Unicolors, Inc. v. H&M Hennes & Mauritz, L.P., 598 U.S. ___ (2022)
The Supreme Court case of Unicolors, Inc. v.
Whether errors in copyright registration, discovered to be 'innocent mistakes', bar an infringement lawsuit under the Copyright Act.
Under the Copyright Act, a copyright registration containing inadvertent errors can still be valid unless the errors were made with knowledge or intent to deceive the Copyright Office.
The Supreme Court held that errors made in a copyright application do not invalidate a copyright registration, provided the errors are not intentional misrepresentations.
This case is significant for law students and practitioners of copyright law because it clarifies how courts should approach the issue of errors in copyright registration. It underscores the difference between substantive errors that could invalidate rights and procedural or minor mistakes that do not. This case also illustrates the interplay between statutory requirements and practical considerations in protecting intellectual property.