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> It's a pity the student didn't talk to a copyright > lawyer (with litigation experience) before caving. How much would that cost him in the US? And how li

> It's a pity the student didn't talk to a copyright > lawyer (with litigation experience) before caving. How much would that cost him in the US? And how likely is that the court would actually grant him the money? The link says "at court’s discretion". Has it actually ever happenned before?

kamjam 15y ago
If he was at university then surely there was a clued up professor there who could have given him all the advice he would have needed.
jimbobimbo 15y ago
It could've been free first consultation, it could've been a few hundred dollars - if OP had already budgeted $10,000 on the project, a small price to pay.
- darksaga 15y ago
  Agreed. Most attorneys, even back then, usually give you your first consultation free. Attorneys are also supposed to take several cases per year on a pro bono basis. I think this would have been great for both parties. Attorney gets plenty of press for taking on the studio (and most likely enough business afterwards to pay for the costs and work he did), student gets free legal representation, and the big studio looks horrible attempting to quash a students film he needs to graduate.
fluidcruft 15y ago
I'm somewhat surprised (given that all the faculty were sympathetic) that nobody directed the student to the university's counsel.
- pasbesoin 15y ago
  Just saw your comment after posting mine. Agree. Unfortunately, in my anecdotal experience schools not infrequently do not fulfill the role of advocate well. (Sometimes, they do, though.) In a case like this, I think it can somewhat be "luck of the draw". With the initial/primary contact point with the school being the professor, some professors know what to do or at least will tackle the problem. Others are at a loss, or don't care. (I'm not saying that's the case, here; they did pass him, although leaving him without a thesis project.) Remember, you're dealing with an academic, when what you may need is a lawyer.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
dctoedt 15y ago
> Has it actually ever happenned before? Yes -- I updated my first comment at note [2].
- vibrunazo 15y ago
  That's great news, thanks.
pasbesoin 15y ago
I'll follow up by asking how a student is supposed to know all this? And I'll ask, where were the professor and the school's legal counsel? If the student didn't know to go to the latter, the professor should have guided him in this matter. The school should have served as an advocate for the student. They clearly failed.
- 454546546 15y ago
  >I'll follow up by asking how a student is supposed to know all this? The lawyers are supposed to know all this. The student is supposed to ask around and find a lawyer.

kamjam 15y ago

If he was at university then surely there was a clued up professor there who could have given him all the advice he would have needed.

jimbobimbo 15y ago

It could've been free first consultation, it could've been a few hundred dollars - if OP had already budgeted $10,000 on the project, a small price to pay.

darksaga 15y ago
Agreed. Most attorneys, even back then, usually give you your first consultation free. Attorneys are also supposed to take several cases per year on a pro bono basis. I think this would have been great for both parties. Attorney gets plenty of press for taking on the studio (and most likely enough business afterwards to pay for the costs and work he did), student gets free legal representation, and the big studio looks horrible attempting to quash a students film he needs to graduate.

fluidcruft 15y ago

I'm somewhat surprised (given that all the faculty were sympathetic) that nobody directed the student to the university's counsel.

pasbesoin 15y ago
Just saw your comment after posting mine. Agree. Unfortunately, in my anecdotal experience schools not infrequently do not fulfill the role of advocate well. (Sometimes, they do, though.) In a case like this, I think it can somewhat be "luck of the draw". With the initial/primary contact point with the school being the professor, some professors know what to do or at least will tackle the problem. Others are at a loss, or don't care. (I'm not saying that's the case, here; they did pass him, although leaving him without a thesis project.) Remember, you're dealing with an academic, when what you may need is a lawyer.

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

dctoedt 15y ago

> Has it actually ever happenned before? Yes -- I updated my first comment at note [2].

vibrunazo 15y ago
That's great news, thanks.

pasbesoin 15y ago

I'll follow up by asking how a student is supposed to know all this? And I'll ask, where were the professor and the school's legal counsel? If the student didn't know to go to the latter, the professor should have guided him in this matter. The school should have served as an advocate for the student. They clearly failed.

454546546 15y ago
>I'll follow up by asking how a student is supposed to know all this? The lawyers are supposed to know all this. The student is supposed to ask around and find a lawyer.