Authors and other creators of copyrighted works scored a major victory Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated a significant barrier to recovering damages for copyright infringement.
In Petrella v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a 6-3 majority, led by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, held that the so-called doctrine of laches—meant to punish unreasonable, prejudicial delay in bringing a suit—cannot bar an infringement claim for damages that has been filed within the three-year limitations period in the Copyright Act.
