GAINESVILLE – An Escambia County man alleges his copyrighted artwork is being sold without his permission.
Tom Brinkman filed a complaint on Aug. 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida against Mitchell-Proffitt Co., James S. Nettles and Patricia Nettles alleging copyright infringement and breach of contract.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that he and the defendants and him were previously engaged in copyright infringement litigation concerning several artworks designed by the plaintiff that are commonly used as decorative automobile license tags. Although the previous suit was settled, defendants allegedly continued to infringe on plaintiff's artworks to date.
The plaintiff holds Mitchell-Proffitt Co., James S. Nettles and Patricia Nettles responsible because the defendants allegedly continue to advertise, display, distribute and sell to the public numerous copyrighted artworks that were registered under the plaintiff.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against the defendants, economic damages, costs of suit, attorneys' fees and other relief as the court deems just. He is represented by Brian D. Hancock of Taylor, Warren & Weidner PA in Pensacola.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida Case number 3:16-cv-00422