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Mishcon de Reya New York LLP Files Class Action Suit Against Google Inc.

NEW YORK, NY: Mishcon de Reya New York LLP today filed a class action copyright infringement suit against Google, Inc. The suit relates to the organised scanning and public display of images by Google without regard to the contributions and rights to fair compensation of the artists who created them.

The Firm is acting on behalf of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and additional related trade associations, photographers and illustrators. ASMP and the other lead plaintiffs decided to file the class action after the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York denied their request to join the pending $125 million class action filed primarily on behalf of text authors, in connection with the Google Library Project. This new class action goes beyond the Library Project, and covers Google’s infringement of the rights of photographers, illustrators and other visual artists.   

James McGuire, the founding partner of Mishcon de Reya New York LLP, is leading the case.

“This case is about fairness and compensation,” explained McGuire. “It’s only right that if someone uses something you create, you should be paid for it.”

Kevin Gold, the managing partner of Mishcon de Reya, agrees.

“Mishcon has long had a reputation for taking a principled stand and fiercely defending our clients’ rights,” said Gold. “It’s no surprise, then, that under the leadership of Jim McGuire, Mishcon de Reya New York is attracting such a high calibre of work.”

Mishcon de Reya was founded in London, UK, in 1937. Its New York office was opened in January 2010, and offers a bespoke litigation practice with a specific focus on complex commercial litigation, including regulatory work and international arbitration.

Further information can be found at our Google Class Action page

For more information contact:

Jo Rosenblatt

+44 207 284 6969

Vic Perlman

302-530-8051

Notes to Editors

About Mishcon de Reya

Founded in 1937 Mishcon de Reya is a law firm offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. We are committed to achieving our clients’ objectives in the most practical and cost effective way and always provide our clients with a clear return on their investment.

Our clients are dynamic and sophisticated and we reflect that in our belief in challenging the conventional or accepted ways of working. We like to solve problems quickly. To achieve this consistently, we employ a diverse collection of talented people, from varied backgrounds with differing perspectives, who are capable of addressing issues in a collaborative, non-hierarchical environment. By looking at a problem from every angle, we can then apply our expertise confidently and decisively.

In every area of the law that we operate Mishcon de Reya prides itself in providing a best in class service to its clients. Specifically we offer the following services: dispute resolution, real estate, corporate, employment and private client.

An entrepreneurial spirit - where candour and involvement are key - characterises our ability to develop and execute the strategies required to achieve our clients’ goals in all these areas.

In January 2010 the Firm opened an office in New York. Headed by James J. McGuire, this bespoke litigation practice has a specific focus on white collar criminal and complex commercial litigation, including regulatory and international arbitration.

Mishcon de Reya has extensive international links and has established practices advising businesses and high net worth individuals based in several jurisdictions, including India, Russia, South Africa and Israel. The Firm is also a member of Legalink.

About James J. McGuire, Founding Partner of Mishcon de Reya New York LLP.

James McGuire was the founding partner of Sheppard Mullin’s New York office and prior to that was Partner of White & Case.  He specialises in white collar criminal and complex commercial litigation, as well as internal investigations and international arbitrations. He has extensive experience in criminal and commercial matters at both the trial and appellate levels.

From 1987 to 1992, James McGuire was Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Criminal Division. 

Education
LL.M., London School of Economics, 1979
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1982, cum laude
B.A./M.A., University of Oxford, 1978, Rhodes Scholar
B.A., Yale University, 1976, cum laude, with Distinction

Admissions, New York
U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, District of Colorado; and
U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Circuits

About the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)

Founded in 1944, ASMP is the premier trade association for the world’s most respected photographers. ASMP is the leader in promoting photographers’ rights, providing education in better business practices, producing business publications for photographers, and helping to connect purchasers with professional photographers. ASMP has 39 chapters across the country and its 7,000 members include many of the world’s foremost photographers.  More information is available at www.asmp.org

Other Associations Named in the Class Action

The Graphic Artists Guild is a national artists union that embraces creators at all levels of skill and expertise, who create art intended for presentation as originals or reproductions.  The mission of the Guild is to promote and protect the economic interests of its members, to improve conditions for all creators, and to raise standards for the entire industry.  Its core purpose is to be a strong community that empowers and enriches its members through collective action.  More information at www.graphicartistsguild.org

Founded in 1951, PACA, the Picture Archive Council of America, represents the vital interests of image archives of every size, from individual photographers to large corporations, who license images for commercial reproduction.  PACA leads advocacy, education, and communication efforts on copyright and standard business practices that affect the image licensing industry.  More information at www.pacaoffice.org 

NANPA, the North American Nature Photography Association, is the first and premiere association in North America committed solely to serving the field of nature photography. More information at www.nanpa.org

PPA, the Professional Photographers of America is the world's largest not-for-profit association for professional photographers, with more than 20,000 members in 54 countries.  The association seeks to increase its members’ business savvy as well as broaden their creative scope and is a leader in the dissemination of knowledge in the areas of professional business practices and creative image-making.  More information at www.ppa.com.

Photographers: Leif Skoogfors, Al Satterwhite, Ed Kashi and Morton Beebe

Illustrator: John Schmelzer and Simms Taback