BWP Media USA, Inc. v. Gossip Cop Media, LLC et al., Civil Action No. 1:13-cv-07574 (KPF) (S.D.N.Y., Jan. 26, 2015)

Representing defendant Gossip Cop Media, LLC in a copyright infringement action relating to the use of celebrity images on the gossipcop.com website, Leason Ellis obtained a partial dismissal of plaintiffs’ various claims based on plaintiffs’ failure to obtain a copyright registration prior to filing the lawsuit (an issue that is subject to an intra-district split in the Southern District of New York).  The Court also favorably considered Gossip Cop’s fair use arguments for the remaining claims, which it determined may be subject to dismissal at a later stage of the case.  Previously, Leason Ellis obtained a complete dismissal of all claims by plaintiffs against another defendant in the case.