Indiana Copyright Litigation: Bell Sues Shuttered Auto Repair Shop for Infringing Copyrighted Photo

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Indianapolis, Indiana – Plaintiff Richard Bell of McCordsville, Indiana, a copyright lawyer and professional photographer, sued Defendant Hornberger Imports, Inc. of Beech Grove, Indiana in the Southern District of Indiana for copyright infringement.

As with most or all of Bell’s recent Indiana copyright litigation, this lawsuit pertains to works that have been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office under Reg. No. VA0001785115. This registration covers two photos, Bell’s “Indianapolis Photo” and his “Indianapolis Nighttime Photo.”

In this lawsuit, Bell contends that Defendant Hornberger infringed his copyright in the “Indianapolis Nighttime Photo” by publishing the photo on Hornberger’s website at www.hornbergerimports.com sometime in 2016 without having purchased a license to do so. Bell’s complaint states that Defendant “continue [sic] infringing conduct which has caused and is causing substantial and irreparable injury and damage to Plaintiff…and, unless, restrained, will cause further irreparable injury.” The complaint further contends that the alleged ongoing infringement is being willfully engaged in “with oppression, fraud, and malice.”

In addition to copyright infringement, a claim of unfair competition is included. Bell seeks injunctive relief along with statutory damages, costs and attorney fees.

Practice Tip #1: Hornberger Imports appears to have ceased operations in February 2015.

Practice Tip #2: Bell is a prolific copyright litigant. We have blogged about his copyright litigation in the past. See:

Bell’s Copyright Litigation Expands to Include IU, Purdue and Others
Copyright Attorney Shifts to Alleging Infringement of Different Photo
Attorney/Plaintiff Accuses Wisconsin Analytics Firm of Copyright Infringement
Bell Names Aramark in Latest Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
Attorney/Photographer Sues North Carolina Hotel Operator
Attorney/Plaintiff Bell Files Three New Lawsuits Over Photo of Indianapolis Skyline
Eight New Infringement Lawsuits Filed by Attorney/Plaintiff
Attorney/Photographer Files Two New Infringement Lawsuits
Lawsuit by Frequent Copyright Litigant Dismissed for Lack of Jurisdiction
District Court Terminates Copyright Suit Over Photo; Plaintiff Appeals
Remaining Copyright Defendants in Bell Lawsuit to be Dismissed
Attorney/Photographer Sues Georgia Real Estate Company for Infringing Copyrighted Photo
Sovereign Immunity May Take a Toll on Bell’s Latest Copyright Lawsuit
Appellate Court Dismisses Copyright Appeal as Premature
Bell Rings in the Holiday Weekend with a New Copyright Lawsuit
Bell Files New Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
Bell Sues Georgia-Based FindTicketsFast.com for Copyright Infringement
Richard Bell Files Two New Copyright Infringement Lawsuits
Court Prevents Copyright Plaintiff Bell from Outmaneuvering Legal System; Orders Bell to Pay Almost $34,000 in Fees and Costs
Three Default Judgments of $2,500 Ordered for Copyright Infringement
Court Orders Severance of Misjoined Copyright Infringement Complaint

Richard Bell Files Another Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

The case was assigned to Judge Sarah Evans Barker and Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch in the Southern District of Indiana and assigned Case No. 1:16-cv-02501-SEB-DML.

Complaint

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