"No Copyright Infringement Intended" (Yeah, Right!)

Pure hearts and empty heads.

"No Copyright Infringement Intended" is a familiar disclaimer you see at the beginning and end of video mash-ups posted on YouTube. But is it an effective disclaimer?  Not really. That's because copyright is what is known as a strict liability tort. There is no pure heart and empty head defense to copyright infringement. For example, in the Harrisongs case, the court determined that George Harrison's song My Sweet Lord unintentionally infringed the Chiffons’ 1963 hit He’s So Fine.   

There is one limitation to the innocent intent is no defense to copyright infringement statement. YouTube, and other internet service providers, are shielded from secondary liability on the condition they remove infringing content posted by users when notified of the infringement by the copyright owner.    

While not a defense, intent is relevant for purposes of determining monetary damages. Simply put, bad-faith infringers are treated more harshly than innocent ones. One point of view is the deliberate affixing of a "No Copyright Infringement Intended" disclaimer is evidence that the person either knew they were infringing or recklessly disregarded the possibility. Unless the poster has a viable fair use defense, "no copyright infringement" is seen by many copyright practitioners as self-incriminating behavior.

In cases where the infringement is willful, depending upon the degree of culpability, a court can award between $750 and $150,000 per infringement, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. This is known as statutory damages in copyright jargon.     

When Mark Twain was accused of cribbing the dedication to his ironically titled The Innocents Abroad from a book of poems by Oliver Wendell Holmes, he quipped, "Adam was the only man who, when he said a good thing, knew that nobody had said it before him.” Twain's point, or purpose, wasn't forgiveness. He was driving home the point that his behavior was neither good nor bad. His subconscious was to blame. While mildly unrepentant, the explanation makes Twain appear less blameworthy than if he included a "No Copyright Infringement Intended" disclaimer on the reverse title page of the Innocents Abroad - or composed an apology that appeared insincere.

What was true for Twain was also true for Holmes, who reportedly laughed off the incident, saying there was no crime in unconscious plagiarism, which he said, "I commit every day." 

If you struggle with permissions issues, there's no reason to go it alone. Seek the advice of an experienced copyright attorney who can help you ascertain if permission is needed. Further, without an attorney, if you receive a cease and desist letter, you may not be able to know whether you have a valid defense such as fair use.  

Resources

Fitzgerald Pub. Co., Inc. v. Baylor Pub. Co., Inc., 807 F. 2d 1110 - Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 1986

ABKCO Music, Inc. v. Harrisongs Music, Ltd., 722 F. 2d 988 - Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 1983

 

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