Significance: Cordon Holding C.B. v. Northwest Publishing Corporation

Northwest Publishing Corporation reproduced and sold works of art by the Dutch artist, M.C. Escher. Escher’s works of art were not copyrighted in the United States and were thus part of the public domain.  Cordon Holding, owner of the copyrights of all of Escher’s works, registered the works for U.S. copyright protection on September 16, 1996. Before officially registering the works, Cordon Holding sent a notice to Northwest Publishing Corporation indicating their intent to enforce the copyright once it was restored. After the restoration of the copyright of the artworks, it was discovered that the defendants had not discontinued their reproduction and distribution of Escher works.

Actual damages are determined by the effect that the copyright infringement have on the market value of the copyrighted work. Statutory damages can also be awarded instead of actual damages up to $100,000. Statutory damages can not be granted for copyright infringement unless the copyright is registered three months after publication. The copyright for Escher’s works was not registered three months after publication. Thus, Cordon Holding were not eligible for statutory damages.  The court ruled Cordon Holding can only receive the gross revenue the Northwest Publishing Corporation earned from the sale of Escher’s work after the restoration of the copyright.