{"ID":55635,"name":"Reed Elsevier v. Muchnick","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/cases\/2009\/08-103","view_count":0,"docket_number":"08-103","additional_docket_numbers":null,"manner_of_jurisdiction":"Writ of \u003Ci\u003Ecertiorari\u003C\/i\u003E","first_party":"Reed Elsevier, Inc., et al.","second_party":"Irvin Muchnick, et al.","timeline":[{"event":"Granted","dates":[1235973600],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/40373"},{"event":"Argued","dates":[1254891600],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/40374"},{"event":"Decided","dates":[1267509600],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/40375"}],"lower_court":{"ID":7,"name":"United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/taxonomy\/term\/7"},"facts_of_the_case":"\u003Cp\u003EA federal district court in New York approved an $18 million settlement in a class-action brought by freelance writers who had contracted with the defendant publishers to publish their works in print. Without authorization, the publishers reproduced the works for electronic distribution. Muchnick and others objected to the settlement.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit overturned the settlement on the ground that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over claims relating to unregistered works. The court stated that the Copyright Act grants the federal district courts jurisdiction only over those claims that arise from registered works. Since the vast majority of the claimants in the litigation based their claims on unregistered works, the federal district court did not have the power to certify a class in the litigation.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","question":"\u003Cp\u003EDoes Section 411(a) of the Copyright Act restrict subject matter jurisdiction of federal courts over copyright infringement actions?\u003C\/p\u003E\n","conclusion":"\u003Cp\u003ENo. Writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas held that Section 411(a)\u0027s registration requirement is a precondition to filing a copyright infringement claim. The Court further held that a copyright holder\u0027s failure to comply with the registration requirement does not restrict a federal court\u0027s subject matter jurisdiction over infringement claims involving unregistered works. 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