-
JUDGE CAPRONfJS 44C/SDNYREV. 4/2014 CIVIL COVER SHEET %
1920uThe JS-44 civil cover sheet and the information contained
herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service
ofpleadings or other papers asrequired by law, except asprovided by
local rules of court. This form approved by theJudicial Conference
ofthe United States in September 1974, isrequired for use of the
Clerk ofCourt for thepurpose ofinitiating the civil docket
sheet.
PLAINTIFFS
MAYA HAYUK iBACT||ERVIC&JNyand MIDLEY.f^ \J) T\ ^CATTORNEYS
(FIRM NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER ATTORNEYS (IF
KNOWN)Saunders&Silverstein LLP, 14CedarStreet, Ste. 224,
Amesbury NY 01913(978)463-9130
CAUSE OF ACTION (CITE THE U.S. CIVIL STATUTE UNDER WHICH YOU ARE
FILING AND WRITE ABRIEF STATEMENT OF CAUSB(DO NOT CITE
JURISDICTIONAL STATUTES UNLESS DIVERSITY)
17 U.S.C. 101 etseq; Defendants reproduced, displayed, and
distributed infringing copies of Plaintiff's artwork
Has this action, case, or proceeding, or one essentially the
same been previously filed in SDNY at any time? NdZkesQludge
Previously AssignedIf yes, was this case Vol. fj Invol. fj
Dismissed. No fj Yes [J If yes, give date &Case No.
No S Yes ISTHIS AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CASE?(PLACE
AN[x]INONE BOX ONL Y) NATURE OF SUIT
I] 110[ ]120[ J130[]140
I 1150
1115111152
1 1153
[ ]160
11190
I 1195
I 1196
PERSONAL INJURY
[ 1310 AIRPLANE[ I 315 AIRPLANE PRODUCT
LIABILITY[ 1320 ASSAULT. LIBELS,
SLANDERI ]330 FEDERAL
EMPLOYERS'LIABILITY
[ J 340 MARINE[ ] 345 MARINE PRODUCT
LIABILITY[ 1350 MOTOR VEHICLE[ 1 355 MOTOR VEHICLE
PRODUCT LIABILITY[ ] 360 OTHER PERSONAL
INJURY[ ] 362 PERSONAL INJURY -
MED MALPRACTICE
INSURANCEMARINEMILLER ACTNEGOTIABLEINSTRUMENTRECOVERY
OFOVERPAYMENT &ENFORCEMENTOF JUDGMENTMEDICARE ACTRECOVERY
OFDEFAULTEDSTUDENT LOANS(EXCLVETERANS)RECOVERY OFOVERPAYMENTOF
VETERAN'SBENEFITSSTOCKHOLDERSSUITSOTHERCONTRACTCONTRACTPRODUCTLIABILITY
FRANCHISE
PERSONAL INJURY[ I 367 healthcare;PHARMACEUTICAL
PERSONAINJURY/PRODUCT LIABILITY[ l 365 PERSONAL INJURY
PRODUCT LIABILITY[ ] 368 ASBESTOS PERSONAL
INJURY PRODUCTLIABILITY
PERSONAL PROPERTY
[ ] 370 OTHER FRAUD[ J 371 TRUTH IN LENDING
[ ] 380 OTHER PERSONALPROPERTY DAMAGE
[ ] 385 PROPERTY DAMAGEPRODUCT LIABILITY
PRISONER PETITIONS[ ] 463 ALIEN DETAINEE[ J510 MOTIONS TO
VACATE SENTENCE28 USC 2255
[ I 530 HABEAS CORPUS[ ] 535 DEATH PENALTY[ I 540 MANDAMUS &
OTHER
REAL PROPERTY
ACTIONS UNDER STATUTES
CIVIL RIGHTS
11440 OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS(Non-Prisoner)
! 1441 VOTING[ 1442 EMPLOYMENT[ ] 443 HOUSING/
ACCOMMODATIONSI I 445 AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES -EMPLOYMENT
[ ] 446 AMERICANS WITHDISABILITIES-OTHER
[ I 448 EDUCATION
I 1210
[ J220[ ]230
t I 240[ 1245
( ]290
LANDCONDEMNATIONFORECLOSURERENT LEASE &EJECTMENTTORTS TO
LANDTORT PRODUCTLIABILITYALL OTHERREAL PROPERTY
Check ifdemanded incomplaint:
CHECK IF THIS IS ACLASS ACTIONUNDER F.R.C.P. 23
PRISONER CIVIL RIGHTS
t J 550 CIVIL RIGHTS[ I 555 PRISON CONDITION[ J 560 CIVIL
DETAINEE
CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT
ACTIONS UNDER STATUTES
FORFEITURE/PENALTY BANKRUPTCY OTHER STATUTESI 1375 FALSE CLAIMSf
J400 STATE[ ] 625 DRUG RELATED [ ) 422 APPEAL
SEIZURE OF PROPERTY 28 USC 158 REAPPORTIONMENT21 USC 881 I ] 423
WITHDRAWAL [ ] 410 ANTITRUST
[ J 690 OTHER 28 USC 157 [ J 430 BANKS & BANKING[ J 450
COMMERCE[ l 460 DEPORTATION
PROPERTY RIGHTS [ ] 470 RACKETEER INFLUENCED 8. CORRUPT
M 820 COPYRIGHTS ORGANIZATION ACT[ ] 830 PATENT (RICO)[ ] 840
TRADEMARK I ] 480 CONSUMER CREDIT
[ I 490 CABLE/SATELLITE TV
SOCIAL SECURITY [ ] 850 SECURITIES/COMMODITIES/
LABOR [ ]861 HIA(1395ff)[ ] 862 BLACK LUNG (923)
EXCHANGE
[ l 710 FAIR LABOR [ I 863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g))STANDARDS ACT [ ]
864 SSID TITLE XVI
[ ] 720 LABOR/MGMT [ I 865 RSI (405(g)) [ ] 890 OTHER
STATUTORYRELATIONS ACTIONS
[ ] 740 RAILWAY LABOR ACT [ ]891 AGRICULTURAL ACTS[ ] 751 FAMILY
MEDICAL FEDERAL TAX SUITSLEAVE ACT (FMLA)
[ J 870 TAXES (U.S. Plaintiff or [ ) 893 ENVIRONMENTAL( I 790
OTHER LABOR Defendant) MATTERS
LITIGATION [ J 871 IRS-THIRD PARTY ( ] 895 FREEDOM OF[ ]791
EMPLRETINC 26 USC 7609 INFORMATION ACT
SECURITY ACT [ ] 896 ARBITRATION
IMMIGRATION [ ] 899 ADMINISTRATIVEPROCEDURE ACT/REVIEW OR
[ ] 462 NATURALIZATION APPEAL OF AGENCY DECISIONAPPLICATION
[ ] 466 OTHER IMMIGRATIONACTIONS
[ J 950 CONSTITUTIONALITY OFSTATE STATUTES
DEMAND $ OTHER
If0S00SJ-$#/I THIS CASE IS related to a civilCASE NOW PENDING IN
S.D.N.Y.?JUDGE DOCKET NUMBER
Check YES only ifdemanded incomplaintJURY DEMAND: S YES CjNO
NOTE: You must also submit atthe time of filing the Statement of
Relatedness form (Form IH-32).
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(PLACEAN xINONEBOXONLY) ORIGINProoeedina L-1 2 Removed from 3
Remanded 4Reinstated or 5Transferred from 6 Multidistrict D7Appeal
to District
State Court from Reopened (Specify District) Litigation Judge
fromQ a. all parties represented Appellate Magistrate Judge
Court JudgmentI I b. At least one
party is pro se.
(PLACEAN x INONEBOXONLY) >- nr; iniCr,irTir.MBASIS OF
JURISDICTION IF DIVERSITY INDICATED 1 U.S. PLAINTIFF Q 2 U.S.
DEFENDANT @3 FEDERAL QUESTION D4 DIVERSITY CITIZENSHIP BELOW
(U.S. NOT A PARTY)
CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (FOR DIVERSITY CASES
ONLY)(Place an[X] in one box for Plaintiff and one box for
Defendant)
PTF DEFCITIZEN OF THIS STATE []1 []1 CITIZEN OR SUBJECT OF A
FOREIGN COUNTRY
PTFDEF PTF DEF[ I3[ ]3 INCORPORATED and PRINCIPAL PLACE [ J5
[15
OF BUSINESS IN ANOTHER STATE
CITIZEN OF ANOTHER STATE []2 []2 INCORPORATED or PRINCIPAL PLACE
[]4[]4 FOREIGN NATIONOF BUSINESS IN THIS STATE
PLAINTIFF(S) ADDRESS(ES) AND COUNTY(IES)MAYA HAYUK720 Lorimer
Street #3RBrooklyn, New YorkKings County
DEFENDANT(S) ADDRESS(ES) AND COUNTY(IES)COACH SERVICES, INC.
MIDLEY, INC.516 West 34th Street 6101 Banyan TerraceNew York, New
York 10001 Plantation, Florida 33317New York County Broward
County
[ 16 [ J6
DEFENDANT(S) ADDRESS UNKNOWNRP
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JUDGE CAPRONI
STRICT COtTRT U O O OUNITED STATES DISOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW
YORK
MAYA HAYUK,
Plaintiff,
v.
COACH SERVICES, INC., andMIDLEY, INC.,
Defendants.
Civil Action No.
COMPLAINT
Jury Trial Demanded
ECF Case
Plaintiff Maya Hayuk, by her undersigned attorneys, brings this
action against the
defendants Coach Services, Inc. and Midley, Inc. (individually,
and collectively,
"Defendants") and asserts and alleges as follows:
Parties
1. Plaintiff Maya Hayuk ("Hayuk") is a New York-based
professional visual
artist who regularly creates, sells, and licenses original works
of art.
2. Upon information and belief, Coach Services, Inc. ("Coach")
is a Maryland
corporation, transacting business within the State of New York,
with its principal place of
business at 516 West 34th Street, New York, New York.
3. Upon information and belief, Midley, Inc. ("Midley") is a
Florida
corporation, transacting business within the State of New York,
with its principal place of
business at 6101 Banyan Terrace, Plantation, FL.
Nature of the Complaint
4. This is an action for copyright infringement. Defendants
violated the
copyright laws, 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq., by reproducing,
distributing, and otherwise using,
photographs infringing on Hayuk's original copyrighted work of
art without her consent.
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Hayuk seeks damages and appropriate injunctive relief, and
recovery of her costs andattorneys' fees.
Jurisdiction and Venue
5. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this
Complaint under28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a).
6. On information and belief, this Court has personal
jurisdiction overDefendants in that Defendants conduct business
throughout the State of New York,
including this District.
7. Venue is appropriate in this Court under 28 U.S.C. 1391 (b)
and 1400(a) in
that Defendants are transacting business within this District.
Further, venue is appropriate
since a substantial portion of the acts complained of herein was
committed by Defendants
within this District.
Facts
8. Hayuk is an internationally renowned visual artist. Her
iconic murals,
paintings, and other artworks are highly sought after by
collectors, corporations, and
individuals throughout the world.
9. Hayuk has received critical praise throughout her fine art
career, which spans
over two decades.
10. Hayuk's career includes more than 150 group and solo gallery
shows,
installations, and murals throughout the United States and over
a dozen foreign countries on
six continents. Her work has been published in numerous books
and magazines, and been
featured on countiess websites.
11. Hayuk often licenses her artwork for use on, among other
things, apparel,
consumer electronics, and sporting goods.
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12. Hayuk commands premium fees and royalties for the use of her
work in
commercial settings.
13. In or around February 2014, Hayuk created an original work
of art entitled
Chem Trails NYC.
14. Chem Trails NYC was a large-scale mural, measuring
approximately60 feet by
20 feet.
15. Chem Trails NYC was displayed on the Bowery Mural wall, a
well-known
outdoor exhibition space located on the corner of Houston Street
and Boweryin New York
City.
16. An image of Chem Trails NYC appears below:
17. On February 7, 2014, Hayuk caused her copyright in Chem
Trails NYC to be
registered in the United States Copyright Office, such
registration being assigned
Registration No. VA 1-173-957. A copy of the Certificate of
Registration is attached as
Exhibit A.
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18. Chem Trails NYC is wholly copyrightable under the laws of
the United States,
and Hayuk, the creator and sole owner of Chem Trails NYC, holds
all copyright interests
therein.
19. On information and belief, in or around April 2014, Chem
Trails NYC was
used prominendy in a photo shoot for Coach's Spring 2014 line of
apparel, footwear, and
bags ("Coach's Products").
20. On information and belief, the photo shoot was a joint
enterprise betweenCoach and Midley that culminated in the April 8,
2014 Coach-sponsored feature on Midley's
website, PurseBlog, entitled Exclusive: Explore Coach's Spring
2014 Collection and New York City's
Best StreetArt (the "PurseBlog Feature").
21. The PurseBlog Feature contains five (5) photographs
prominendy featuring
Chem Trails NYC (individually, "Photograph" and collectively the
"Photographs"). The
individual Photographs as they appeared in the PurseBlog Feature
arepictured below:
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22. Defendants clearly intended to benefit direcuy from their
unauthorized use
of Chem Trails NYC in the PurseBlog Feature. For example, before
a consumer even viewed
the Photographs featuring Chem Trails NYC, the PurseBlog Feature
encouraged users to
purchase Coach's Products:
To shop thefullSpring 2014 collection, head to Coach.com. A few
items are available in selectCoach stores and by calling
866.262.2440.
23. The PurseBlog Feature contained additional opportunities for
commercial
transactions. Specifically, each Photograph served as a vehicle
through which consumers
could purchase Coach's Products. The descriptive text below each
Photograph linked to the
depicted Product or Products on Coach's website through
hyperlinks embedded in yellow
text stating the Product's price. An example of such descriptive
text appears below:
24. Defendants used the Photographs extensively on their
respective Instagram,
Facebook, and Twitter pages, and Coach has also featured the
Photographs on its Tumblr
account ("Defendants' Social Media"). Representative examples of
Defendants' Social Media
are attached as Exhibit B.
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25. Coach further used the Photographs to sell Coach's Products
by linking the
Photographs posted on its Facebook and Twitter pages to the
Products' respective sites on
the Coach website.
26. Defendants violated Hayuk's copyrights by displaying and
reproducing Chem
Trails NYC on the PurseBlog Feature and on Defendants' Social
Media.
27. Defendants knew or should have known of Hayuk's rights in
Chem Trails
NYC by virtue of Hayuk's prominent signature on Chem Trails NYC,
ample press and social
media coverage of Chem Trails NYC, and by Hayuk's reputation in
the art world. Direcdy
below is a photograph of Hayuk's signature on Chem Trails
NYC.
28. Indeed, Chem Trails NYC is an enormously popular artwork and
has
generated a great deal of media attention since its completion.
Defendants exploited the
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popularity and notoriety that Chem Trails NYC had developed in
order to promote Coach's
Products and Midley's PurseBlog website.
29. Hayuk has suffered and continues to suffer damages and
irreparable injury asa result of Defendants' infringement of the
Chem Trails NYCcopyright.
Count ICopyright Infringement - Against All Defendants
30. Hayuk incorporates by reference paragraphs 1-29 of this
Complaint,
inclusive, as if the same were fully set forth herein.
31. Hayuk is the owner of all right, tide, and interest in and
to the copyright of
Chem Trails NYC.
32. Hayuk has never authorized, licensed, or otherwise permitted
Defendants to
reproduce, display, or otherwise use Chem Trails NYC or
anycopies thereof.
33. Without Hayuk's authorization, Defendants have reproduced,
displayed, and
otherwise used Chem Trails NYC. Such unauthorized use
constitutes an infringement of
Hayuk's copyright for which she is entided to damages and
injunctive relief.
34. Hayuk has been damaged and continues to be damaged by
Defendants'
infringement of her copyright in Chem Trails NYC.
Count IIContributory Copyright Infringement - Against All
Defendants
35. Hayuk repeats and realleges paragraphs 1-34 of this
Complaint, inclusive, as
if the same were fully set forth herein.
36. Defendants caused, enabled, encouraged, facilitated, and
induced others to
violate Hayuk's copyright in Chem Trails NYC by enabling,
encouraging, inducing, and
facilitating the copying, distribution, and display of
unauthorized derivatives of Chem Trails
NYC.
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37. Upon information and belief, Defendants benefitted
commercially from such
unauthorized use of Chem Trails NYC.
38. Defendants' conduct constitutes contributory infringement of
Hayuk's
copyright in Chem Trails NYC.
39. Hayuk has been damaged and continues to be damaged by
Defendants'
contributory infringement of her copyright in Chem Trails
NYC.
Prayer for Relief
WHEREFORE, Hayuk prays for judgment against Defendants as
follows:
1. For a declaration that Defendants have direcdy and/or
secondarily infringed
Hayuk's copyright in Chem Trails NYC under the CopyrightAct;
2. For a preliminary order enjoining Defendants from all further
use of Chem
Trails NYC during the pendency of this litigation;
3. For a permanent injunction requiring Defendants, their
respective agents,servants, employees, officers, successors,
licensees, and assigns and all
persons acting in concert or participation with each or any of
them, or for
them, to cease and desist frominfringing Chem Trails NYC, in any
manner;
4. For an award of damages arising from Defendants' infringement
of Hayuk's
copyright;
5. For an award of profits earned by Defendants from the
infringement of
Hayuk's copyright in accordance with 504(b) of the Copyright
Act;
6. For an award, if elected by Hayuk, of statutory damages
within the
provisions of the Copyright Act in a sum not less than $750.00,
nor more
than $30,000.00, or if the Court finds that the infringement was
committed
-
willfully, such statutory damages within the provisions of the
Copyright Act
in a sum up to and including $150,000.00;
7. For an award of attorneys' fees, costs of suit and interest;
and
8. For such other and further reliefas the Court deems just and
proper.
PLAINTIFF DEMANDS A TRIAL BYJURY ON ALL COUNTS.
Respectfully submitted,
MAYA HAYUK
/s/Aaron Y. SilversteinDated: August 18, 2014 Aaron Y.
Silverstein (AS-2323)
Saunders & Silverstein LLP14 Cedar Street, Suite
224Amesbury, MA 01913P: 978-463-9130F: 978-463-9109E:
[email protected]
Attorneys for PlaintiffMaya Hayuk
10
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DEMAND FOR TURY TRIAL
Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b), Plaintiff Maya Hayuk hereby
demands a jury trial
on all triable issues raised by this Complaint.
Dated: August 18, 2014
SAUNDERS & SILVERSTEIN LLP
/s/Aaron Y. SilversteinAaron Y. Silverstein (AS-2323)Saunders
& Silverstein LLP14 Cedar Street, Suite 224Amesbury, MA 01913P:
978-463-9130F: 978-463-9109E: [email protected]
Attorneys for PlaintiffMaya Hayuk
11
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Exhibit A
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Certificate ofRegistration
****
1870'
This Certificateissuedunder the seal of the CopyrightOffice in
accordance with title 17,United States Code,atteststhat
registration has been madefor the workidentified below. The
information on this certificate hasbeen made a part of the
Copyright Office records.
Register ofCopyrights, United States of America
Title Title ofWork: CHEM TRAILS NYC
Completion/Publication
Author
Year ofCompletion: 2014
Author: Maya Hayuk
Author Created: 2-D artwork
Citizen of: United States
Year Born: 1969
Copyright claimant
Registration Number
VAu 1-173-957Effective date of
registration:February 7,2014
Domiciled in: United States
Copyright Claimant: Maya Hayuk
720 Lorimer Street, #3R, Brooklyn, NY, 11211,United States
CertificationName: Aaron Y. Silverstein
Date: February 7,2014
Applicant's Tracking Number: 4.137.11
Page 1of 1
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Exhibit B
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https://ymrw.facebook.com/coach
Coach
to-ft j Coach TlimlliM - 2014
Coach
Chic in hand, on the shoulder or as a
crossbody:http://bit.ly/H7A68d
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