Jonathan Pink's Way Too Intelligent Intellectual Property Report Rotating Header Image

Turns Out I was Wrong — Attorneys Fees and Rule 68

After all this time . . . I had thought that FRCP Rule 68 was an excellent tool to hammer the plaintiff, even where the copyright defendant had in fact copied. This is because an argument exists that the recoverable “costs” under Rule 68 include attorneys fees. Thus, by making a Rule 68 offer early in the game, the defendant could shift the fees burden even if infringement was found (assuming, of course, the offer exceeded what plaintiff was able to recover at trial).

Opps. Turns out I was wrong, at least in part. Turns out there is a split in authority. I’ve been taking one side, while the 9th Circuit has taken the other.

In Ninth Circuit copyright actions, costs awardable pursuant to a Fed. R. Civ. P. 68 offer of judgment that exceeds plaintiff’s recovery at trial do not include a defendant’s post-offer attorney’s fees. This is because the Ninth Circuit has held that Rule 68 “costs” do not include a non-prevailing defendant’s post offer attorney’s fees when the underlying statute only awards attorney’s fees to a prevailing party. See, Champion Produce, Inc. v. Ruby Robinson Co., Inc., 342 F.3d 1016, 1031-32 (9th Cir. 2003). 17 U.S.C. § 505, the copyright provision dealing with attorney’s fees awards, provides that attorney’s fees may be awarded as a component of costs, but only to a prevailing party. 17 U.S.C. § 505 (“[T]he court may also award a reasonable attorney’s fee to the prevailing party as part of the costs.”).

Thus, because a defendant who is entitled to post Rule 68 offer costs is necessarily not the prevailing party (as the defendant is consenting to judgment), copyright defendants in this Circuit may not recover attorney’s fees as a component of costs. This view is also held by the First, Third, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits. See, William F. Patry, Patry on Copyright § 22:215 (2011).

Jonathan Pink is a business lawyer with a specialty in copyright, patent and trademark litigation. His clients include many of the biggest names in the automotive and motorcycle aftermarket parts industries, and one of world's largest media companies. He has extensive experience in a wide range of intellectual property and commercial disputes including breach of contract, fraud, and the misappropriation of trade secrets. He can be reached at 949.223.7173, or at jonathan.pink@bryancave.com, and his full profile can be viewed at www.bryancave.com.

55 Comments on “Turns Out I was Wrong — Attorneys Fees and Rule 68”

  1. #1 Alexander7
    on Jul 19th, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    buy@generic.LEVITRA” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Need cheap generic LEVITRA?…

  2. #2 BRANDON
    on Jul 29th, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    pictures@of.abilify” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buyno prescription…

  3. #3 LEWIS
    on Jul 29th, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Order@Abilify.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buynow it…

  4. #4 RICARDO
    on Jul 30th, 2011 at 2:12 am

    Buy@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buydrugs without prescription…

  5. #5 DUSTIN
    on Jul 31st, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Purchase@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buygeneric drugs…

  6. #6 PERRY
    on Jul 31st, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    Get@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Buywithout prescription…

  7. #7 ENRIQUE
    on Jul 31st, 2011 at 5:57 pm

    Order@Cheap.Abana” rel=”nofollow”>.

    Buynow it…

  8. #8 TERRENCE
    on Aug 1st, 2011 at 4:34 am

    ..

    Buyit now…

  9. #9 SALVADOR
    on Aug 1st, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    Order@Generic.Abilify” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buygeneric meds…

  10. #10 JEFFREY
    on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    Purchase@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Buynow it…

  11. #11 DONALD
    on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    Purchase@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Buyit now…

  12. #12 WALLACE
    on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    Purchase@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Buygeneric drugs…

  13. #13 RUSSELL
    on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 11:41 pm

    Purchase@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buywithout prescription…

  14. #14 SAM
    on Aug 6th, 2011 at 5:21 am

    Purchase@Accutane.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    Buynow it…

  15. #15 TED
    on Aug 6th, 2011 at 11:38 pm

    Cheap@Generic.Accutane.10mg.20mg” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    Buyno prescription…

  16. #16 ANGELO
    on Aug 7th, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    Cheap@Aciphex.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    Buynow it…

  17. #17 RUBEN
    on Aug 9th, 2011 at 3:58 am

    Order@Acomplia.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    Buygeneric meds…

  18. #18 BOB
    on Aug 9th, 2011 at 6:11 am

    Order@Discount.Acomplia” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    Buygeneric drugs…

  19. #19 LOUIS
    on Aug 9th, 2011 at 7:10 am

    Purchase@Acomplia.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    Buygeneric drugs…

  20. #20 BERNARD
    on Aug 11th, 2011 at 6:16 am

    Purchase@Cheap.Actos” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buynow it vhx…

  21. #21 RAY
    on Aug 12th, 2011 at 8:46 am

    Buy@Discount.Adalat” rel=”nofollow”>.

    Buygeneric drugs zfk…

  22. #22 JEREMIAH
    on Aug 13th, 2011 at 2:53 am

    Cheap@Abana.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buynow it tly…

  23. #23 DARYL
    on Aug 13th, 2011 at 4:30 am

    Buy@Cheap.Abilify” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buygeneric drugs krg…

  24. #24 BRUCE
    on Aug 14th, 2011 at 9:43 am

    Get@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Buynow it zdg…

  25. #25 LEWIS
    on Aug 18th, 2011 at 6:56 am

    Purchase@Cheap.Aciphex” rel=”nofollow”>.

    Buygeneric drugs axm…

  26. #26 VINCENT
    on Aug 18th, 2011 at 7:41 pm

    Purchase@Aciphex.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.

    Buydrugs without prescription xab…

  27. #27 NORMAN
    on Aug 18th, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    Cheap@Aciphex.20mg” rel=”nofollow”>.

    Buyit now ojb…

  28. #28 BRETT
    on Aug 19th, 2011 at 1:54 am

    Buy@Generic.Aciphex.20mg” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Buydrugs without prescription jlg…

  29. #29 NICHOLAS
    on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 5:31 am

    Purchase@Cheap.Advair” rel=”nofollow”>.

    Buygeneric pills oir…

  30. #30 SHANE
    on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 10:51 am

    Get@Advair.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.

    Buygeneric drugs hwi…

  31. #31 AARON
    on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Buy@Generic.Advair.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buyno prescription jwi…

  32. #32 RANDY
    on Aug 25th, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    Purchase@Albenza.Online” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Buydrugs without prescription ttp…

  33. #33 KEN
    on Aug 27th, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    arava@adverse.events” rel=”nofollow”>…

    Buygeneric meds…

  34. #34 GENE
    on Aug 28th, 2011 at 9:46 am

    aciphex@muscle.pain” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buygeneric pills…

  35. #35 AUSTIN
    on Aug 28th, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    actos@side.effects.edema” rel=”nofollow”>..

    Buygeneric drugs…

  36. #36 ALAN
    on Aug 29th, 2011 at 4:11 am

    how@to.monitor.anafranil” rel=”nofollow”>.

    Buyno prescription…

  37. #37 EDWIN
    on Oct 18th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
  38. #38 TIMOTHY
    on Oct 20th, 2011 at 1:19 am
  39. #39 ZACHARY
    on Oct 20th, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    citalopram length of use

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  40. #40 HERMAN
    on Oct 21st, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    weight gain stories feeders

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  41. #41 HENRY
    on Oct 23rd, 2011 at 2:06 am

    menstrual patterns in menopause

    Buy_no prescription…

  42. #42 HUBERT
    on Oct 24th, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    dependent disorder anxiety

    Buy_generic pills…

  43. #43 RANDY
    on Oct 26th, 2011 at 6:11 am

    herbal flee collars for dogs

    Buy_generic pills…

  44. #44 JOSHUA
    on Oct 27th, 2011 at 2:11 am
  45. #45 PERRY
    on Oct 29th, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    high calorie diet for babies

    Buy_generic drugs…

  46. #46 BEN
    on Oct 29th, 2011 at 11:23 pm

    cures for fingernail fungi

    Buy_generic meds…

  47. #47 PETER
    on Oct 31st, 2011 at 7:48 am
  48. #48 KIRK
    on Nov 1st, 2011 at 3:47 am

    st joseph aspirin coupon

    Buy_generic pills…

  49. #49 DALE
    on Nov 5th, 2011 at 6:13 am

    hot spots or cancer

    Buy_without prescription…

  50. #50 PETER
    on Nov 5th, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    south beach diet foods to avoid

    Buy_no prescription…

  51. #51 BRANDON
    on Nov 9th, 2011 at 4:27 am

    altitude and pregnancy

    Buy_it now…

  52. #52 MICHEAL
    on Nov 9th, 2011 at 7:47 am
  53. #53 DAN
    on Nov 11th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    medical nebulizer

    Buy_generic meds…

  54. #54 STEVE
    on Nov 15th, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    drug citalopram side effects

    Buy_generic drugs…

  55. #55 JORGE
    on Nov 16th, 2011 at 11:44 am

    air purifiers for allergies

    Buy_generic meds…

Leave a Comment