Flashcards Studio

(a) Identify the central doctrine governing copyright infringement and apply it to the following facts: Kai Rivera, a Filipino digital artist, created an original digital painting titled “Dawn Prism” in 2024. The work is not registered. An online marketplace, RightsForge, sells licenses to use the image on merchandise and provides a direct download. A clothing manufacturer, Threadworks Philippines, downloads the image from RightsForge and prints 2,000 t‑shirts with the design for nationwide distribution, without Kai's permission or a verified license. RightsForge does not own the rights to “Dawn Prism.” Is Threadworks Philippines liable for copyright infringement? Explain.
(b) If Threadworks Philippines argues that its use falls under fair dealing/fair use for purposes such as criticism, commentary, or news reporting, evaluate whether this defense could succeed under these facts and why or why not.