CopyrightS.D.N.Y.1:26-cv-04211

Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc. v. Heritage Auctions Inc.

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Summary

Lee Mendelson Film Productions sues Heritage Auctions for copyright infringement over disputed materials.

Summary generated by AI from public docket data. Verify against the original filing before relying on it.

Deep summary (AI brief of the complaint)

**Plaintiff:** Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc. (LMFP), a California corporation based in Burlingame, CA **Defendant:** Heritage Auctions Inc., a Texas corporation based in Dallas, TX with a New York office at 445 Park Avenue **Core allegation:** Heritage Auctions synchronized the musical composition "Linus and Lucy" to a promotional video it posted on Facebook and Instagram to advertise Peanuts collectibles without obtaining a license from LMFP. LMFP alleges the infringement was willful and/or reckless given Heritage's sophistication in intellectual property licensing. **Asserted IP:** - Musical composition "Linus and Lucy" (Vince Guaraldi), Copyright Reg. No. Eu 879495 (registered April 26, 1965) - Renewal registration No. RE 650749 (renewed December 17, 1993) - Copyright assigned to LMFP by the Guaraldi estate December 17, 1990, recorded at Document Nos. V2604P223, V2604P233, V2604P243, V2604P253, V2604P263, and V2604P273 **Relief sought:** Permanent injunction, actual damages plus defendant's profits or statutory damages up to $150,000 under 17 U.S.C.…

AI-generated from the filed complaint. Always verify against the original document.

Coverage vs reality meter

Coverage vs realityPress: plaintiff

Coverage events: 1P · 0D · 3N (20 articles)

Latest ruling: defendant (2026-06-29)

Syndicated ×3

3 near-identical articles ran across 3 outlets within 3h — wire syndication or a PR push.

Press coverage leans plaintiff-favorable; no court ruling has been classified yet. 3 near-identical articles ran across 3 outlets within 3h — wire syndication or a PR push.

Coverage breakdown — the articles behind the meter

5 plaintiff-favorable · 0 defendant-favorable · 15 neutral articles

The meter counts distinct coverage events, not articles: 1 plaintiff · 0 defendant · 3 neutral events — a burst of same-stance coverage counts once, however many outlets ran it.

Plaintiff-favorable
Defendant-favorable

None classified yet.

Coverage sentiment vs. docket activity over time

Coverage sentiment vs. docket activity over time▲ plaintiff-favorable▼ defendant-favorable2026-05-18 · coverage 5P / 0D / 13N2026-05-25 · coverage 0P / 0D / 1N2026-06-15 · coverage 0P / 0D / 1NDocketFiled 2026-05-202026-05-20 · filing · favors plaintiff FILING ERROR - DEFICIENT PLEADING - COMPLAINT against Heritage Auctions Inc.. Document f…2026-05-22 · filing · favors plaintiff LETTER MOTION for Leave to File Corrected Complaint (Docket Entry 6) addressed to Judge …2026-05-27 · ruling · favors plaintiff ORDER granting 10 Letter Motion for Leave to File Document. The Court directs the Clerk …2026-06-29 · ruling · favors defendant ORDER granting 15 Letter Motion for Extension of Time to Answer re 1 Complaint. Defendan…2026-07-20 · filing · favors defendant ANSWER to 1 Complaint, 6 Complaint,., ANSWER to 1 Complaint, 6 Complaint,. Document file…May 26Jun 26Jul 26filingruling■ plaintiff■ defendantweekly coverage · docket events

Counsel of record

For the plaintiff
Court
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Docket no.
1:26-cv-04211
Nature of suit
Copyright
Filed
2026-05-20
Last filing
2026-05-27

Cause

17:101 Copyright Infringement

Entities in this case

Lee Mendelson Film Productions3Heritage Auctions

Parties

Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc. (plaintiff) Heritage Auctions Inc. (defendant)

Docket entries

  1. 2026-09-17

    Order on Motion to Adjourn Conference

  2. #192026-09-09

    Adjourn Conference

  3. #182026-07-20

    ANSWER to 1 Complaint, 6 Complaint,., ANSWER to 1 Complaint, 6 Complaint,. Document filed by Heritage Auctions Inc...(Vartian, Armen) (Entered: 07/20/2026)

  4. #172026-07-20

    RULE 7.1 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. No Corporate Parent. Document filed by Heritage Auctions Inc...(Vartian, Armen) (Entered: 07/20/2026)

  5. #162026-06-29

    ORDER granting 15 Letter Motion for Extension of Time to Answer re 1 Complaint. Defendant's request for an extension of time is GRANTED. Defendant's Answer to the Complaint is due July 20, 2026. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate ECF No. 15. SO ORDERED. Heritage Auctions Inc. answer due 7/20/2026. (Signed by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on 6/26/2026) (sgz) (Entered: 06/29/2026)

  6. #152026-06-26

    LETTER MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer to Complaint addressed to Judge Jeannette A. Vargas from Armen R. Vartian dated 06/26/2026. Document filed by Heritage Auctions Inc...(Vartian, Armen) (Entered: 06/26/2026)

  7. #142026-06-26

    NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Armen Richard Vartian on behalf of Heritage Auctions Inc...(Vartian, Armen) (Entered: 06/26/2026)

  8. #132026-06-09

    AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE of Summons and Complaint,. Heritage Auctions Inc. served on 6/8/2026, answer due 6/29/2026. Service was accepted by Tim McNab, Managing Agent. Document filed by Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc...(King, Jonathan) (Entered: 06/09/2026)

  9. #122026-05-27

    ORDER granting 10 Letter Motion for Leave to File Document. The Court directs the Clerk of Court to docket ECF No. 6 as the Complaint in this matter. The Court directs the Clerk of Court to terminate ECF No. 10. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on 5/26/2026) (sgz) Transmission to Civil Case Openings Clerk for processing. (Entered: 05/27/2026)

  10. #112026-05-27

    NOTICE OF INITIAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE: Counsel for all parties shall appear for an initial pretrial conference with the Court on October 1, 2026, at 11:30am. The conference will be held in Courtroom 11B, Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007. Initial Conference set for 10/1/2026 at 11:30 AM in Courtroom 11B, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 before Judge Jeannette A. Vargas. (Signed by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on 5/27/2026) (sgz) (Entered: 05/27/2026)

  11. #102026-05-22

    LETTER MOTION for Leave to File Corrected Complaint (Docket Entry 6) addressed to Judge Jeannette A. Vargas from Jonathan Z. King dated May 22, 2026. Document filed by Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc...(King, Jonathan) (Entered: 05/22/2026)

  12. #92026-05-21

    AO 121 FORM COPYRIGHT - CASE OPENING - SUBMITTED. In compliance with the provisions of 17 U.S.C. 508, the Register of Copyrights is hereby advised that a court action has been filed on the following copyright(s) in the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York. Form e-mailed to Register of Copyrights. (vf) (Entered: 05/21/2026)

  13. #82026-05-21

    ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Heritage Auctions Inc.. (vf) (Entered: 05/21/2026)

  14. 2026-05-21

    Case Designated ECF. (vf)

  15. 2026-05-21

    Notice to Attorney Regarding Deficient Pleading

  16. 2026-05-21

    Case Opening Initial Assignment Notice

  17. 2026-05-21

    ***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING DEFICIENT PLEADING. Notice to Attorney Jonathan Zachary King re: Document No. 6 Complaint. The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): Court's leave has not been granted. File the Exhibit to Pleading event found under the event list Other Documents and attach either opposing party's written consent or Court's leave. (vf)

  18. 2026-05-21

    Notice to Attorney Regarding Case Opening Statistical Error Correction

  19. 2026-05-21

    Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger is designated to handle matters that may be referred in this case. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1) parties are notified that they may consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2018-06/AO-3.pdf. (vf)

  20. 2026-05-21

    ***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING CIVIL. CASE OPENING STATISTICAL ERROR CORRECTION: Notice to attorney Jonathan Zachary King. The following case opening statistical information was erroneously selected/entered: Dollar Demand 150,000,000; County code New York. The following correction(s) have been made to your case entry: the Dollar Demand has been modified to 150,000; the County code has been modified to XX Out of State. (vf)

  21. 2026-05-21

    CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Jeannette A. Vargas. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/district-judges. Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/rules/ecf-related-instructions..(vf)

  22. #72026-05-20

    NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Marc Jacobson on behalf of Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc...(Jacobson, Marc) (Entered: 05/20/2026)

  23. #62026-05-20

    FILING ERROR - DEFICIENT PLEADING - COMPLAINT against Heritage Auctions Inc.. Document filed by Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Registration Certificate, # 2 Exhibit B - Renewal Certificate, # 3 Exhibit C - Assignment).(King, Jonathan) Modified on 5/21/2026 (vf). (Entered: 05/20/2026)

  24. #52026-05-20

    REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Heritage Auctions Inc., re: 1 Complaint. Document filed by Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc...(King, Jonathan) (Entered: 05/20/2026)

Docket history from CourtListener/RECAP — most recent first.

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