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US Companies who may pursue Trademark and Copyright Infringement Cases

Below is a curated list of companies in the United States that may be actively enforcing their copyright protections through cease and desist letters, settlement demands, and federal lawsuits. The focus is on industries including books, movies, fonts, music, film, video, jewelry, fashion, and other copyrighted content. Each entry provides the company name and a summary of the products they seek to protect from piracy.

1. Disney

Products Protected: Disney aggressively protects its vast portfolio, including films, animated features, and TV shows from subsidiaries like Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm (e.g., Star Wars), and Walt Disney Animation. They also safeguard music, character designs, and merchandise tied to franchises like Mickey Mouse and The Avengers. Disney's legal actions often target unauthorized use in videos, apparel, and jewelry mimicking their iconic characters.

2. Universal Music Group (UMG)

Products Protected: UMG, a leading music label, protects sound recordings, music compositions, and music videos from artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Drake. They pursue infringement cases involving unauthorized streaming, sampling (e.g., Dua Lipa's Levitating lawsuits), and social media use, often issuing DMCA takedowns or cease and desist letters to platforms like TikTok.

3. Warner Bros. Entertainment

Products Protected: Warner Bros. defends its films, TV shows, and music, including DC Comics properties (Batman, Wonder Woman), Harry Potter, and HBO series like Game of Thrones. They target piracy of movies, unauthorized merchandise (e.g., apparel, jewelry), and fan-made content that crosses commercial lines, frequently sending cease and desist letters.

4. Sony Music Entertainment

Products Protected: Sony Music protects its catalog of music recordings and compositions from artists like Beyoncé and Adele. They pursue cases involving illegal downloads, unlicensed use in videos, and sampling (e.g., historical cases like Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice Baby). Sony often demands settlements for unauthorized use on platforms like YouTube.

5. Paramount Global

Products Protected: Paramount protects its film and TV content, including Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Nickelodeon shows. They also defend music and merchandise tied to their properties. Paramount has a history of suing over stolen scripts (e.g., Art Buchwald's case) and targets unauthorized streaming and merchandise like themed jewelry or apparel.

6. Hachette Book Group

Products Protected: Hachette, a major publisher, protects its books and e-books, including bestsellers and literary works. They target piracy on file-sharing sites, unauthorized reprints, and illegal digital distributions. Hachette often sends cease and desist letters to websites hosting pirated copies and may pursue statutory damages in court.

7. Penguin Random House

Products Protected: As one of the largest book publishers, Penguin Random House safeguards its extensive catalog of novels, non-fiction, and children's books. They pursue infringement cases against unauthorized e-book distributions, illegal reprints, and plagiarism, frequently using cease and desist letters to demand removal from platforms like Amazon.

8. Monotype Imaging

Products Protected: Monotype, a leader in font design, protects its typeface libraries, including popular fonts like Helvetica and Times New Roman. They target unauthorized use in software, websites, and merchandise, often sending cease and desist letters to businesses using unlicensed fonts and pursuing settlements or lawsuits.

9. Tiffany & Co.

Products Protected: Tiffany & Co. defends its jewelry designs, including iconic pieces like the Tiffany Setting engagement ring and branded charms. They pursue counterfeiters and retailers selling knockoff jewelry or using their designs in fashion items, issuing cease and desist letters and filing federal lawsuits to protect brand integrity.

10. Louis Vuitton (LVMH)

Products Protected: Louis Vuitton, part of LVMH, protects its fashion designs, including handbags, clothing, and accessories featuring its monogram pattern. They aggressively target counterfeiters and unauthorized replicas in jewelry and apparel, using cease and desist letters and federal lawsuits to combat piracy.

11. Netflix

Products Protected: Netflix defends its original films, series, and documentaries, such as Stranger Things and The Crown. They pursue cases against unauthorized streaming, illegal downloads, and merchandise mimicking their brands. Netflix often sends cease and desist letters to pirate IPTV providers and may file lawsuits.

12. Strike 3 Holdings, LLC

Products Protected: Strike 3 Holdings, an adult film producer, protects its video content from illegal downloads and unauthorized sharing on torrent sites. Known for filing thousands of lawsuits, they send cease and desist letters demanding settlements and pursue statutory damages in federal courts against individual infringers.

13. Mattel

Products Protected: Barbie Doll

14. Verragio

Products Protected: Jewelry

15. HarperCollins Publishers

Products Protected: HarperCollins, a major book publisher, protects its extensive catalog of fiction, non-fiction, and children's books, including works by authors like Neil Gaiman and Lemony Snicket. They target unauthorized e-book distributions, illegal reprints, and piracy on file-sharing platforms, often issuing cease and desist letters to offending sites.

16. Twentieth Century Fox (owned by Disney)

Products Protected: Twentieth Century Fox protects its films and TV shows, such as The Simpsons, Alien, and Avatar. They pursue cases against unauthorized streaming, merchandise (e.g., apparel, jewelry), and derivative works, frequently sending cease and desist letters and filing lawsuits (e.g., against MCA for Battlestar Galactica similarities to Star Wars).

17. ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)

Products Protected: ASCAP, a performing rights organization, protects music compositions and performances by its member songwriters and publishers. They target unauthorized public performances, such as in bars or online, issuing cease and desist letters and pursuing settlements or lawsuits to ensure royalty payments.

18. BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)

Products Protected: BMI, another performing rights organization, safeguards its catalog of music compositions from artists across genres. They pursue infringement cases involving unlicensed use in commercials, films, or public venues, sending cease and desist letters and filing lawsuits to protect members' rights.

19. Adobe Systems Incorporated

Products Protected: Adobe protects its software (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator) and proprietary fonts, such as Myriad and Adobe Garamond. They target unauthorized distribution of software and unlicensed font use in commercial products, issuing cease and desist letters and pursuing legal action against businesses and individuals.

20. Gucci (owned by Kering)

Products Protected: Gucci protects its fashion designs, including handbags, clothing, and accessories featuring its iconic logos and patterns. They aggressively target counterfeiters and unauthorized replicas in apparel and jewelry, sending cease and desist letters and filing lawsuits (e.g., against Guess for logo similarities, winning $4.7 million).

21. Cartier (owned by Richemont)

Products Protected: Cartier defends its jewelry and watch designs, such as the Love bracelet and Tank watch. They pursue counterfeiters and retailers selling knockoffs, issuing cease and desist letters and filing federal lawsuits (e.g., against Costco, winning $25.2 million for selling fake Love bracelets).

22. Lionsgate Entertainment

Products Protected: Lionsgate protects its films and TV shows, including The Hunger Games, John Wick, and Mad Men. They target piracy on streaming platforms, unauthorized merchandise, and illegal downloads, often sending cease and desist letters and pursuing legal action to protect their content.

23. Swarovski

Products Protected: Swarovski safeguards its jewelry and crystal designs, such as its “whirl and twirl” motif. They pursue infringement cases against retailers and designers copying their patterns, issuing cease and desist letters and filing lawsuits (e.g., against David Yurman, winning $11.2 million).

24. Viacom (owned by Paramount Global)

Products Protected: Viacom protects its TV shows, films, and music from properties like MTV, Nickelodeon (SpongeBob SquarePants), and CBS. They pursue unauthorized use in videos, merchandise, and online platforms, notably suing YouTube in 2007 for $1 billion over unauthorized clips, often starting with cease and desist letters.

US Video Game Companies Actively Pursuing Copyright Infringement Cases

Below is a list of video game companies in the United States that actively enforce their copyright protections through cease and desist letters, settlement demands, and federal lawsuits. The focus is on protecting their video game content, including software, music, artwork, characters, and related merchandise. Each entry provides the company name and a summary of the products they seek to protect from piracy.

1. Nintendo of America

Products Protected: Nintendo protects its video game software, characters, music, and merchandise for franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon (in collaboration with The Pokémon Company). They target unauthorized distribution of games, ROMs, mods, and pirated merchandise (e.g., apparel, jewelry), issuing DMCA takedowns and cease and desist letters. Notable actions include lawsuits against modders like “Modded Hardware” for selling pirated games and devices, and a $1.5 million settlement against an Australian for illegally uploading New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

2. Activision Blizzard

Products Protected: Activision Blizzard safeguards its game titles, such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch, including their code, music, and character designs. They pursue cases against cheat software distributors, unauthorized mods, and pirated content, often sending cease and desist letters. For example, they filed a lawsuit in 2025 against individuals distributing Call of Duty cheats, seeking damages for IP interference.

3. Electronic Arts (EA)

Products Protected: EA protects its video game franchises like FIFA, Madden NFL, and The Sims, including software, soundtracks, and in-game assets. They target illegal downloads, unauthorized servers, and merchandise mimicking their brands, using cease and desist letters and lawsuits. EA has pursued actions against clone games and pirated content on platforms like torrent sites, often demanding settlements.

4. Take-Two Interactive

Products Protected: Take-Two, parent of Rockstar Games and 2K, defends titles like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and NBA 2K, covering game code, music, and character designs. They pursue unauthorized mods, fan games, and merchandise (e.g., apparel, jewelry) that infringe on their IPs, issuing cease and desist letters. For instance, they've targeted GTA V modders and fan projects for commercial use.

5. Riot Games

Products Protected: Riot Games protects its games, primarily League of Legends and Valorant, including their artwork, music, and character designs. They target unauthorized use in videos, mods, and merchandise, often sending DMCA notices and cease and desist letters. Riot has pursued legal action against clone games and unlicensed use of their IP in commercial products, emphasizing brand protection.

Notes

• Enforcement Tactics: These companies typically start with DMCA takedown notices or cease and desist letters to address piracy, unauthorized mods, or counterfeit merchandise. Non-compliance may lead to federal lawsuits seeking statutory damages ($750–$150,000 per work), actual damages, or injunctive relief.

• Protected Elements: Copyright protection in video games covers code (literary work), artwork, and sound (audiovisual work), but not game mechanics or “scenes à faire” (e.g., generic elements like spaceships in sci-fi games). Courts assess infringement based on substantial similarity of protectable elements, as seen in cases like Tetris Holdings v. Xio Interactive.

• Litigation Trends: Video game companies are increasingly active in litigation, particularly against piracy and cheating software. For example, Nintendo's aggressive enforcement includes suing individuals for streaming pirated games before release. The industry's focus on digital distribution has heightened efforts to combat illegal downloads and mods.

• Contextual Insight: While patent infringement cases (e.g., Nintendo vs. Pocketpair over Palworld) are noted in recent posts, this list focuses strictly on copyright enforcement, as patent cases involve different legal frameworks.

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