, LLC and Duy Trinh sold an infringing version of Elizaveta Negru's registered gift wrapping paper illustrations on TheRedFirst.com. It pleads willful copyright infringement and seeks a temporary restraining order and injunctions, damages or statutory damages, and fees.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-02270
A complaint filed October 20, 2026 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, No. 2:26-cv-02270, alleges that online sellers listed on a Schedule A that is the subject of a motion to seal sold infringing copies of five registered illustrations by Franziska Paetzold on Amazon, Walmart, and Temu. It pleads copyright infringement and civil conspiracy and seeks injunctions, platform orders, damages or statutory damages, punitive damages, and fees.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-02287
A complaint filed October 21, 2026 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, No. 2:26-cv-02287, alleges that online sellers listed on a Schedule A that is the subject of a motion to seal sold infringing copies of 27 registered designs by Kateryna Shamanska on Amazon, Walmart, and Temu. It pleads copyright infringement and civil conspiracy and seeks injunctions, platform orders, damages or statutory damages, punitive damages, and fees.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 4:26-cv-05006
Sculptor Jennifer L. Cook filed a two-count copyright complaint on October 21, 2026 in the District of South Carolina, No. 4:26-cv-05006, against House Parts, Inc. and Lacy Lee Paulussen. She alleges that House Parts copied her registered sculpture, Matched Pair of Rattlesnake Entrance Sculpture, and sold copies through its eBay store, and that Paulussen, whom the complaint alleges on information and belief is the company's owner, is vicariously liable. She seeks an injunction, damages or statutory damages, seizure and impoundment under 17 U.S.C. § 503, and fees.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-00486
In a memorandum opinion and order filed October 21, 2026 in Larsen v. Ovation-Worldwide Holdings, LLC, No. 1:26-cv-00486 (S.D.N.Y.), Judge John G. Koeltl held that the parties' January 2024 Contract of Acquisition transferred copyright ownership in the Qualibee software code to Ovation when it was signed, dismissed the copyright, DMCA, and unjust enrichment counts with prejudice, and sent the remaining breach of contract count to arbitration, staying the case.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:21-cv-00690
In an order filed October 22, 2026 in Jacobs v. The Journal Publishing Company, No. 1:21-cv-00690 (D.N.M.), Senior Judge Martha Vazquez adopted the magistrate judge's recommendation and granted summary judgment to the newspaper defendants on the DMCA claim, all tort claims, and every copyright claim for damages, profits, and fees. Michael Jacobs' direct infringement claims for injunctive relief against the Journal and three individuals, and one contributory claim for injunctive relief tied to a nonparty website, remain, with fair use left as a fact question.
October 23, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-05581
In orders on October 21 and 22, 2026 in No. 1:26-cv-05581 (N.D. Ill.), a copyright case by an artist over animal illustrations against 34 Schedule A defendants, Judge Charles P. Kocoras found personal jurisdiction over lacemylife.com and favomens.com but severed them as improperly joined, and granted a preliminary injunction against amoiss.com with the asset restraint limited to $38.48, the amount amoiss.com said it made from the accused shirt. It also found amoiss.com improperly joined and set a November 6, 2026 joint status report on whether the parties can resolve the matter before a new case is opened.
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:22-cv-06157
In a memorandum decision signed October 13, 2026 in MCM Group 22 LLC v. Perry, No. 1:22-cv-06157 (S.D.N.Y.), Judge George B. Daniels denied the prevailing defendant's motion for attorney's fees under 17 U.S.C. 505, agreeing with the magistrate judge that MCM's claim over a still frame reposted on social media, though dismissed on fair use grounds, was objectively reasonable and not improperly motivated.
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:23-cv-03665
On October 13, 2026, in No. 1:23-cv-03665 (S.D.N.Y.), Judge Victor Marrero denied a pro se plaintiff's motion to reconsider the July 20 award of attorneys' fees to Warner Bros. Discovery, HBO, and Grand Street Media Holdings in a dismissed copyright case, but granted Rule 60(a) relief correcting two arithmetic errors, setting WBD's costs at $505.01 and Grand Street's fees at $30,640.87.
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:25-md-03143; No. 1:26-cv-08892
In an October 15, 2026 order in In re OpenAI, Inc. Copyright Infringement Litigation, No. 1:25-md-03143 (S.D.N.Y.), relating to USA Today Co., Inc. et al. v. OpenAI Foundation et al., No. 1:26-cv-08892, Judge Sidney H. Stein ordered the plaintiffs to show cause in writing by October 30, 2026 why their case should not be stayed pending resolution of summary judgment motions in the other active MDL cases. Any response from the defendants is due November 6.
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 4:26-cv-13928
Music L.A.A., Inc., doing business as LAA Music, and Zac Hiller filed a copyright complaint on October 15, 2026, in the Eastern District of Michigan, No. 4:26-cv-13928, against Oner Active USA LLC. It alleges sixteen promotional videos for Oner Active apparel, posted by its ambassadors and affiliates and viewed more than 1,058,000 times, use three registered works without a license. TikTok labeled two of the videos as paid advertisements. It pleads direct, contributory, and vicarious infringement.
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-09115
What Do You Meme, LLC, doing business as Relatable, filed a five-count complaint on October 16, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-09115, against Zenliv Limited, doing business as Taipan Tech, which it alleges, on information and belief, is a Hong Kong company. It alleges Zenliv's Amazon listings display images copied from four registered images of its Emotional Support plush toys and sell plush under names such as EMOTIONAL COMFORT & SUPPORT DUMPLINGS. It pleads copyright infringement and Lanham Act and New York trademark claims.
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-01225
I Love Amiguita, Inc. and J & N Publishing, doing business as Juan & Nelson Publishing, filed a copyright complaint on October 19, 2026, in the Middle District of North Carolina, No. 1:26-cv-01225, against Salon Degollado & Special Events, LLC and an individual it alleges, on information and belief, is an officer, managing member, or owner. It alleges four unlicensed public performances of their musical compositions at Macarena's Nightclub in Greensboro after ASCAP license offers were refused, and asks for statutory damages of $750 to $30,000 per work.
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-00385
Dow Jones & Company, Inc. filed a copyright complaint on October 20, 2026, in the Southern District of Ohio, No. 3:26-cv-00385, against accounting firm Bradstreet & Company, Inc. and its founder and owner. It alleges the firm reproduced about 79 articles from The Wall Street Journal in full between 2019 and 2026 on its website, social media, email list, and MailChimp archive, often in a "Tax Tip of the Week" series naming its founder as "This Week's Author." It seeks damages, profits or statutory damages, and an injunction.
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-12305
Reservoir Media Management, Inc. and two affiliated UK companies filed a three-count complaint against Suno, Inc. on October 21, 2026, in the Northern District of California, No. 3:26-cv-12305. They allege Suno copied 1,050 musical compositions listed in Exhibit A to train its AI music generator, in part by stream ripping YouTube and scraping licensed platforms, removed copyright management information, and generates infringing outputs. The complaint puts statutory damages for willful infringement of the 1,050 works at $157,500,000 under 17 U.S.C. 504(c).
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 5:26-cv-12308
On the same day it sued Suno, Reservoir Media Management, Inc. and two affiliated UK companies filed a three-count complaint against Anthropic PBC on October 21, 2026, in the Northern District of California, No. 5:26-cv-12308. They allege Anthropic copied lyrics from 853 compositions to train its Claude models, in part through web scraping and third-party datasets, kept them in a permanent internal library, removed copyright management information, and generates infringing outputs and derivative works. The complaint puts statutory damages for willful infringement of the 853 works at $127,950,000 under 17 U.S.C. 504(c).
October 22, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-02837
Bucks Holsters LLC, a holster maker in Cape Coral, Florida, filed a twelve-count complaint on October 19, 2026, in the Middle District of Florida, No. 2:26-cv-02837, against T5 Investments LLC d/b/a Tyson Holsters, Trevin Tyson, and DeMarkus Drumwright. It alleges that the Virginia competitor copied the text of two registered eBay product listings and its registered eBay About summary, and imitated a listing slogan. It also alleges, on information and belief, that the competitor sent social-media platforms takedown notices targeting its content, and it brings a claim for knowing misrepresentation under 17 U.S.C. 512(f). Other counts allege trade dress, unfair competition, trade secret, interference, and defamation claims.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-01804-KAD
Mark M. Kratter, Boris Zuborev, and Eugene Finkelberg filed a complaint on October 16, 2026, in the District of Connecticut, No. 3:26-cv-01804-KAD, against Nike, Inc., Converse, Inc., TBL Licensing LLC d/b/a Timberland, and Nordstrom, Inc. They allege that Converse, Nike, and Timberland footwear copies sculptural elements of six sneakers and boots that Zuborev and Finkelberg made in 1992. According to the complaint, the Copyright Office refused registration on September 16, 2025, on the ground that the works are useful articles lacking separable copyrightable features, and the plaintiffs sue under 17 U.S.C. 411(a), which the complaint says authorizes the action notwithstanding the refusal.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 8:26-cv-03042
Melanie Born and her company, EDA Public Relations, Inc., filed a one-claim copyright complaint on October 15, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 8:26-cv-03042, against Group Voyagers, Inc. and Does 1 to 10. They allege that after Group Voyagers ended EDA's public relations engagement on July 14, 2026, it kept using messaging playbooks, website landing pages, emails, and other copy Born wrote for the Globus family of brands, five of which are registered, without a license.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · Nos. 2:26-cv-03983, 1:26-cv-14727, 4:26-cv-01795, 2:26-cv-00505, 1:26-cv-13579, 2:26-cv-13981
On October 19, 2026, ASCAP member copyright owners filed six copyright complaints in six federal districts against companies that operate six venues, including bars, lounges, and a hotel, together with individuals alleged to own or run them. Each complaint alleges that the venue publicly performed the plaintiffs' songs without a license after the defendants refused ASCAP's license offers, and each seeks a permanent injunction, statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. 504(c), and costs with a reasonable attorney's fee; five of the six state a range of $750 to $30,000 per cause of action.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Courts: W.D. Wash., D. Mass., E.D. Mo., N.D. Ind., D.N.J., E.D. Mich. · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12212
Elliot McGucken filed a two-claim copyright complaint on October 19, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12212, against PIPELINE Advisors LLC, doing business as Kinute, and Does 1 to 10. He alleges, on information and belief, that the defendants copied and displayed three of his landscape photographs on kinute.com without authorization, and that they did not meaningfully respond to a May 16, 2025 cease and desist demand.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-07625
Premier Fitness Systems, LLC, which owns and operates a gym in Phoenix, Arizona, filed a three-count complaint on October 19, 2026, in the District of Arizona, No. 2:26-cv-07625, against Karen Parker Davidson, who the complaint alleges, upon information and belief, is a resident of Annapolis, Maryland. It alleges that her three copyright reports to Meta on or about December 30, 2025 led Meta to suspend its @projectairway Instagram account, and that the reports were misrepresentations actionable under 17 U.S.C. 512(f). It also pleads tortious interference and trade libel.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-04380
Storm chaser and videographer Aaron Rigsby filed a three-count copyright complaint on October 20, 2026, in the District of Maryland, No. 1:26-cv-04380, against Sinclair, Inc., Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC, Sinclair Television Group, Inc., and WGXA Licensee, LLC. He alleges that about 31 minutes after he posted his video of the Hurricane Helene storm surge in Steinhatchee, Florida, the defendants posted portions of it with "WGXA NEWS" branding as a YouTube Short on the account of WGXA, the Macon, Georgia station, and that it is still up after his counsel's letters. He alleges Sinclair attributed the use to an agreement with CNN Newsource, which he says had no right to distribute the video to the defendants.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:23-cv-03417-VC (TSH)
In a discovery order dated October 19, 2026, captioned in Kadrey v. Meta Platforms, Inc., No. 3:23-cv-03417, and four related Northern District of California cases, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson granted non-party Fox Corp.'s motion for a protective order and ordered the plaintiffs to destroy unredacted Fox license documents that Meta had inadvertently produced. The order also requires Meta to identify every person who made, authorized, or approved decisions to obtain or download shadow library datasets containing Entrepreneur Media's works, and it grants in part a parallel request about BitTorrent downloads.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12191
Matthew Michael Hobbs filed a two-count copyright complaint against The Kroger Co. on October 19, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12191. He alleges Kroger's @kroger TikTok account posted a promotional video on March 10, 2023 using his song Cheese Tax, taken from his user-uploaded original sound rather than TikTok's Commercial Music Library, and kept it up for more than three years until about April 23, 2026.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-12137
Paul Levine, 58 other authors, and two companies the complaint says two of the authors own or control filed a four-count complaint against Meta Platforms, Inc. on October 19, 2026, in the Northern District of California, No. 3:26-cv-12137. Filed the same day as Winspear v. Meta Platforms, Inc., No. 3:26-cv-12100, by the same counsel, it makes the same allegations about shadow-library downloads, torrenting, removal of copyright management information, and the book-scanning operation the complaints call "Project Vellum," on behalf of a different set of plaintiffs.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-06727
Architecture photographer Morgan Howarth filed a two-count copyright complaint against Etsy, Inc. on October 19, 2026, in the Eastern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-06727. He alleges that Etsy copied and displayed his photograph of a home interior on a Pinterest post that linked to an Etsy listing, and pleads in the alternative that Etsy is vicariously liable for infringement it alleges, on information and belief, an unnamed third party committed.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-06695
Cuong Nguyen, who designs and sells felt children's activity books, filed a complaint on October 18, 2026, in the Eastern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-06695, against Joan Okwose, d/b/a jojoxgifts, an Etsy seller the complaint places in Walsall, United Kingdom. He alleges her listings reproduce four of his registered busy books page by page, and that her DMCA counter-notification falsely swore the listings were removed by mistake, in violation of 17 U.S.C. 512(f). He pleads personal jurisdiction based on her consent in that counter-notification to jurisdiction where Etsy is located.
October 21, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-09037
What Do You Meme, LLC filed a five-count complaint on October 14, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-09037, against IdeaStage Promotions LLC, an Arizona company. It alleges IdeaStage sells Emotional Support plush toy sets in bulk on its website that copy photographs and products covered by What Do You Meme's copyright registrations and use its registered EMOTIONAL SUPPORT mark. On the copyright count it seeks, as an alternative to actual damages and profits, statutory damages of $150,000 for each of at least six works.
October 20, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-03635
Universal Music Corporation, Boomer X Publishing, Inc., Dead Game Publishing, and W Chappell Music Corp. d/b/a WC Music Corp. filed a three-count copyright complaint on October 19, 2026, in the District of Columbia, No. 1:26-cv-03635, against Culture L.L.C. and four individuals alleged, on information and belief, to be its principals. They allege the defendants publicly performed Party Up (Up in Here), Another Love, and Gonna Make You Sweat at the Vera/Culture venue without a license after refusing ASCAP license offers made since June 2023, and seek an injunction, statutory damages, and attorneys' fees.
October 20, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-12100
Jacqueline Winspear and 59 other authors filed a four-count complaint against Meta Platforms, Inc. on October 19, 2026, in the Northern District of California, No. 3:26-cv-12100. They allege Meta trained its Llama models on books from shadow libraries obtained in part by torrenting, removed copyright management information, and separately scanned purchased print books to train its Muse models. The plaintiffs say they chose not to file a class action so that a jury can set individualized statutory damages for each of them.
October 20, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-04368
Photographer Jesse Korman filed a three-count copyright complaint on October 19, 2026, in the District of Maryland, No. 1:26-cv-04368, against Sinclair, Inc., Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC, Sinclair Television Group, Inc., and 19 station licensee companies. He alleges a photograph he took in 2016 was published without a license on at least 20 station websites beginning in February 2019 and remains displayed. He pleads that the photograph's registration took effect on February 8, 2019, before the first alleged publication, which he says makes statutory damages and attorneys' fees available under 17 U.S.C. 412.
October 20, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:24-cv-04274 (JLR) (BCM)
In Cengage Learning Inc. v. Google LLC, No. 1:24-cv-04274, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses of the Southern District of New York on October 19, 2026 denied the plaintiffs' motion for reconsideration or clarification of a May 8, 2026 order that vacated sampling discovery on Google's handling of takedown notices for 300 domains unrelated to the works in suit, entered after Google withdrew its DMCA safe harbor defense under 17 U.S.C. 512. The order says the May ruling limited discovery only and did not decide whether evidence about Google's DMCA policy is admissible at summary judgment or trial.
October 19, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-12115
Aviel Calev Hirschfield filed a one-count copyright complaint on October 16, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-12115, against Aubrey Drake Graham (Drake), OVO Sound LLC, UMG Recordings, Inc., Universal Music Publishing, Inc., and Does 1 to 20. He alleges the chorus of Drake's song Janice STFU, released on or about May 15, 2026, is identical in lyrics, melody, and cadence to a chorus he wrote and recorded in January 2026 and sent to producers who work with Drake. He seeks actual damages and profits or, alternatively, statutory damages, plus attorneys' fees.
October 19, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-00856
Amber Jordan Holston filed a three-count complaint on October 9, 2026, in the Western District of North Carolina, No. 3:26-cv-00856, against R5 Brands LLC d/b/a True Nutra. She alleges True Nutra used four of her registered videos, and her face, likeness and voice, in at least 12 active paid Meta advertisements for a supplement she never used or endorsed. The counts are copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501, North Carolina misappropriation of likeness, and unfair and deceptive trade practices under N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-1.1.
October 17, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-12656
Michael Brown and Lawn Music Company, filing without a lawyer, sued the Estate of Willie C. Cobbs, executor Phillip Cobbs, and Latasha Cobbs Carthans on October 15, 2026, in the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:26-cv-12656. The complaint alleges a January 28, 1971 songwriter agreement gave Lawn Music 100% of the publishing rights in "Slow Down, Baby" and "Hoppin' Bird," and that publishing rights were transferred to La Tasha Publishing and royalties diverted. It pleads breach of contract and seeks an accounting and a constructive trust.
October 17, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-01327
Apnea Sciences Corporation d/b/a SnoreRx filed a complaint on October 15, 2026, in the District of Delaware, No. 1:26-cv-01327, against Snorelux LLC. It alleges, on information and belief, that Snorelux used its registered SnoreRx product image on snorelux.com from at least August 15, 2025 until Shopify removed it on a DMCA complaint around October 3, 2026, attached false copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202(a), and then filed a counter-notice that was knowingly false under 17 U.S.C. 512(f).
October 17, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-02898
Foresite Design, Inc. filed a complaint on October 9, 2026, in the Western District of Michigan, No. 1:26-cv-02898, against VK Endeavours LLC. It alleges, on information and belief, that VK reproduced registered Foresite design specifications in project manuals for Hopkins Public Schools and Hemlock Public Schools and removed or altered Foresite's copyright management information; the copies bear another firm's copyright notice instead of Foresite's header and footer. The counts are copyright infringement under the Copyright Act and removal or alteration of copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202.
October 17, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 5:26-cv-06085
Shahin Khazey filed an eight-count complaint on October 15, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 5:26-cv-06085, against the individual who the complaint says runs the Instagram account @Cassiexmillzz, and Does 1 to 35. He alleges the defendant copied his registered gym video, reposted it with captions presenting the defendant as the man in it, kept it up after his removal requests, and used it to steer viewers to a paid subscription account. The counts include copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501 and false association under 15 U.S.C. 1125(a).
October 16, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-02219
Christopher Boffoli, d/b/a Big Appetites Studio, filed a complaint on October 11, 2026, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, No. 2:26-cv-02219, against Peace, Love and Little Donuts, LLC. He alleges contributory and vicarious infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501 based on at least 51 posts of his registered donut photograph by 13 PLLD-branded locations, and alleges that 50 of those posts stayed up for about three years after he notified the franchisor in March 2023.
October 16, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-12242
Julien Pepy filed a one-count copyright infringement complaint on October 6, 2026, in the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:26-cv-12242, against Alyssa Beth Interiors, LLC. He alleges the company posted two of his registered photographs of a bathroom vanity on its Instagram account in January 2024 and did not resolve the claim after a March 2025 demand.
October 16, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 4:26-cv-01572
Science Photo Library, Ltd. filed a one-count copyright infringement complaint on October 1, 2026, in the Eastern District of Missouri, No. 4:26-cv-01572, against NPN Environmental Engineers, Inc. It alleges the Fenton, Missouri firm displayed an electron microscope photograph from the Dennis Kunkel Microscopy collection to market its business in June 2017, without a license.
October 16, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-09079
MMMG, Inc. filed a three-count complaint on October 15, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-09079, against recording artist Cordae Dunston, known as Cordae, and EMPIRE Distribution, Inc., Apeshit, Inc., and Mass Appeal Records, LLC. It alleges that under an April 2018 recording agreement MMMG owns the copyright in Cordae's recordings made during a still-running term, that the September 16, 2026 single A Good Day from the announced album Heavy Is The Crown infringes that copyright, and it seeks actual damages of no less than $5 million under 17 U.S.C. 504(b) or statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. 504(c).
October 16, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 5:26-cv-11964
Actian Corporation filed a five-count complaint on October 15, 2026, in the Northern District of California, No. 5:26-cv-11964, against Resort Data Processing, Inc., maker of the RDPWin property-management software. It alleges RDPWin deployments with web booking and owner portals used Standard Edition licenses of Actian's Zen database where its license agreements require the Cloud Server edition, and it pleads breach of contract, direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement, and rescission under California Civil Code 1689, 1691, and 1692.
October 16, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-09067
Elmer Saflor and Nicholas Gurewitch filed a one-count copyright infringement complaint on October 15, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-09067, against Scytale AI, Inc. They allege Scytale used derivative versions of their webcomics Running Away Balloon and Quiz Kid (Note Passing), both widely shared online as memes, in paid LinkedIn advertisements without a license, and that one ad stayed in LinkedIn's Ad Library after two notices from their counsel. On October 27, 2026, Saflor filed a second one-count complaint over Running Away Balloon in the same court, No. 1:26-cv-09379, against Ledge, Inc., alleging, on information and belief, that Ledge copied and published the work in a paid LinkedIn advertisement. On October 28, 2026, Saflor filed two more suits over the same registered artwork, each alleging use in paid LinkedIn ads: one in the Northern District of California against Metaview Labs, Inc., No. 4:26-cv-12621, and one in the Southern District of New York against K-Dimensional Holdings Inc., doing business as Coast, and an affiliate, No. 1:26-cv-09429, which adds DMCA copyright-management-information claims.
October 15, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-14666
Ars Logica, Inc., a Boston technology-research firm, filed a five-count complaint on October 14, 2026, in the District of Massachusetts, No. 1:26-cv-14666, against RWS Holdings PLC and SDL Inc. It alleges RWS kept displaying three Ars Logica reports on RWS Tridion Docs after its licenses ended and posted restyled versions of a scorecard graphic with Ars Logica's logo and attribution removed, and it seeks actual damages and profits of not less than $8,959,808 under 17 U.S.C. 504(b).
October 15, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-03879
Acute Mastery LLC, which sells building-block sculptures on Amazon under the SNAPTOR brand, filed a complaint on October 13, 2026, in the Western District of Washington, No. 2:26-cv-03879. It alleges that Chen Zexin and a Chaozhou, China business selling as "Xinxin trade co., LTD" under the CAXIMSY brand copied its registered Snaptor Glove and Ball sculpture block for block, and that Chen's October 8 counter-notification to Amazon falsely claimed the listing was removed by mistake or misidentification.
October 15, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:25-cv-09912
U.S. News & World Report, L.P. filed a complaint on November 26, 2025, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:25-cv-09912, against ten OpenAI entities. The complaint alleges that OpenAI scraped and trained on usnews.com content, including its college and hospital rankings, removed copyright management information, and reproduces that content through ChatGPT, and that ChatGPT attributes inaccurate rankings to U.S. News. It pleads copyright, DMCA, Lanham Act, and New York dilution counts and asks for destruction of models and training sets that incorporate its content.
October 15, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 4:26-cv-40237
Gary M. Bloom, a Massachusetts attorney appearing pro se, filed a 14-count complaint in the District of Massachusetts, No. 4:26-cv-40237, file-stamped October 14, 2026, against eight defendants including Jennifer Sims, RPM Talent Agency, Powerful Story Lines LLC, and Michael A. Levine. Alongside state-law claims, it asserts copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501 over The Money Tree, a screenplay he says he holds by an October 2025 assignment, and The Last Door, which he says he co-wrote, and false copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202 based on a title page and website credit that omit the co-author.
October 14, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-12494
Philips North America LLC filed a complaint on October 12, 2026, in the Northern District of Illinois, No. 1:26-cv-12494, against John W. Jordan II, Reagan P. Hogerty, and JHP Management, Inc. It seeks to hold them vicariously liable under 17 U.S.C. 1201 and 1202 for circumvention and copyright management information violations it attributes to the Jordan Health Products operating companies, which filed for bankruptcy in October 2024, and it adds civil conspiracy and unfair competition counts.
October 14, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 23-cv-1528 (CRC)
In Steinarsdottir v. Tripscout, Inc., No. 23-cv-1528 (CRC), Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted in part and denied in part both sides' summary judgment motions in a September 25, 2026 memorandum opinion, now available in a public version. The court granted the plaintiff partial summary judgment on liability for 52 of the 53 claimed infringements, which were posted on accounts Tripscout admits owning, and left damages, willfulness, and one claim on a disputed account for trial.
October 13, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-11882
Jill Greenberg and Jill Greenberg Studio, Inc. filed a complaint on October 12, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-11882, against Creative Artists Agency, LLC and Does 1 through 50. The complaint alleges, on information and belief, that CAA, acting for actor Greg Kinnear, distributed an unlicensed 2018 photograph of Kinnear that then appeared in promotional material for a Netflix program, and it asserts direct and contributory copyright infringement.
October 13, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-08965
Twenty-three Warner Music Group recording and publishing companies filed a complaint on October 9, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-08965, against six companies that the complaint says operate for and in service of EssilorLuxottica. The complaint alleges that the defendants used at least 427 of the plaintiffs' copyrighted sound recordings and musical compositions in promotional social-media videos without a license, and it asserts direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq.
October 12, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-02936-RS
On October 9, 2026, Judge Richard Seeborg of the Northern District of California denied Apple Inc.'s motion to dismiss in Ted Entertainment, Inc. v. Apple, Inc., No. 3:26-cv-02936-RS. The order holds that the YouTube creators' amended complaint adequately alleges circumvention of technological protection measures under 17 U.S.C. 1201(a)(1)(A).
October 12, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-mc-00008-DJH
Turning Point Brands, Inc. and four affiliated companies filed a request on October 8, 2026, in the Western District of Kentucky, Misc. Case No. 3:26-mc-00008-DJH, asking the clerk to issue a subpoena to Cloudflare, Inc. under 17 U.S.C. 512(h) to identify alleged infringers of copyrighted works.
October 12, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 1:26-cv-08892
USA TODAY Co., Inc. and 13 companies the complaint says it owns filed a complaint on October 8, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:26-cv-08892, against seven OpenAI entities. The complaint alleges that OpenAI scraped and trained on content from 19 named publications without a license, stripped copyright management information, and outputs copies or summaries through ChatGPT and related products. It seeks damages in excess of $250 million, an injunction, and destruction of models and training sets that incorporate the plaintiffs' content.
October 8, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 5:26-cv-05930
Photographer Ivan Radic filed a complaint on October 7, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 5:26-cv-05930. It alleges that Freedom Transport Service LLC used his 2021 photograph "Close up of an electric car charging" on freedomtransportservice.com without a license and without the Creative Commons attribution and other copyright management information that appeared with the Flickr posting.
October 8, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Copyright Office · Docket No. 2026-6
The U.S. Copyright Office published a notice of inquiry on music streaming fraud in the Federal Register on October 7, 2026 (91 FR 64188, Docket No. 2026-6), in response to a letter from Representative Scott Fitzgerald. Written comments are due November 23, 2026, and reply comments are due December 21, 2026.
October 8, 2026 · U.S. Copyright Office · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 8:26-cv-03037
Photographer David Gordon Oppenheimer filed a complaint on October 6, 2026, in the Middle District of Florida, No. 8:26-cv-03037. It alleges that Rehab Media Group LLC posted two of his 2018 aerial photographs on Addictions.com and Rehabs.org without a license and that the posted copies lacked his watermark, metadata, and caption credit. Its claim under 17 U.S.C. 1202(b) alleges that Rehab Media intentionally removed or altered that information, or caused its removal or alteration.
October 8, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 3:26-cv-01418
DOGE LLC filed a complaint on October 5, 2026, in the Middle District of Tennessee, No. 3:26-cv-01418. It alleges that Hardee's Restaurants LLC and CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. copied Martin Kozlowski's illustration "Trojan Horse," added promotional text and photos of menu items, and posted it on Hardee's Facebook and Instagram accounts without a license.
October 8, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-07623
Hard Knocks Unlimited, Inc., Allan Lane, and photographer Michael Spain-Smith filed a complaint on October 5, 2026, in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, No. 2:26-cv-07623. It alleges that Barber Companies, Inc., Barber Motorsports Museum, and Barber Vintage Festival used Spain-Smith's photographs of Eraldo Ferracci without permission to promote the October 2025 festival, including in commissioned paintings used in festival fundraising and auction activities.
October 8, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 5:26-cv-02642-BLF
On October 2, 2026, Judge Beth Labson Freeman of the Northern District of California granted Roblox Corporation's motion to dismiss both counts of Austin Beaulier's putative class complaint under 17 U.S.C. 1202(b), with leave to amend. The order found that the complaint did not plausibly allege that Roblox removed copyright management information, that any removal was intentional, or that Roblox distributed the works.
October 8, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Federal court · No. 2:26-cv-11466
Caleb Cain Marcus, as executor of the Estate of Helen Marcus, filed a complaint on October 2, 2026, in the Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-11466. The complaint alleges that Open Inc. used Helen Marcus's photograph of Toni Morrison in a promotional Instagram post without a license, and it asserts claims for copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 106 and 501 and for removal or alteration of copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. 1202(b).
October 8, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · Michael P. Eddy
Third Circuit · No. 25-2153
On September 29, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed partial summary judgment for Thomson Reuters in No. 25-2153. The court held that the 2,243 Westlaw headnotes at issue are original and that ROSS Intelligence's use of them to train its non-generative AI legal search tool was not fair use. The court distinguished generative AI, noting that ROSS's tool could not generate original expression.
October 5, 2026 · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · Michael P. Eddy
Ninth Circuit · No. 24-7700
On September 16, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of programmers' DMCA claims against GitHub, Microsoft, and OpenAI in No. 24-7700. The court held that the complaint describes an AI tool that creates new works, not copies from which copyright management information was removed or altered. The programmers' contract claims remain in the district court.
October 5, 2026 · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Michael P. Eddy
Copyright Office
The United States Copyright Office can register the human-authored parts of a work that contains AI-generated material, if the human contribution is itself protectable and the application discloses the AI material and leaves it out of the claim. Material generated by AI on its own is not registrable, and on March 2, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to review the D.C. Circuit's human-authorship ruling in Thaler v. Perlmutter.
October 5, 2026 · Michael P. Eddy