Basevi v. Edward O'Toole Co.

26 F. Supp. 41
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 17, 1939
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 26 F. Supp. 41 (Basevi v. Edward O'Toole Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Basevi v. Edward O'Toole Co., 26 F. Supp. 41 (S.D.N.Y. 1939).

Opinion

WOOLSEY, District Judge.

My judgment is for the defendant herein, and it may have a decree dismissing the complaint, with full costs which will include all taxable disbursements, but will not include any attorney’s fee.

I. My subject matter jurisdiction is based on the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C.A. § 1 et seq.

II. In view of the decision of the United States Supreme Court on April 25, 1938, in Interstate Circuit, Inc., et al. v. United States, 304 U.S. 55, 56, 57, 58 S.Ct. 768, 82 L.Ed. 1146, it is now a work of supererogation to write a considered opinion on the facts in an equity cause, for its place will be taken by formal findings of fact and conclusions of law, separately stated, under Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A. following section 723, Rule 52 (a), formerly Equity Rule 70%, Title 28 United States Code, Section 723.

I shall, therefore, deal with the facts in this opinion only to the extent necessary to make clear my views on the questions of law involved.

III. A motion was made before Judge Bondy to dismiss the amended complaint which incorporated the three copyrighted catalogues by reference. On such a motion, of course, thé relevant facts alleged in the complaint were pro hac vice admitted.

Judge Bondy denied this motion and held, 26 F.Supp. 39:

1. That plaintiff’s catalogues were “books” within the meaning of the Copyright Act, that they had sufficient originality to be copyrightable as “books”, that they were copyrighted as such, and, that, by necessary implication, the artistic concept of the illustrations therein, if published with proper notice, were protected as component parts of the “books”.
2. That there is no “text” to the catalogues in any proper sense, and, hence, that it was not necessary, — to constitute a cause of action — to allege anything as to where any printed matter therein was printed, or as to where the illustrations were made and the catalogues were bound.
3. That infringement was sufficiently alleged by claiming exact reproductions of certain of the illustrations of paintings contained in the catalogues.

Judge Bondy’s order which thus supported the amended complaint should not be disturbed by a coordinate judge, cf. Potts v. Village of Haverstraw, 2 Cir., 93 F.2d 506, 509, and his decision, therefore, fixed the law of the case for me as to the validity of the copyright and the infringement thereof, unless, on the trial, the facts shown were different from the facts alleged in the complaint and admitted by implication on the motion to dismiss. United States v. Davis, D.C., 3 F.Supp. 97, 98, 99.

I think, however, that the facts shown on the trial are in most respects materially different from the facts implicit on the motion to dismiss, and, under the proverbial principle that circumstances alter cases, I find myself, except as to his holding that the catalogues did not have to be printed and bound in the United States, freed from the authority of Judge Bondy’s decision.

IV. In view of Judge Bondy’s decision, however, and of the provisions of Section 15 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C.A. § 15, it is now admittedly common ground —and, if it were not agreed, I should so hold on the facts now before me — that, as there was not any copyrightable printing involved in the catalogues and as the illustrations therein produced are of paintings located in a foreign country, it was not necessary to have the printing of the catalogues done in the United States as a prerequisite to securing a copyright thereof here.

V. On November 17, 1938, the defendant made a motion to amend its answer to conform to the proofs by the addition of several paragraphs thereto. This motion was not contested by the plaintiff and I ordered the amendments filed.

I am treating this amendment, — as, indeed, it was, I presume, intended to be treated — as a pleading, in part at least, of supplemental defenses to meet some situations which have arisen since this suit was commenced.

A supplementary pleading should, as here, always be filed to form the foundation — whether by way of attack or defense — -for relief in respect of any matter *44 which has arisen after suit is commenced. Cf. Hazeltine Corporation v. Radio Corporation, D.C., 20 F.Supp. 668, 674.

An injunction governs the relations of the parties in the future. If, in view of the amended answer and the proofs to which it was allowed to conform, it is clear that an injunction should not issue in this case, it matters not that the reason, for refusing the issuance thereof is based, partly at least, on facts occurring after the suit began. Although the new Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A. following section 723c, have, I believe, not been applied as yet to copyright causes — see Rule 81 — I think, nevertheless, that the attitude I am taking towards the pleadings herein is justified on general equitable principles, and certainly would be specifically in accordance with those Rules if they had now been made applicable herein. E. g., Rules of Civil Procedure, No. 8(f) a,nd No. 15(b) and (c).

VI. The claim in respect of Picture No. 858 has been — quite appropriately — withdrawn, as there was undoubtedly publication, both in this country and abroad, before ' any- statutory steps to copyright that picture here were taken.

:Such an informal method of withdrawing one branch of a claim like this could be passed without further notice, if it were hot for the fact that a status — namely, a copyright monopoly — is involved.

, Consequently, whilst I very much appreciate the attitude of counsel for the plaintiff in withdrawing No. 858 from con-, sideration and relieving me from dealing with that part of this cause, I cannot allow an informal withdrawal of a copyright claim. Cf. Lewis Invisible Stitch Machine Co. v. Columbia Blind Machine Mfg. Co., D.C., 22 F.Supp. 705.

■ I hold that the copyright was invalid in respect of No. 858 by reason of previous publication in the United States and abroad, without the required statutory notice of •United States copyright, and that the status of that picture must be definitely disposed of herein in order that there shall not be any claim for copyright thereof hanging as a threat over the trade involving these religious pictures.

Consequently, there must be a formal judgment dismissing the complaint in respect of- Picture No. 858.

VII. The crucial questions which emerge from the facts proved in this cause are—

1. Whether the copyrights of the catalogues were void ab initio in respect of some of the photographs portrayed therein by reason of—
(a) Prior publication in Italy of reproductions of those photographs without any United States copyright notice on them, or
(b) The fact that in respect of two of the catalogues, the copyright applications and the resultant certificates were false, because the time of publication for United States copyright purposes was antedated therein.
2.

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