Oregon Catholic Press Complaint

Case 3:16-cv-00651
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Filed 04/15/16
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Leonard D. DuBoff, OSB #774378

lduboff@dubofflaw.com
The DuBoff Law Group
6665 S.W. Hampton Street, Suite 200
Portland, Oregon 97223-8357
Telephone: (503) 968-8111
Facsimile: (503) 968-7228
Of Attorneys for Plaintiff
Oregon Catholic Press
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF OREGON
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OREGON CATHOLIC PRESS, an Oregon

nonprofit corporation
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Plaintiff,
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Civil Case No. __________________
COMPLAINT
v.
VINCE AMBROSETTI, TRUSTEE OF
VINCE AMBROSETTI MINISTRIES aka
INTERNATIONAL LITURGY
PUBLICATIONS, a 501(c)(3) trust, LAMB
PUBLICATIONS, LLC, a Tennessee limited
liability company, VINCE AMBROSETTI, an
individual, and DOES 1-10, inclusive.
Copyright Infringement
(17 U.S.C 501, et seq)
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Defendants.
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Plaintiff Oregon Catholic Press alleges its action against Vince Ambrosetti, individually
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and as trustee of Vince Ambrosetti Ministries and against Lamb Publications, LLC and Does 1-
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10, inclusive, as follows.
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JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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1.
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This is a claim for copyright infringement arising under 17 U.S.C. 501513.

2.
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This Court has federal subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
1331 and 1338, and supplemental jurisdiction under 20 U.S.C. 1367.
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Page 1 COMPLAINT
The DuBoff Law Group, PC

6665 SW Hampton Street, Suite 200
Telephone (503) 968-8111
Facsimile (503) 968-7228
Case 3:16-cv-00651
Filed 04/15/16
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3.
Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b)(2), because a substantial
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part of the events giving rise to this claim occurred in this district.
PARTIES
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Plaintiff Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) is a not-for-profit religious publisher based in

Portland, Oregon, doing business as Oregon Catholic Press and as North American Liturgy
Resources. It publishes liturgical music, books, choral collections, hymnals, missals, and support
materials for the Catholic Church.

5.
On information and belief, Defendant Vince Ambrosetti (Ambrosetti) is the trustee of
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Vince Ambrosetti Ministries, aka International Liturgy Publications (ILP). On information and
belief, ILP is a 501(c)(3) trust.
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6.
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Defendant Lamb Publications, LLC (Lamb), a limited liability company formed under
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the laws of the state of Tennessee, with its principal place of business in College Grove,
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Tennessee, is a Christian publishing company. On information and belief, Lamb is controlled by
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ILP.
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Defendant Ambrosetti serves as the president and publisher of ILP.
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8.
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Does 1-10 are individuals or entities whose names are not yet known by Plaintiff.
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Plaintiff will seek leave to amend this Complaint to allege their true names and capacities when
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ascertained. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that each of these
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fictitiously-named defendants is responsible in some manner for the occurrences herein alleged,
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and that Plaintiffs damages were caused by their conduct.

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FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Copyright Infringement against Vince Ambrosetti, as trustee of Vince Ambrosetti
Ministries)
9.
OCP re-alleges and incorporates herein, by reference, each and every allegation
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contained in paragraphs 1 through 8 above, as though fully set forth herein.
10.
OCP is the sole owner or exclusive licensee of the copyrights in certain musical
compositions, among them the registered copyrights described in Exhibit A and the copyrights
described in Exhibit B, for which application for registration has been made.
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On or about May 14, 2009, OCP and Custom Hymnal, Inc. entered into an agreement
whereby OCP granted Custom Hymnal, Inc. and ILP the right to reprint in the Saint Augustine
Hymnal certain musical compositions (songs), the rights to which are owned or exclusively
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licensed by OCP. The 75 licensed songs are listed in Exhibit A of that agreement. The
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September 27, 2011, Addendum to the 2009 agreement allowed ILP to print a new version of the
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Saint Augustine Hymnal that included the Order of Mass and to sell that Saint Augustine
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Hymnal for a period of five years from November 27, 2011.

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On or about June 15, 2010, OCP granted ILP the right to reprint Bright As the Sun in
certain ILP publications, including the first edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal.
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13.
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On or about February 3, 2014, OCP and ILP entered into an agreement whereby OCP
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granted ILP a license to reprint a maximum of ten (10) songs to be chosen by ILP in any ILP
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publication. This agreement, which includes as attachments the 2009 agreement and its 2011
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addendum, as well as the 2010 agreement, is attached to this Complaint as Exhibit C.

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14.
On or about July 23, 2014, defendant Ambrosetti sent OCP a letter on behalf of ILP,
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indicating that ILP planned to include certain specific songs in the second edition of the Saint
Augustine Hymnal. Some of those songs were not included in Exhibit A to the 2009/2011
agreement.
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On or about August 6, 2014, OCPs attorney notified defendant Ambrosetti that the
2009/2011 agreement does not permit ILP to reprint the materials licensed by OCP in a second
edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal, though the 2014 agreement permits ILP to reprint up to
ten OCP songs in a new edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal.

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On or about August 7, 2014, defendant Ambrosetti wrote OCPs attorney on behalf of

ILP, stating that ILP would proceed to publish the second edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal
even if OCP did not agree to the proposed list of songs, instead reprinting the songs licensed by
the 2009/2011 agreement.
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On or about August 22, 2014, OCPs attorney sent ILP, through its publisher, defendant
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Ambrosetti, a letter notifying it that, if it proceeded with its plan to publish OCP works without
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permission, ILP would be exposing itself to potential liability for willful infringement in
violation of section 504 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976.
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ILP published the second edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal, in both hardback and
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softcover versions. The total number of OCP songs ILP reprinted in its second edition of the
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Saint Augustine Hymnal is 74.
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19.
Two of the 74 OCP songs that ILP reprinted in the second edition of the Saint Augustine
Hymnal, Festival Canticle: Worthy Is Christ and Bright As the Sun, were not listed in
Exhibit A to the 2009/2011 agreement.
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The acts of defendant Ambrosetti as trustee of ILP alleged herein constitute copyright
infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501.
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OCP is informed and believes and based thereon alleges that the acts alleged above were
at all times committed intentionally and willfully by Ambrosetti as trustee of ILP.
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The acts of Ambrosetti as trustee of ILP have caused and will continue to cause, unless
enjoined, irreparable injury to OCP, including loss of sales as well as injury to OCPs business
reputation and goodwill. OCP has no adequate remedy at law.
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OCP is entitled to an injunction restraining Ambrosetti as trustee of ILP and all persons
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acting in concert with them or either of them from engaging in any further acts of infringement
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and ordering them to destroy all copies of the infringing works.

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OCP is further entitled to recover from Ambrosetti as trustee of ILP the actual damages
OCP has sustained and will sustain and any gains, profits, and advantages obtained by
Ambrosetti as trustee of ILP as a result of the acts and infringements alleged above. At present,
the amount of such damages, gains, profits, and advantages cannot be fully ascertained by OCP.
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In the alternative, with respect to the registered copyrights listed in Exhibit A, pursuant to
17 U.S.C. 504(c)(1), OCP is entitled to recover statutory damages of $750 to $30,000 per act of
infringement of those registered copyrights. Further, because Ambrosetti, as trustee of ILP, acted
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willfully, OCP is entitled to enhanced statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of
infringement of the registered copyrights described in Exhibit A as provided in 17 U.S.C.
504(c)(2).
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OCP is also entitled to an award of its reasonable attorneys fees and costs related to the
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infringement of the copyrights described in Exhibit A pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505.
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Copyright Infringement against Lamb Publications, LLC)

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On information and belief, Lamb published and distributed the second edition of the Saint
Augustine Hymnal.
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With knowledge of the infringement, defendant Lamb has materially contributed to the
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infringing conduct of others. The acts of defendant Lamb alleged herein constitute copyright
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OCP is informed and believes and based thereon alleges that the acts alleged above were
at all times committed intentionally and willfully by Lamb.
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Lambs acts have caused and will continue to cause, unless enjoined, irreparable injury to
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OCP, including loss of sales as well as injury to OCPs business reputation and goodwill. OCP has
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no adequate remedy at law.
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32.
OCP is entitled to an injunction restraining Lamb and all persons acting in concert with it
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from engaging in any further acts of infringement and ordering them to destroy all copies of the
infringing works.
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OCP is further entitled to recover from Lamb the actual damages OCP has sustained and
will sustain and any gains, profits, and advantages obtained by Lamb as a result of the acts and
infringements alleged above. At present, the amount of such damages, gains, profits, and
advantages cannot be fully ascertained by OCP.
34.
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infringement of those registered copyrights. Further, because Lamb acted willfully, OCP is
entitled to enhanced statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement of the
registered copyrights described in Exhibit A as provided in 17 U.S.C. 504(c)(2).
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35.
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THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
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(Copyright Infringement against Vince Ambrosetti, an individual)
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As president and publisher of ILP, Ambrosetti had the right and ability to control and did
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control the musical compositions to be included in the Saint Augustine Hymnal.

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38.
As president and publisher of ILP, Ambrosetti derived a direct financial benefit from the
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publication of the second edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal.

39.
As president and publisher of ILP, Ambrosetti had access to the contracts between OCP
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and ILP as well as the letters from OCPs attorney, which were addressed to Ambrosetti. Further,
Ambrosetti wrote the letter identifying the OCP songs that ILP planned to reprint in the second
edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal and the letter indicating that ILP planned to proceed with
publication whether or not it received OCPs consent to do so.

40.
Defendant Ambrosetti willfully and knowingly personally participated in the infringement
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of OCPs copyrights, and has materially contributed to the infringing conduct of others. The acts
of defendant Ambrosetti alleged herein constitute copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501.
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41.
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Ambrosettis acts have caused and will continue to cause, unless enjoined, irreparable
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injury to OCP, including loss of sales as well as injury to OCPs business reputation and goodwill.
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OCP has no adequate remedy at law.

42.
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OCP is entitled to an injunction restraining Ambrosetti and all persons acting in concert
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with him from engaging in any further acts of infringement and ordering them to destroy all copies
of the infringing works.
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43.
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OCP is further entitled to recover from Ambrosetti the actual damages OCP has sustained
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and will sustain and any gains, profits, and advantages obtained by Lamb as a result of the acts
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and infringements alleged above. At present, the amount of such damages, gains, profits, and
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advantages cannot be fully ascertained by OCP.

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44.
infringement of those registered copyrights. Further, because Ambrosetti acted willfully, OCP is
entitled to enhanced statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement of the registered
copyrights described in Exhibit A as provided in 17 U.S.C. 504(c)(2).
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45.
FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
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(Copyright Infringement against Does 1-10)
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46.
OCP re-alleges and incorporates herein, by reference, each and every allegation contained
in paragraphs 1 through 45 above, as though fully set forth herein.
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47.
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On information and belief, Defendants Does 1-10 willfully and knowingly personally
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participated in the infringement of OCPs copyrights, and have materially contributed to the
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infringing conduct of others. The acts of defendants Does 1-10 alleged herein constitute copyright
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48.
The acts of Does 1-10 have caused and will continue to cause, unless enjoined, irreparable
injury to OCP, including loss of sales as well as injury to OCPs business reputation and goodwill.
OCP has no adequate remedy at law.
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49.
OCP is entitled to an injunction restraining Does 1-10 and all persons acting in concert
with them from engaging in any further acts of infringement and ordering them to destroy all
copies of the infringing works.
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50.
OCP is further entitled to recover from each of Does 1-10 the actual damages OCP has
sustained and will sustain and any gains, profits, and advantages obtained by each of Does 1-10 as
a result of the acts and infringements alleged above. At present, the amount of such damages,
gains, profits, and advantages cannot be fully ascertained by OCP.
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51.
infringement of those registered copyrights. Further, because Does 1-10 acted willfully, OCP is
entitled to enhanced statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement of the registered
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copyrights described in Exhibit A as provided in 17 U.S.C. 504(c)(2).

52.
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WHEREFORE, OCP prays for judgment as follows:
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A.
That Ambrosetti, as trustee of ILP, and their respective officers, agents, employees,
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successors, assigns, and anyone else acting on their behalf, be enjoined during the pendency of
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this action and permanently from directly or indirectly infringing OCPs aforementioned
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copyrights in the manner alleged above;

B.
That Ambrosetti, as trustee of ILP, and their respective officers, agents, employees,
successors, assigns, and anyone else acting on their behalf, be required to pay OCP such damages
as OCP has sustained as a consequence of ILPs infringement, and to account for all gains, profits,
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and advantages derived by ILP by reason of its infringements of OCPs copyrights, in an amount
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to be determined at trial;
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C.
In the alternative, that, with respect to the registered copyrights listed in Exhibit A,
OCP be awarded statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement by Ambrosetti as

trustee of ILP;
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That Ambrosetti, as trustee of ILP, pay to OCP the costs of this action, and
reasonable attorneys fees to be awarded by the court pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505;

E.
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That OCP be awarded punitive damages in an amount to be proven at trial for the
willful, wanton, and malicious actions of Ambrosetti, as trustee of ILP, in disregard of OCPs
rights;
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F.
acting on its behalf, be enjoined during the pendency of this action and permanently from directly
or indirectly infringing OCPs aforementioned copyrights in the manner alleged above;
G.
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of Lambs infringement, and to account for all gains, profits, and advantages derived by Lamb by
reason of its infringements of OCPs copyrights, in an amount to be determined at trial;
H.
I.
That Lamb pay to OCP the costs of this action, and reasonable attorneys fees to be
awarded by the court pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505;

J.
willful, wanton, and malicious actions of Lamb in disregard of OCPs rights;

K.
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OCP be awarded statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement by Lamb;
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That Lamb and its officers, agents, employees, successors, assigns, and anyone else
acting on its behalf, be required to pay OCP such damages as OCP has sustained as a consequence
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That Lamb and its officers, agents, employees, successors, assigns, and anyone else
That Ambrosetti and his agents, employees, assigns, and anyone else acting on his
behalf, be enjoined during the pendency of this action and permanently from directly or indirectly
infringing OCPs aforementioned copyrights in the manner alleged above;
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L.
That Ambrosetti and his agents, employees, assigns, and anyone else acting on his
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behalf, be required to pay OCP such damages as OCP has sustained as a consequence of
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Ambrosettis infringement, and to account for all gains, profits, and advantages derived by
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Ambrosetti by reason of its infringements of OCPs copyrights, in an amount to be determined at
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trial;
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M.
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That Ambrosetti pay to OCP the costs of this action, and reasonable attorneys fees
to be awarded by the court pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505;

O.
Filed 04/15/16
OCP be awarded statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement by Ambrosetti;
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willful, wanton, and malicious actions of Ambrosetti in disregard of OCPs rights;
P.
That each of Does 1-10 and their agents, employees, assigns, and anyone else acting
on their behalf, be enjoined during the pendency of this action and permanently from directly or
indirectly infringing OCPs aforementioned copyrights in the manner alleged above;

Q.
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That each of Does 1-10 and their agents, employees, assigns, and anyone else acting
on their behalf, be required to pay OCP such damages as OCP has sustained as a consequence of
their infringement, and to account for all gains, profits, and advantages derived by them by reason
of their infringements of OCPs copyrights, in an amount to be determined at trial;
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R.
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OCP be awarded statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement by each of Does 1-
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10;
S.
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attorneys fees to be awarded by the court pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505;

T.
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That each of Does 1-10 pay to OCP the costs of this action, and reasonable
willful, wanton, and malicious actions of each of Does 1-10 in disregard of OCPs rights;
U.
That OCP have such other and further relief as is just and equitable.
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DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff demands trial by jury.
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DATED this 15th day of April, 2016.

THE DUBOFF LAW GROUP
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_________________________________
Leonard D. DuBoff, OSB #774378
Phone (503) 968-8111
Fax (503) 968-7228
lduboff@dubofflaw.com
Attorneys for Plaintif
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Case 3:16-cv-00651

Leonard D. DuBoff, OSB #774378

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

OREGON CATHOLIC PRESS, an Oregon

Civil Case No. __________________

10, inclusive, as follows.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

This is a claim for copyright infringement arising under 17 U.S.C. 501513.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

Plaintiff Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) is a not-for-profit religious publisher based in

materials for the Catholic Church.

On information and belief, Defendant Vince Ambrosetti (Ambrosetti) is the trustee of

Tennessee, is a Christian publishing company. On information and belief, Lamb is controlled by

Defendant Ambrosetti serves as the president and publisher of ILP.

and that Plaintiffs damages were caused by their conduct.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF

(Copyright Infringement against Vince Ambrosetti, as trustee of Vince Ambrosetti

contained in paragraphs 1 through 8 above, as though fully set forth herein.

Hymnal for a period of five years from November 27, 2011.

addendum, as well as the 2010 agreement, is attached to this Complaint as Exhibit C.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

ten OCP songs in a new edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal.

On or about August 7, 2014, defendant Ambrosetti wrote OCPs attorney on behalf of

Saint Augustine Hymnal is 74.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

and ordering them to destroy all copies of the infringing works.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

willfully, OCP is entitled to enhanced statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of

infringement of the registered copyrights described in Exhibit A as provided in 17 U.S.C.

infringement of the copyrights described in Exhibit A pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505.

SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF

(Copyright Infringement against Lamb Publications, LLC)

contained in paragraphs 1 through 26 above, as though fully set forth herein.

infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501.

no adequate remedy at law.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

advantages cannot be fully ascertained by OCP.

infringement of the copyrights described in Exhibit A pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505.

(Copyright Infringement against Vince Ambrosetti, an individual)

control the musical compositions to be included in the Saint Augustine Hymnal.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

publication of the second edition of the Saint Augustine Hymnal.

publication whether or not it received OCPs consent to do so.

Defendant Ambrosetti willfully and knowingly personally participated in the infringement

OCP has no adequate remedy at law.

advantages cannot be fully ascertained by OCP.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

copyrights described in Exhibit A as provided in 17 U.S.C. 504(c)(2).

FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

(Copyright Infringement against Does 1-10)

infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501.

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

copyrights described in Exhibit A as provided in 17 U.S.C. 504(c)(2).

WHEREFORE, OCP prays for judgment as follows:

copyrights in the manner alleged above;

OCP be awarded statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement by Ambrosetti as

The DuBoff Law Group, PC

reasonable attorneys fees to be awarded by the court pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505;

awarded by the court pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505;

willful, wanton, and malicious actions of Lamb in disregard of OCPs rights;

OCP be awarded statutory damages of up to $150,000 per act of infringement by Lamb;

Ambrosetti by reason of its infringements of OCPs copyrights, in an amount to be determined at

The DuBoff Law Group, PC