Supreme Court won't stop copyright suit over riot video

By The Associated Press

02.22.99

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WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court today refused to kill a copyright lawsuit in which a news service that videotaped the beating of trucker Reginald Denny during the 1992 Los Angeles riots seeks payment for unauthorized showings overseas.

The justices, without comment, let stand a ruling that lets Los Angeles News Service pursue its lawsuit against Reuters even though U.S. copyright laws generally do not apply in foreign countries.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last July that damages for copyright infringement are available if an unauthorized copy is made in the United States and then transmitted abroad. The New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously had allowed the same exception to copyright laws' jurisdictional limits.

Denny's beating and other attacks on motorists were taped from a helicopter during the rioting that followed the acquittals of two police officers charged with beating motorist Rodney King. Los Angeles News Service agreed to provide its copyright works to the television networks, including NBC.

Reuters Television International obtained a copy of the videotape through a joint venture with NBC and the British Broadcasting Company. Reuters then made copies available to its subscriber stations by putting them on satellites accessible in Europe and parts of Africa.

A federal trial judge narrowed the copyright lawsuit to domestic infringements, but the 9th Circuit court reversed that ruling.

In an interview after the appeals court ruling, news service lawyer William Bergen said his client might collect $6 million in damages.

In the appeal acted on today, Reuters' lawyers urged the justices to use the case to make clear that U.S. copyright laws do not cover overseas infringements.

The case is Reuters Television International vs. Los Angeles News Service, 98-851.