American International Pictures, Inc. v. Foreman

GODBOLD, Circuit Judge:

These consolidated cases arose and were tried under the copyright law prior to the effective date of the new copyright statute.1 Seven major motion picture distributors sued Foreman claiming copyright infringement of 120 motion pictures. They alleged that Foreman violated their exclusive right, granted by 17 U.S.C. § 1(a), to vend these films by selling and dealing in them through his business, 16 MM Film-land. The question on appeal involves the operation of 17 U.S.C. § 27 (of the old statute), the “first sale doctrine,” which provides that “nothing in this title shall…