In this copyright action involving ownership rights to the board game, “The Game of Life,” the First Circuit affirmed the decision of the district court denying attorney’s fees sought from the unsuccessful plaintiffs, holding that the district court did not err in denying fees and that this Court declines to award fees for the appeal.

This case stemmed from a dispute between Rueben Klamer, a toy developer who came up with the initial concept of the game before it was introduced in 1960 by the Milton Bradley Company, and Bill Markham, a game designer that Klamer recruited to design and create the actual game prototype. Markham’s successors-in-interest sued Klamer and other defendants seeking a declaration that they possessed “termination rights” under the 1976 Copyright Act. The district court granted judgment for Defendants but denied fees. Defendants appealed and moved for appellate attorney’s fees. The First Circuit denied relief, holding (1) the district court did not err in denying fees; and (2) this Court declines to award fees for the appeal. View “Markham Concepts, Inc. v. Hasbro, Inc.” on Justia Law