While the largest media companies have entire legal departments devoted to defending litigation, smaller companies may have only one in-house counsel, usually someone more familiar with business transactions than defending claims. If you are that transactional lawyer, now faced with a summons and complaint, this list of action items will help you manage the company’s initial response to an infringement claim. Based on our years of working with large and small media companies in these situations, we have developed a check list of actions to consider taking when your company is sued for copyright infringement:

- Notify senior management of the claim, as appropriate, and determine the company’s preferred response to press inquiries. We usually advise clients not to comment on pending litigation.