Feltner v. Columbia Pictures Television, Inc.

Summary

The Court held that § 504(c) of the Copyright Act does not itself grant a right to a jury trial on statutory damages, but the Seventh Amendment guarantees a jury determination of all issues pertinent to such an award, including its amount. Historical copyright damages actions were tried at law before juries, and statutory damages serve traditionally legal purposes. The Court reversed the Ninth Circuit and remanded. Justice Thomas wrote for eight Justices. Justice Scalia concurred in the judgment alone, arguing that the statute could reasonably be construed to authorize jury determination and that constitutional avoidance required that construction without deciding the Seventh Amendment question.