Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Massachusetts

Plagairism/Copywright Infrindgement

I discovered a large company using a portion of my published work in US School Lunch menus. They never got permission and in only one case do they even vaguely cite their source.

I still own all print rights to this material, which they used in pdf format - obviously to be printed by parents/students.

What rights do I have in this case? Should I get a lawyer? If so, what type of restitution is typical in a case such as this?

Thank you and best regards


Asked on 5/18/09, 1:08 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lawrence Graves Coolidge & Graves PLLC

Re: Plagairism/Copywright Infrindgement

Publication of your work is not really the key; rather, the question is whether your published work was registered with the US Copyright Office. Your rights depend upon the answer to the above question. Yes, you should consult with a copyright lawyer. Impossible to say more without looking at the work in question and the portions reproduced by the "large company" (do realize that recipes are NOT protectable by copyright).

Best wishes,

LDWG

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Answered on 5/18/09, 1:15 pm


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