By Barry Werbin via EASL blog
On Friday, July 11th, the Ninth Circuit issued an amended opinion in the controversial Garcia v. Google case (Innocence of Muslims film case addressing an individual actor's own copyrightable performance right). Chief Judge Kozinski tries to backpedal a bit by sticking to his earlier divisive opinion, but saying:
"It suffices for now to hold that, while the matter is fairly debatable, Garcia is likely to prevail based on the record and arguments before us. Nothing we say today precludes the district court from concluding that Garcia doesn't have a copyrightable interest, or that Google prevails on any of its defenses. We note, for example, that after we first issued our opinion, the United States Copyright Office sent Garcia a letter denying her request to register a copyright in her performance. Because this is not an appeal of the denial of registration, the Copyright Office's refusal to register doesn't "preclude[] a determination" that Garcia's performance "is indeed copyrightable." OddzOn Prods., Inc. v. Oman, 924 F.2d 346, 347 (D.C. Cir. 1991). But the district court may still defer to the Copyright Office's reasoning, to the extent it is persuasive. See Inhale, Inc. v. Starbuzz Tobacco, Inc., 739 F.3d 446, 448-49 (9th Cir. 2014). After we first published our opinion, amici raised other issues, such as the applicability of the fair use doctrine, see 17 U.S.C. § 107, and section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, see 47 U.S.C. § 230. Because these defenses were not raised by the parties, we do not address them. The district court is free to consider them if Google properly raises them." [Emphasis added]
The opinion is available here: Garcia v Google Amended Opinion.pdf
"It suffices for now to hold that, while the matter is fairly debatable, Garcia is likely to prevail based on the record and arguments before us. Nothing we say today precludes the district court from concluding that Garcia doesn't have a copyrightable interest, or that Google prevails on any of its defenses. We note, for example, that after we first issued our opinion, the United States Copyright Office sent Garcia a letter denying her request to register a copyright in her performance. Because this is not an appeal of the denial of registration, the Copyright Office's refusal to register doesn't "preclude[] a determination" that Garcia's performance "is indeed copyrightable." OddzOn Prods., Inc. v. Oman, 924 F.2d 346, 347 (D.C. Cir. 1991). But the district court may still defer to the Copyright Office's reasoning, to the extent it is persuasive. See Inhale, Inc. v. Starbuzz Tobacco, Inc., 739 F.3d 446, 448-49 (9th Cir. 2014). After we first published our opinion, amici raised other issues, such as the applicability of the fair use doctrine, see 17 U.S.C. § 107, and section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, see 47 U.S.C. § 230. Because these defenses were not raised by the parties, we do not address them. The district court is free to consider them if Google properly raises them." [Emphasis added]
The opinion is available here: Garcia v Google Amended Opinion.pdf
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