Bronfman Law has a signature practice in copyright enforcement and anti-piracy work for publishers, media companies, and other content owners. We help clients respond to unauthorized copying, distribution, sale, and display of protected works. Our work includes online enforcement, marketplace takedowns, domain and hosting issues, investigations, settlement programs, and federal court litigation when needed.
The firm officially represents leading educational publishers, including McGraw Hill, Cengage, Wiley, and Elsevier, including Evolve. We also work with film and entertainment companies on content protection and online infringement matters. More information about the companies we serve is available on our clients page.
Publisher enforcement and textbook piracy
Educational content is often targeted through counterfeit textbooks, unauthorized digital copies, copied course materials, test banks, solution manuals, and instructor resources. These materials may appear on online marketplaces, auction sites, social media groups, file-sharing services, shadow libraries, print-on-demand operations, or private reseller networks. Some matters involve single sellers. Others involve organized distribution channels with false identities, multiple storefronts, and repeated infringement across platforms.
Bronfman Law assists publishers with enforcement programs that are practical, documented, and built for repeat use. We focus on evidence, chain of custody, ownership records, platform requirements, and the legal claims that may apply. Our broader intellectual property practice supports this work through copyright, trademark, licensing, trade secret, and IP litigation experience.
Common enforcement targets
- Counterfeit textbooks and access materials.
- Unauthorized scans, PDFs, ebooks, and course packs.
- Test banks, answer keys, instructor manuals, and lecture resources.
- Marketplace listings using copyrighted images, titles, or brand identifiers.
- Websites, domains, and hosting accounts used for infringement.
- Repeat sellers and networks using aliases or false business information.
DMCA takedowns and platform enforcement
Many matters begin with takedown work. Bronfman Law prepares and submits DMCA takedown notices under 17 U.S.C. 512 and related platform notices for websites, search engines, hosting providers, marketplaces, payment processors, social media platforms, and content sharing services. We also respond to counter-notifications and help clients decide when a matter should remain in the notice process and when litigation or another enforcement path should be considered.
DMCA work is most effective when it is accurate and supported. We review ownership information, identify the infringing material, preserve screenshots and URLs, and track platform responses. We also look for patterns, including repeat uploads, mirror sites, related seller accounts, and domains that move from host to host. For a general overview, see our guide to DMCA takedown notices.
Investigations, domains, and unidentified defendants
Online piracy cases often start with incomplete information. A seller may use a screen name, privacy-protected domain registration, a false return address, or a payment account that does not disclose the person behind the activity. Bronfman Law helps clients preserve available evidence and pursue lawful investigation steps before and after suit. This may include test purchases, marketplace research, domain research, hosting review, payment trail analysis, and correlation of accounts across platforms.
When appropriate, the firm files federal copyright and trademark actions, including cases against unidentified defendants. These actions may support requests for early discovery directed to platforms, registrars, hosts, payment processors, email providers, or other third parties with relevant identifying information. Early discovery is not automatic. Courts require a proper showing. We prepare targeted requests and supporting papers based on the facts of the matter and the relief sought.
Federal infringement actions and trademark counterfeiting claims
Some matters cannot be resolved through notices or private demands. Bronfman Law represents content owners in federal infringement actions involving copyright infringement, contributory infringement, trademark infringement, trademark counterfeiting, false designation of origin, and related claims. Litigation may involve temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, expedited discovery, account restraints, domain relief, document subpoenas, settlement negotiations, and judgment enforcement steps. Our civil litigation team works closely with our IP lawyers so that enforcement strategy and courtroom work stay aligned.
Trademark counterfeiting claims can be important when sellers use publisher names, logos, cover art, product identifiers, or branded materials to pass unauthorized goods as genuine. Counterfeiting claims require careful review of the marks at issue, the goods involved, the seller conduct, and the available evidence. We do not assume every infringement matter is a counterfeiting matter. We assess the facts and plead claims that have a reasonable basis.
Film and entertainment content protection
Bronfman Law also assists film and entertainment companies with online content protection. Matters may involve unauthorized streaming, downloads, clips, screeners, promotional assets, artwork, or distribution through social media and file-hosting services. We help clients evaluate ownership, licensing, chain of title, platform terms, and enforcement options. Our technology and privacy law practice also supports matters involving online platforms, user data, vendor contracts, SaaS tools, and incident response.
Settlement, monitoring, and repeat enforcement
Not every matter requires a lawsuit. We assist with demand letters, negotiated resolutions, consent judgments, compliance terms, payment plans, destruction or return of infringing goods, and follow-up monitoring. In repeat enforcement programs, we help clients track offenders, document takedown history, preserve evidence, and identify when a new matter is connected to past activity. The goal is to provide a clear process that supports business decisions and legal requirements.
Copyright enforcement is fact specific. The right response depends on the work, the platform, the infringer, the evidence, and the client’s goals. Bronfman Law brings focused experience, careful documentation, and a practical approach to anti-piracy matters for publishers and content owners.
To discuss a copyright enforcement or anti-piracy matter, contact Bronfman Law at [email protected] or +1 (713) 555-0142.