YouTube Gets Break On Some Claims In Copyright Case

A federal judge has dismissed some claims for damages against Google’s YouTube in a class action copyright suit involving music publishers and Britain’s Premier League.

U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton ruled that damages are not available for any foreign works that are not registered in the United States except those that fall under a live broadcast exemption.

Copyright law excludes statutory damages for unregistered works, except for live broadcasts of "sporting events, concerts, theatrical presentations and news and public affairs programs" if the copyright owner notifies the infringer at least 48 hours before the work is transmitted, District Judge Louis Stanton wrote in the decision.

Judge Stanton did indicate the plaintiffs could, if they prevail at trial, seek statutory damages on infringement of live broadcasts.

The court dismissed the plaintiffs’ request for punitive damages. "There is no circumstance in which punitive damages are available under the Copyright Act of 1976," Stanton wrote.

Google attorney Adam Barea called the damage claims dismissed by the court "baseless from the start."

"We are very pleased with the court’s decision and will continue to vigorously defend against the remaining baseless claims in the case," Barea said in a statement.