Following two separate summary judgment rulings on the merits of a copyright dispute between two churches, Judge Stearns has now concluded the case with this order on attorneys' fees and a permanent injunction.
In the 70s / 80s the plaintiff monastery translated a number of Eastern Orthodox texts from the original Greek into English. The defendant, formerly with the monastery, took copies of the translations with him when he left and put excerpts on his website without permission. Summary judgment entered for the plaintiff, though with little actual damages Judge Stearns offered a choice between the minimum award of statutory damages or a damages trial. The plaintiff chose the minimum award but also moved for attorneys' fees and costs.
Fees and costs were awarded, in an amount nearing $60,000 to go with the statutory damages award of $5,250. The award covers fees of counsel through the first six months, after which the case was pro bono. A permanent injunction was also entered prohibiting the defendant from copying or displaying on a website the works in question.
Society of the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Inc. v. Archbishop Gregory of Denver, Colorado, 07-12387-RGS (D. Mass. Feb. 8, 2011)
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