The rise of electronic commerce platforms has created legal and ethical challenges related to protecting intellectual property (IP) rights (Alfino, 1991). One case illuminating these complexities is the Lisa Coppola LLC v. Higbee matter. In this essay, we will scrutinize and contemplate the pivotal legal and ethical concerns raised in the case, analyze its significance for the electronic commerce industry, consider how merchants can be shielded by IP laws, and propose solutions grounded in an appreciation of IP rights. Background of Lisa Coppola LLC v. Higbee In 2020, Lisa Coppola LLC, which operates under the name of The Coppola Firm, filed a lawsuit against Mathew K. Higbee, Esq., and Higbee & Associates, citing fraudulent practices related to copyright infringement claims (Lisa Coppola LLC v. Higbee). According to the plaintiff's …show more content…
The amended complaint contained more detailed allegations, explicitly accusing the defendants of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a federal law dealing with organized crime and racketeering activities. The defendants have yet to respond to the new allegations, and the case is still ongoing. Key Legal and Ethical Concerns The case raised various legal and ethical issues, warranting careful attention and analysis. Primarily, it underscored the importance of protecting intellectual property (IP) rights in the digital age, as the defendants' alleged scheme took advantage of the ambiguity surrounding online content usage rights (Alfino, 1991). This ambiguity, in turn, poses a significant threat to both creators and users. Secondly, the emerging ethical concerns pertained to the defendants' tactics, which seemed designed to intimidate individuals into settling without proper legal recourse. Such behavior raises serious questions about the ethical conduct of legal practitioners in pursuing copyright