Statute of Limitations Tolled By Fraud
Roberts v. Keith 79 USPQ 2d 1368 (SDNY 2006)
This is a case of disclosure; biding one’s time; and that biding being seen as a fraud that tolled the three year statute of limitations.
Roberts wrote songs in 1976 and 1977 and showed them to Keith who stated that he had no interest in those works.
In 1980, Keith released the songs; and between 1997 – 2001, Keith’s song was re-released repeatedly in compilations.
Roberts sued Keith in 2003 for copyright infringement; and, Keith defended that the statute of limitations barred all infringements prior to 1999.
Court held that the Statute of Limitations was tolled by the fraud of Keith. Motion of dismiss on statute of limitations denied; case going forward.
