The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit confirmed a dismissal of a copyright infringement lawsuit against Jerry Seinfeld, famed comedian, due to that fact that Christian Charles's, a director and producer, copyright claims were time barred under copyright law’s three-year statute of limitation.
Specifically, in 2018 Charles sued Seinfeld and other defendants in a copyright infringement action based on his claimed authorship of the Netflix television series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, a show that Charles and his production company assisted in developing the pilot episode for in 2011. In February 2012, Charles requested for back-end compensation, which Seinfeld rejected and asserted that his work was limited to a work-for-hire. Then in July 2012 when the show premiered, Charles was not listed as an accredited producer. Charles proceeded to file suit in February 2018 in a copyright infringement action based on his claimed authorship of the television series.
The district court and Second Circuit, both found that Charles’ claims were time barred by copyright law’s three-year statute of limitations. Specifically, back in 2012 when Seinfeld claimed his work was work-for-hire and then again when he was not accredited in the show’s premiere, Charles had notice that his authorship or copyright to the series was being disputed. Charles should have bought his suit within three years of that date, but waited until 2018 to do so.
The Second Circuit, thus, granted a summary order in favor of Seinfeld.
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