Cybernet Ventures, Inc. v. Hartford Insurance Co. of the Midwest
Cybernet Ventures, Inc. v. Hartford Insurance Co. of the Midwest
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Cybernet Ventures, Inc. (“Cybernet”) appeals the district court’s order granting The Hartford Insurance Co.’s (“Hartford”) Motion for Summary Judgment and denying Cybernet’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
Section 504(c)(2) of the Copyright Act allows a plaintiff to seek an award of enhanced statutory damages upon a showing that the “infringement was committed willfully.” 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(2). Cal. Ins. Code § 533, in turn, provides that an “insurer is not liable for a loss caused by the willful act of the insured.”
When a reservation of rights relates only to the issue of the amount of damages and not to the question of liability, California courts hold that there is no conflict requiring independent counsel. Blanchard v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2 Cal.App.4th 345, 2 Cal.Rptr.2d 884 (1991). The issue of willfulness pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(2) is only relevant to the issue whether an award of statutory damages can be enhanced and does not affect the question of liability or the right to statutory damages. It does not create a conflict of interest. Cf Cal. Civ.Code § 2860(b) (“[n]o conflict shall be deemed to exist as to allegations of punitive damages or be deemed to exist solely because an insured is sued for an amount in excess of the insurance policy”).
Hartford’s reservation of rights as to the trademark claims does not create a conflict of interest because it would have been impossible for counsel to defend against the covered copyright claims and simultaneously not defend against the trademark claims. Hartford’s chosen counsel could not have controlled the outcome of the coverage issue. Independent counsel was not required. Cal. Civ.Code § 2860(b).
Cybernet breached the cooperation clause by failing to turn the defense of the action over to the attorneys selected by Hartford and thereby substantially prejudiced Hartford by denying it the right to defend the action. See Truck Ins. Exch. v. Unigard Ins. Co., 79 Cal.App.4th 966, 976,
A claim for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing can not be maintained where a party is barred from bringing a claim for breach of contract. Brizuela v. Calf arm Ins. Co., 116 Cal. App.4th 578, 593-94, 10 Cal.Rptr.3d 661 (2004).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
. Because the parties are familiar with the facts and procedural history of the case, we do not include them here except as necessary to explain our decision.
. San Diego Navy Fed. Credit Union v. Cumis Ins. Society, Inc., 162 Cal.App.3d 358, 208 Cal.Rptr. 494 (1984).
. This statutory exclusion is read into every insurance contract as an implicit term. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Overton, 160 Cal.App.3d 843, 206 Cal.Rptr. 823 (1984).
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.