Richard Liebowitz, known for his infamous copyright trolling practice, was recently disbarred in New York for various professional misconducts. For years, Liebowitz’s main modus operandi was to send threatening letters to corporations, alleging copyright infringements of his photographer clients. Such a niche practice area can be slightly questionable under the best of circumstances, but Liebowitz’s high-profile missteps in many cases not only caught the attention but also the reproof of several federal judges. The disbarment finally dropped the hammer down on his contentious career. The detailed judgment can be read on the New York Courts website.
Copyright trolling has become a common but frowned-upon practice. With a band of entities frequently searching the internet for photographs that can be claimed as unlicensed, thousands of dollars can be demanded to settle the matter. This approach relies on most companies choosing to settle the matter out of court, rather than face litigation costs and hassle. However, it’s a risky game to play, as legal licenseholders may fight back, bringing complications that these outfits, including Liebowitz, seem to be unprepared for.
The disbarment proceedings highlighted several of Liebowitz’s unethical approaches. For instance, he allegedly filed false claims, misrepresented facts, and even lied about a personal family tragedy in court. These issues, along with gross mismanagement in multiple cases, have caused serious deliberation on the questionable tactics deployed by copyright trolls. Liebowitz’s disbarment sends a stern message to professionals resorting to such tactics and invites law practitioners to reassess copyright practices and related litigation tactics.
For more specific details of Liebowitz’s case, you can refer to this detailed commentary on his disbarment in an editorial by Above the Law.