Ninth Circuit Decision an Appellate Victory for Nirvana in Dante’s Inferno Copyright Lawsuit

In a victory for our client Nirvana, a Ninth Circuit panel upheld a Los Angeles federal judge’s decision to dismiss a copyright lawsuit claiming that the group had infringed a family member’s artwork in imagery used in their merchandise. The Ninth Circuit refused to hear the case, due to the fact that the plaintiff is a British citizen and therefore any infringement action should be based on UK law.

The case has been extensively covered by the media:

9th Circ. Affirms IP Plaintiff Has No US Claim Against Nirvana, Law360

Ninth Circuit Refuses to Hear Nirvana Artwork Infringement Lawsuit: ‘The United Kingdom Provides An Adequate Alternative Forum’, Digital Music News

Copyright Infringement Suit Involving Nirvana and Dante’s ‘Inferno’ Illustration Heads to the UK, ARTnews

Nirvana and Dante’s Inferno Illustration Copyright Infringement Case Goes to UK Court, Widewalls

Rimon attorney Mark Lee represented Nirvana in the case.

Working at the intersection of intellectual property and entertainment, Mark Lee advises celebrities and celebrity estates, studios, and high-tech companies in copyright, trademark, and right of publicity matters. Mark’s litigation record spans federal district and appeals courts across the country, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of California. He has successfully tried five copyright, trademark or unfair competition actions to juries and argued more than 18 appeals.