Alexander v. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
| Decision Date | 26 September 2020 |
| Docket Number | Case No. 18-cv-966-SMY |
| Citation | 489 F.Supp.3d 812 |
| Parties | Catherine ALEXANDER, Plaintiff, v. TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC. 2K Games, Inc., 2K Sports Inc., World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Visual Concepts Entertainment, Yuke's Co., Ltd., Yukes LA Inc., Defendants. |
| Court | U.S. District Court — Southern District of Illinois |
R. Seth Crompton, Holland, Groves, et al., Anthony R. Friedman, Benjamin R. Askew, Anthony G. Simon, Simon Law Firm, P.C., St. Louis, MO, for Plaintiff.
Dale M. Cendali, Christopher Ilardi, Pro Hac Vice, Joshua L. Simmons, Miranda D. Means, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York, NY, Michael J. Nester, Donovan Rose Nester, PC, Belleville, IL, Patrick K. Arnett, Pro Hac Vice, Kirkland & Ellis, Washington, DC, for Defendants Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., 2K Games, Inc., 2K Sports Inc., Visual Concepts Entertainment.
Jerry S. McDevitt, Curtis B. Krasik, K & L Gates LLP, Pittsburgh, PA, Michael J. Nester, Donovan Rose Nester, PC, Belleville, IL, for Defendant World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Plaintiff Catherine Alexander filed the instant lawsuit against Defendants Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., 2K Games, Inc., 2K Sports Inc., Visual Concepts Entertainment (the "Take-Two Defendants"), and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ("WWE") asserting copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501. The case is now before the Court for consideration of Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 139) and the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the Take-Two Defendants (Doc. 141). The parties have filed responses (Docs. 170 and 215). For the following reasons, Plaintiff's Motion is GRANTED, and Defendants’ Motion is DENIED .1
Catherine Alexander is a former tattoo artist who inked six tattoos on WWE professional wrestler Randy Orton between 2002 and 2008 (Doc. 142-17, at pp. 93, 97-98, 110, 113; Doc. 142-5, at ¶¶ 8, 10, 12-17). The tattoos include tribal tattoos on Orton's forearm, a Bible verse on his arm, a dove, a rose, and a skull. Id. at p. 124; Doc. 142-5, at ¶¶ 10, 12. Orton had a "tribal design" on his back created by another tattooist which Alexander also extended at Orton's request (Doc. 142-17, pp. 93, 97-98, 110, 113, 124).
Defendant Take-Two is the creator of the WWE 2K series of video games (Doc. 142-1 at ¶ 2). WWE 2K is a realistic depiction of WWE wrestling and includes elements that appear in real world wrestling (Doc. 142-18, at pp. 71-72; Doc. 142-20, at p. 43; pp. 106-107). To depict Orton in WWE 2K as he appears in real life, Take-Two replicated his likeness, including the Alexander tattoos (Doc. 142-20, at p. 43, pp. 106-107). Take-Two accomplished this by copying Orton's tattoos and reproducing them digitally in the video games. Id. at 154. This process is referred to as "photo reference" in the video game industry and required no artistic input other than a "rote" recreation of a reference photograph of Orton's tattoos. Id. at 149. The in-game reproduction of Orton in WWE 2K games is neither a photograph, video, nor live broadcast; it is a digitally created, authentic, re-creation of photographs of Orton (Doc. 142-20, pp. 139-144).
Take-Two obtained a license to portray Orton's likeness in WWE 2K from WWE, which itself was licensed by Orton (Doc. 142-5, at ¶ 22; Doc. 142-1, at ¶ 7; Doc. 145-22, Doc. 145-23). WWE's agreement with Take-Two obligated WWE to approve or disapprove of the subject video games before Take-Two could release and market the games. (Doc. 217-1, pp. 24-25; pp. 36-44). WWE's review process included reviewing Orton's tattoos to make sure they were accurate. Id. at pp. 68-73. WWE would have rejected Orton's videogame persona if it appeared without his tattoos or appeared with tattoos that were different than Orton's actual tattoos as WWE would not have considered it an accurate depiction of Orton. Id.
Alexander has not worked in the tattoo industry full time since 2009 and has never licensed any tattoo to be included in video games or anywhere else. (Doc. 142-17, at pp. 179-181, 188). During her deposition, Alexander testified she has never told a client they needed her permission to appear in different media, such as photographs, tv shows, or videogames (Doc. 142-17, pp. 65-66, pp. 182-183), nor has she ever given permission to any of her clients to use copies of her tattoo work in video games. Id. , at 204. She would "take issue" if any client were to replicate her tattoos in a manner other than in photos or videos, including using her tattoo works to print and sell other commercial items, such as T-shirts. Id. , at 203.
In 2009, Alexander contacted WWE's legal department to negotiate about a possible faux sleeve product depicting her tattoo works (Doc. 215-3, p. 25). A WWE representative laughed at her and stated she had no grounds and that they could do what they wanted with Orton's images because he was their wrestler. Id. at pp. 30-31. WWE then offered Alexander $450 for extensive rights to use and produce the tattoo designs on WWE products. Alexander declined the offer and advised WWE that she did not grant it any permission to copy, duplicate, or otherwise reproduce any of her designs. Defendants have released and promoted wrestling video games titled "WWE 2K16", "WWE 2K17", and "WWE 2K18" which feature Orton. Id. at p. 205.
Alexander moves for partial summary judgment on the issue of copying. Defendants move for summary judgment, arguing Alexander's copyright claim fails as a matter of law for three independent reasons: Take-Two's use of the tattoos was authorized by an implied license; the fair use doctrine insulates their utilization of the tattoos in the WWE 2K videogames; and the tattoos are a de minimis part of WWE 2K. Defendants further argue Alexander cannot prove actual damages.
Summary judgment is proper only if the moving party can demonstrate that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) ; Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The moving party is entitled to summary judgment where the non-moving party "has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of her case with respect to which she has the burden of proof." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not sufficiently probative, summary judgment may be granted. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249–50, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Any doubt as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved against the moving party. Lawrence v. Kenosha County, 391 F.3d 837, 841 (7th Cir. 2004).
The owner of a copyright has the exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work. 17 U.S.C. § 106(1). Copyright infringement occurs when anyone violates the exclusive rights of a copyright owner. 17 U.S.C. § 501(a). "A plaintiff alleging copyright infringement must establish two elements: (1) ownership of a valid copyright, and (2) copying of the constituent elements of the work that are original." Design Basics, LLC v. Lexington Homes, Inc. , 858 F.3d 1093, 1099 (7th Cir. 2017).
"Some minimal degree of creativity," or "the existence of ... intellectual production, of thought, and conception" is required for copyright protection. JCW Investments, Inc. v. Novelty, Inc., 482 F.3d 910, 914–15 (7th Cir. 2007) (quoting Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co., Inc., 499 U.S. 340, 362, 111 S.Ct. 1282, 113 L.Ed.2d 358 (1991) ). Copyright protection begins at the moment of creation of "original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression," including "pictorial, graphic, and sculptural" works and sound recordings. 17 U.S.C. § 102(a). A work is "fixed" in a tangible medium of expression "when its embodiment in a copy ... is sufficiently permanent or stable to permit it to be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated for a period of more than transitory duration." JCW Investments , 482 F.3d at 915 ; 17 U.S.C. § 101. A certificate of copyright is "prima facie evidence" of the copyright's validity. Id. ; 17 U.S.C. § 410(c). If a plaintiff establishes a valid copyright, copying of the protected work by a defendant can be proven either by direct evidence or inferred where the defendant had access to the copyrighted work and the work is substantially similar to the copyrighted work. Id. ; see also Susan Wakeen Doll Co., Inc. v. Ashton Drake Galleries, 272 F.3d 441, 450 (7th Cir. 2001).
Alexander argues there is no dispute of material facts as to the issue of copying because Defendants have admitted to copying her original copyrighted tattoo artworks without permission. Defendants admit to copying Alexander's tattoos in their entirety in order to depict Orton in WWE 2K as he appears in real life (factual copying). However, citing Second and Fifth Circuit decisions, they argue Alexander cannot establish legally actionable copying, which she must also prove.
Defendants’ argument is contrary to Seventh Circuit copyright law under which Alexander only needs to show that Defendants used her property; the burden of proving the use was authorized falls squarely on Defendants. See Muhammad-Ali v. Final Call, Inc., 832 F.3d 755, 761 (7th Cir. 2016) (). It is undisputed that Alexander holds valid copyrights for the five tattoos at issue and that Defendants copied her copyrighted works. Accordingly, Alexander's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to the copying element is GRANTED .
Because Defendants admit to copying Alexander's copyrighted tattoos, they are liable for copyright infringement unless they can establish an affirmative defense to their usage. In that vein, Defendants assert three affirmative defenses to their...
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Proprietary Ink: How One Tattoo Artist Took Take-Two to the Mat Over Unauthorized Use of Replica Tattoos on Wrestlers in WWE 2K Games
...wrestling star Randy Orton in a series of released WWE 2K wrestling video games. See Alexander v. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., 489 F. Supp. 3d 812 (S.D. Ill. 2020). The lawsuit concerns five designs for which Alexander obtained copyright registrations prior to filing suit. WWE and T......