Unclaimed Property Recovery Service, Inc. v. Kaplan

KATZMANN, Circuit Judge:

This case concerns a novel attempt to use copyright law in furtherance of sharp litigation practices. Plaintiffs-Appellants Unclaimed Property Recovery Service, Inc. (“UPRS”) and Bernard Gelb authorized the clients of Defendant-Appellee Attorney Norman Kaplan to file a legal complaint and exhibits that were written and compiled by Gelb and in which UPRS and Gelb claim copyright. The plaintiffs contend that Kaplan’s subsequent amendment of the original documents and filing of amended pleadings infringed their copyrights. We hold that authorization granted to any…