F.E.L. Publications, Ltd. v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago, and F.E.L. Publications, Ltd. v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago

BAUER, Circuit Judge.

Plaintiff F.E.L. Publications, Ltd. (F.E. L.), a publisher of religious music, was awarded $190,400 in actual damages for copyright infringement resulting from the unauthorized use and copying of its hymnals and songsheets by defendant Catholic Bishop of Chicago (Catholic Bishop). Plaintiff appeals this award, challenging the district court’s denial of its request for $1.5 million in statutory damages available under the Copyright Act of 1909 1 in lieu of the actual damages awarded by the jury. The jury also found that defendant tortiously interfered with plaintiff’s…