Reed Elsevier, Inc. v. Muchnick

Summary

The Court held that 17 U.S.C. § 411(a)'s registration requirement is a precondition to filing a copyright infringement claim but does not limit federal courts' subject-matter jurisdiction. The Court reversed the Second Circuit's decision dismissing a class action settlement for lack of jurisdiction over unregistered works. Justice Ginsburg concurred in part and in the judgment, discussing the tension between Arbaugh and Bowles.