2008 Woodie Awards
Lawsuit filed agianst Durham Copy
Michele Filgate
Issue date: 9/24/04 Section: News
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Inside of Durham Copy, free lollipops are offered to customers on the counter. The store smells like ink and the glossy pages of a new textbook. Above one of the photocopiers, a green sign shows a computer image of a man in a business suit who has his head resting on the copier. It advertises copying your head for five cents a page. On a wall, two bright orange posters list the copy packets available for the fall semester. Over 80 were on the lists as of Thursday afternoon. The shop seems like a regular, small-town business complete with free candy and quirky signs. But between the fine print, a more serious matter is happening than meets the eye.
The owner of Durham Copy, Ron Gary, is currently being sued by a group of publishing companies and researchers for copyright infringement. The five groups, American Psychological Association, Elsevier Limited, Pearson Education, Inc., Sage Publications, Inc., and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., allege that Durham Copy has failed to get copyright permission for course packets. The plaintiffs have counted at least 25 examples, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court.
The lawsuit is being coordinated by a non-profit organization called the Copyright Clearance Center, which is a group that helps many businesses and schools obtain copyright permission.
"Society as a whole benefits when copyright law is respected," said Lisa
M. Stapleton, vice president in marketing at Copyright Clearance Center, in an e-mail.
"Unfortunately, in some cases legal action is required to protect the works of copyright holders and ensure a level playing field for that majority of businesses that adhere to copyright law," Stapleton said. "Our hope is that Durham Copy will adopt compliant business practices going forward."
Gary has until Nov. 29 to answer the complaint, according to the clerk's office at the United States' District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
Both Gary and his lawyer, Edward Maggio, declined to comment at this time.
The owner of Durham Copy, Ron Gary, is currently being sued by a group of publishing companies and researchers for copyright infringement. The five groups, American Psychological Association, Elsevier Limited, Pearson Education, Inc., Sage Publications, Inc., and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., allege that Durham Copy has failed to get copyright permission for course packets. The plaintiffs have counted at least 25 examples, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court.
The lawsuit is being coordinated by a non-profit organization called the Copyright Clearance Center, which is a group that helps many businesses and schools obtain copyright permission.
"Society as a whole benefits when copyright law is respected," said Lisa
M. Stapleton, vice president in marketing at Copyright Clearance Center, in an e-mail.
"Unfortunately, in some cases legal action is required to protect the works of copyright holders and ensure a level playing field for that majority of businesses that adhere to copyright law," Stapleton said. "Our hope is that Durham Copy will adopt compliant business practices going forward."
Gary has until Nov. 29 to answer the complaint, according to the clerk's office at the United States' District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
Both Gary and his lawyer, Edward Maggio, declined to comment at this time.
