complaint-for-copyright-infringement

name	complaint-for-copyright-infringement
title	Complaint for Copyright Infringement
description	Drafts a federal court complaint for copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. Produces a Twombly/Iqbal-plausible pleading with caption, jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a)), venue (28 U.S.C. §§ 1391, 1400(a)), ownership allegations, infringement count, damages, and prayer. Use when initiating copyright litigation in U.S. federal court at the pleadings phase.
author	CaseMark
author_url	https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/complaint-for-copyright-infringement
license	Apache-2.0
version	0.1.0
execution_mode	open
jurisdiction	us
practice	ip
language	en
tags	["drafting","litigation","pleading"]

Complaint for Copyright Infringement

Drafts a litigation-ready federal complaint asserting copyright infringement under the Copyright Act, establishing jurisdiction, ownership, and infringement with Twombly/Iqbal plausibility.

Prerequisites

Gather before drafting:

1. Registration — number(s), effective date(s), certificate copies; required under 17 U.S.C. § 411(a)
2. Ownership chain — creation facts, work-for-hire agreement, or assignment documents
3. Party details — full legal names, incorporation/citizenship states, principal places of business
4. Infringement facts — specific acts, dates, URLs/locations, access evidence, similarity analysis
5. Willfulness evidence (if any) — prior notice, admissions, forensic evidence
6. SOL check — all acts within 3 years of discovery (17 U.S.C. § 507(b))
7. Target district — local rules for caption format, exhibit labeling, page limits

Quick Start

Draft the complaint in seven sections, numbered paragraphs throughout (FRCP 10(b)):

1. Caption → 2. Parties → 3. Jurisdiction & Venue → 4. Copyrighted Works → 5. Count I → 6. Prayer → 7. Jury Demand & Signature

Drafting Workflow

1. Caption

Format per target district local rules. Include:

• Court name and district
• Plaintiff v. Defendant with placeholders for Case No.
• Title: "COMPLAINT FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT"
• "JURY TRIAL DEMANDED"

2. Parties

Party	Allege
Plaintiff	Legal status, citizenship/incorporation, PPB, relationship to work (author, employer, assignee)
Defendant	Legal status, citizenship/incorporation, PPB or residence, activities establishing personal jurisdiction
Online defendant	Websites/platforms; access, downloads, or distribution within district

3. Jurisdiction & Venue

• Subject matter: Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.; federal question under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a); original and exclusive jurisdiction
• Venue: 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391, 1400(a) — defendant resides in district, substantial events occurred there, or defendant subject to personal jurisdiction

4. Copyrighted Work(s)

For each work allege: