Copyright Law | Expert Legal Commentary

April 13, 2010

Reed Elsevier v. Muchnick: Section 411(a) Does Not Limit Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Reed Elsevier, Inc. v. Muchnick

By Olivier A. Taillieu and Jeffrey J. Zuber of Zuber & Taillieu

Nine years after its decision in New York Times Co. v. Tasini, 533 U.S. 483 (2001), the U.S. Supreme Court has held that Section 411(a) of the Copyright Act does not limit a federal court’s subject matter jurisdiction to certify a class and approve a settlement that includes class members with unregistered works. In Reed Elsevier, Inc. v. Muchnick, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 1237, (2010), the Supreme Court reversed the Second Circuits decision that Section 411(a) was a jurisdictional requirement, thereby clearing the way for final resolution of an $18 million settlement related to the Tasini decision.

About the Authors

Olivier A. Taillieu is a Partner of Zuber & Taillieu, focusing on intellectual property litigation and arbitration.

Jeffrey J. Zuber is a Partner of Zuber & Taillieu, focusing on intellectual property litigation and arbitration.

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Olivier A. Taillieu
Jeffrey J. Zuber

Companies Mentioned

American Society of Journalists and Authors

Copley Press, Inc.

Dialog Corp.

Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive, LLC

Ebsco Industries, Inc.

Gale Group, Inc.

Knight Ridder Digital

Knight Ridder Inc.

Mediastream, Inc.

Michael Castleman Inc.

National Writers Union

New York Times Company

Newsbank, Inc.

P/K Associates, Inc.

Proquest Company

Reed Elsevier, Inc.

Robert E. Treuhaft and Jessica L. Treuhaft Trust

The Authors Guild, Inc.

Thomson Corp.

Union-Tribune Publishing Company

West Publishing Company, Inc.

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Geoffrey Productions, Inc.

Universal City Studios LLLP

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

Turner Network Television LP, LLLP

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Turner Classic Movies, LP, LLLP

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

The Cartoon Network LP, LLP

Paramount Pictures Corp.

NBC Studios, Inc.

Disney Enterprises, Inc.

CSC Holdings, Inc.

CBS Broadcasting Inc.

Cablevision Systems Corp.

Cable News Network LP, LLLP

American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

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UMG Recordings, Inc.

All Headline News Corp.

Janice Combs Publishing, Inc. d.b.a. Justin Combs Publishing

American Software Development Company, Inc.

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Yahoo! Inc.

Frank Diana City Entertainment

Television Music License Committee

PC Onsite

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RealNetworks, Inc.

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