In an interesting development in the field of copyright law, the Ninth Circuit recently issued an opinion stating that Zillow, the popular real estate marketplace, infringed thousands of copyrights owned by a real estate photography studio. This critical opinion was presented as part of a podcast episode on The Briefing, led by Scott Hervey and James Kachmar representing Weintraub Tobin.
As the second round of legal battles between tech behemoth Zillow and a professional real estate photography studio unfolds, the Ninth Circuit’s judgment counters the relatively unchecked power of large corporations with respect to the protection of copyrighted materials. This case highlights the potential risks faced by corporations, that utilize user-generated content on a massive scale, of infringing on copyright laws.
While full details of the court proceedings are not publicly available, Hervey and Kachmar’s discussion during The Briefing podcast does provide important insights. They affirm the Ninth Circuit’s stance that Zillow had indeed infringed on thousands of the photography studio’s copyrights.
Rather than a straightforward infringement case, this battle has significant complexity due to the massive number of infringements Zillow is accused of and Zillow’s unique business model, which relies heavily on user-generated content. As this case continues to unfold, legal professionals would do well to stay informed on such issues. This may prove instrumental in avoiding similar clashes or managing them, should the need arise.
Therefore, despite any perceived victories, large corporations are not invulnerable to accusations of copyright infringement, and the very nature of user-generated content could be potentially susceptible. As the Zillow case illustrates, understanding the finer details of copyright law is going to be increasingly significant as technology continues to evolve.