Miller Studio, Inc. v. Pacific Import Co.

39 F.R.D. 62, 147 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 388, 1965 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6835
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedNovember 18, 1965
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 39 F.R.D. 62 (Miller Studio, Inc. v. Pacific Import 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
Miller Studio, Inc. v. Pacific Import Co., 39 F.R.D. 62, 147 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 388, 1965 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6835 (S.D.N.Y. 1965).

Opinion

LEVET, District Judge.

This is a motion for summary judgment in an action for copyright infringement with respect to certain wall plaques. The complaint demands (1) an Injunction restraining defendant from infringing certain copyrights and from distributing, selling, offering for sale, or otherwise disposing of copies of the Infringing articles; (2) payment of damages, including treble damages; (3) accounting for gains and profits; (4) delivery; (5) costs of the action and reasonable attorney’s fees; and (6) ■other appropriate relief.

The papers before me for consideration are as follows:

UPON BEHALF OF PLAINTIFF

1. Affidavit of Max T. Miller, president of plaintiff corporation, sworn to August 12, 1965.

2. Affidavit of Guy W. Shoup, one of the attorneys for the plaintiff, sworn to August 13, 1965.

3. Exhibit 1, attached to the Shoup affidavit, said to be a sample of the defendant’s “flirting fish” wall plaque, bearing a label with the words “Pacific” and “Japan” thereon.

4. Exhibit 2, attached to the Shoup affidavit, said to be a sample of the infringing “ballerina” wall plaque and bearing a label with the words “Pacific” and “Japan” thereon.

5. Exhibit 3, attached to the Shoup affidavit, said to be a sample of plaintiff’s “flirting fish” as packaged for the trade.

6. Exhibit 4, attached to the Shoup affidavit, said to be a sample of plaintiff’s “ballet trio” as packaged for the trade.

7. Plaintiff’s First Request for Admission of Facts, dated July 7, 1965, and proof by affidavit of Shoup of defendant’s failure to answer said Request.

8. The complaint in this action, filed December 17,1964, unverified but signed by Guy W. Shoup. Three exhibits are attached thereto: 1(a) and 2(a), the “Flirting Fish” plaques of plaintiff, and 3(a), the “Ballet Trio” plaques of plaintiff.

UPON BEHALF OF DEFENDANT

1. Affidavit of Harry Price, attorney for defendant, sworn to September 18, 1965.

2. Affidavit of Sidney H. Manne, acknowledged, but not sworn to, on September 17, 1965.

3. Affidavit of Irving Muh, sworn to September 12, 1964 (sic 1965).

4. The answer in this action, filed February 15, 1965, unverified, but signed by Harry Price, attorney.

THE DEFENSE

The papers submitted in opposition to this motion for summary judgment are for the most part unacceptable and render the defense inadequate.

First, the affidavit of Price recites in substance that defendant imported these plaques from Japan, that they are of Japanese origin, that before and after defendant brought in these plaques many other firms had been and still are importing and selling such [65]*65plaques. None of these statements, however, are made upon personal knowledge, and all, therefore, must be disregarded by me. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e).

Second, Sidney H. Manne’s so-called “affidavit” is acknowledged but not sworn to. He states:

“To the best of my knowledge and belief, the designs of the Wall Plaques imported by Pacific Import Corporation were original Japanese designs and not the copy of any American made article.
“I am attempting to obtain from Japan information and documents to support this contention.”

This paper, since it is not sworn to, is not an affidavit. See Williams v. Pierce County Bd. of Com’rs, 267 F.2d 866 (9th Cir. 1959). Rule 56(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure demands affidavits. In any event, this “affidavit” does not state facts upon personal knowledge. Manne merely states his beliefs and his plans for acquiring information, both of which must be disregarded. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e).

Third, Muh’s affidavit is purely hearsay and, therefore, not in accordance with Rule 56(e). He states: “He considers that the designs * * * appear to be Japanese in character;” “[He] has been advised * * and “[H]e does know that the original items were Japanese items.” Muh fails to state his reasons or his sources. He concludes: “Upon information and belief that the designs are not original with the plaintiff * *

Affidavits upon information and belief must be disregarded. See Gauvreau v. Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., 178 F. Supp. 510, 512 (S.D.N.Y.1958).

The submission of such papers is futile.

From the acceptable papers, the following relevant facts appear:

1. The works of art above mentioned were wholly original with plaintiff and are copyrightable subject matter under the laws of the United States. That is alleged in paragraph 5 of the complaint and is not denied in the defendant’s answer so that it must therefore, be deemed admitted. Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(d).

2. In 1954 certain wall plaques (Exhibits la and 2a, attached to the complaint) depicting fish with humanized male and female faces were conceived, designed and introduced to the trade by Miller Studio, Inc., which registered claims on “M86 Flirting Fish, Girl,” and “M86 Flirting Fish, Boy,” with the United States Copyright Office. See Miller affidavit and Exhibits A and B attached thereto.

3. In 1963 certain wall plaques (Exhibit 3a attached to the complaint) depicting ballerinas were conceived and designed and, in January 1964, introduced to the trade and Miller Studio, Inc. registered a claim on “M81 Ballet Trio” with the United States Copyright Office. See Miller affidavit and Exhibit C attached thereto.

4. Adequate copyright notices appear on each of plaintiff’s wall plaques.

5. In the summer of 1964, identical copies of plaintiff’s wall plaques were being offered to the trade by Pacific Import Co., Inc. and a notice to desist was sent to defendant by plaintiff’s attorneys on or about July 31, 1964. See Exhibit D attached to the Miller affidavit.

6. The defendant, by failing to answer or to controvert plaintiff’s request for admissions,1 has admitted the [66]*66sale of plaintiff’s copyrighted plaques. Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(a).

7. The plaques, distributed by defendant, appear upon examination by me to be identical copies of plaintiff’s plaques.

8. The defendant gave the plaintiff no assurances that it would desist.

The defendant here may not rest upon mere allegations or denials of its pleadings but must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). This the defendant has not done.

The defendant’s memorandum of law sets up the following defenses:

1. Plaintiff has not shown what was actually filed in the Copyright Office to secure registration;

2.

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Bluebook (online)
39 F.R.D. 62, 147 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 388, 1965 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6835, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/miller-studio-inc-v-pacific-import-co-nysd-1965.