TrendAlert: Lowry's Reports v. Legg Mason - The $20 Million Copyright Wake-Up Call

Lowry's Reports v. Legg Mason is a recent federal court decision with implications for both content vendors and buyers. The jury's $19.7 million copyright infringement damage award is a wake-up call for both sides to review their practices. This Briefing analyzes the case and its implications for copyright compliance activities and processes. It identifies several 'compliance imperatives' for content buyers, and several practical lessons for vendors. The Briefing also emphasizes the role of good contracting practices and good vendor/buyer relations as the most effective copyright compliance and enforcement tools. For content deployment professionals, this is a valuable guide for navigating the compliance waters and using Legg Mason as the case study for their organizations. For commercial content vendors, the Briefing is a reminder of the sound business practices that prevent lawsuits or, where lawsuits are inevitable, that protect their interests.