8/16/2019 Secondary Liability Netcom

1/3

Secondary Liability: Netcom

William Fisher 

© 2010. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.

To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ or send a letter to

Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.

8/16/2019 Secondary Liability Netcom

2/3

Secondary Liability in Copyright

! 

Contributory Infringementrequires

"  Direct infringement

"  Knowledge (actual or constructive) by the defendant

"  Material contribution

! Vicarious Infringement requires

" 

Direct infringement"  Financial interest in the

infringement

"  Right and ability to supervise thedirect infringer

8/16/2019 Secondary Liability Netcom

3/3

Secondary Liability in Copyright

! 

Contributory Infringementrequires

"  Direct infringement

"  Knowledge (actual or constructive) by the defendant

"  Material contribution

! Vicarious Infringement requires

" 

Direct infringement"  Financial interest in the

infringement

"  Right and ability to supervise thedirect infringer

 Netcom (1995) --

ISP liable iff:

Can verify a claim

of infringement in

time to stop;

Aids in public

distribution

Derives direct

financial benefit;

Exercises control

over subscribers’

messages