Owning the rights to a particular work often means that individuals can profit from the work and also have protection from others’ unauthorized use of the work. Of course, there are many instances in which violations can occur, and intellectual property litigation could be a result. Filing legal claims could help rights holders enforce protections.
New York readers may be interested in a lawsuit that was recently filed against CBS Television Distribution. According to reports, the suit was filed by two heirs who obtained the copyright to the whistle theme song of “The Andy Griffith Show” from the song’s two creators. The heirs believe that CBS violated their copyright by distributing DVDs that contain the song.
Though CBS has an agreement that was created in 1978 between its predecessor Viacom and Mayberry Enterprises, the heirs noted that the agreement does not have details regarding the distribution of the song on home video or similar media. The heirs reportedly brought up their concerns to CBS, but the company did not wish to enter into a new agreement that would address the use of the song. The heirs are hoping that the suit will result in an injunction against CBS to end the distribution of the tune.
Copyrights are only useful as long as they are enforced, and in some cases, intellectual property litigation may need to occur in order to ensure that the enforcement takes place. If New York copyright holders believe that their rights have been violated by others, they may want to explore their legal options. Discussing their concerns, possible damages, available options and other details with attorneys experienced in this area of law may prove useful.