Lewis & Lin Obtains Judgment Against Serial Copyright Infringer

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued a judgment in favor of our client Millennium TGA, an award-winning producer of online media.  Millennium operates 13 internet websites through which it releases entertainment content through subscription-based online services or video-on-demand.

The defendant, Joel Leon, spent several years stealing and redistributing Millennium’s copyrighted works.  Mr. Leon used passwords that he hacked or stole from others, and then copied or posted Millennium’s content through blogs and one-click hosting sites.  The material that defendant downloaded included full-length movies and photosets that Millennium made available only to paying subscribers.

Lewis & Lin commenced litigation against Leon, seeking damages for copyright infringement and violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.  When defendant failed to answer or otherwise appear in the action, we sought entry of a default against him, and promptly appeared at an inquest hearing before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.  Upon our motion, the court awarded both actual copyright damages and damages relating to our client’s investigation of Mr. Leon’s activities.  The recommendation of the Magistrate Judge was adopted by U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie, and a judgment was issued.  The case is Millennium TGA v. Leon, No. 12 CV 1360 (MKB) (EDNY).