Minister’s Widow Can Get Attorneys’ Fees in Ninth Circuit Copyright Case

A minister’s widow may be entitled to attorneys’ fees in a case involving the copyrights to her late husband’s video-recorded sermons, the Ninth Circuit said Wednesday.

In an issue of first impression in the circuit, the court said a party can still recover attorneys’ fees under the Copyright Act in a copyright-related case involving declaratory relief instead of a typical copyright claim.

The case involves the recordings of Eugene Scott, who launched the first 24-hour religious television network. Eugene bequeathed his copyrights to his widow, Melissa Scott, who continued his license agreement with Dolores Press Inc. When Melissa refused Georgia ...