$35,000 Copyright Threat Crushed: U2U Law Won a Total Victory
- Case intro
$35K Copyright Threat Crushed: How U2U Law Won a Total Victory for a San Francisco Client
The Shakedown
A San Francisco resident faced an aggressive $35,000 copyright demand after unintentionally using an image online. A predatory law firm:
Bombarded our client with threatening letters
Refused to provide proof of actual damages
Demanded immediate payment to “avoid litigation”
- our process
Our Counterattack
U2U Law’s intellectual property team launched a three-prong defense:
✔ Legal Reality Check
Demanded full documentation of the alleged infringement
Verified the claimant’s actual copyright registration
Uncovered no evidence of financial harm
✔ Strategic Pushback
Cited fair use protections and de minimis doctrine
Threatened counterclaims for abusive copyright tactics
Refused to pay speculative “license fee” demands
✔ Total Standoff
Called their bluff on litigation threats
Forced them to either sue or walk away
They walked away
- Result Driven
The Victory
$0 Paid – Complete dismissal of all claims
No Settlement – No admission of wrongdoing
Client Vindicated – No longer living in fear
Why This Matters
✅ Most “copyright trolls” fold when challenged
✅ Actual damages must be proven
✅ You have rights even when you make a mistake
Facing Copyright Extortion?
From image disputes to DMCA threats, we protect individuals against IP bullying.
Results vary. Not a guarantee of outcome.
- $35,000 demand→ $0 paid
- No lawsuit filed
- Client's reputation protected
- Predatory tactic exposed
