Sculptor sues Myrtle Beach hardware retailer House Parts over eBay listing of rattlesnake entrance sculptures

The complaint

Jennifer L. Cook filed Cook v. House Parts, Inc., No. 4:26-cv-05006 (D.S.C., Florence Division), on October 21, 2026. The nine page complaint (Entry Number 1) pleads copyright infringement and includes a jury demand. The case is assigned to Judge Joseph Dawson III. The defendants are House Parts, Inc. and Lacy Lee Paulussen, whom the complaint alleges, on information and belief, is the company's owner or president.

The parties and the work

The complaint describes Cook as a visual artist and sculptor in Yulee, Florida who sells original snake sculptures through her business, Snake Arts LLC, on Etsy and at snakearts.com. It describes House Parts as a South Carolina corporation in Myrtle Beach that sells decorative home hardware, including cabinet knobs and pulls, through its showroom and online, and alleges it operated an eBay store.

The pleaded work is the sculpture Matched Pair of Rattlesnake Entrance Sculpture, Registration No. VA 2-267-344, dated June 16, 2021. The complaint alleges Cook owns all rights in it.

What it alleges

The complaint alleges Cook found the use on or about March 31, 2024 on the House Parts eBay store, in a listing that advertised and sold copies of the sculpture, and includes a side by side comparison. It alleges that the defendants were never licensed, alleges on information and belief that they knew of Cook's ownership of the work, and alleges that Cook notified them on August 20, 2025 and sent follow up notices without resolving the dispute.

Count I alleges willful direct infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501, including copying, display, distribution, and derivative works. Count II alleges that Paulussen is vicariously liable because she had the right and ability to supervise the listing and a direct financial interest in it, and alleges on information and belief that she is the owner and manager of House Parts and was responsible for the reproduction, distribution, and display of the copies.

Relief sought

The complaint asks for preliminary and permanent injunctions, actual damages and profits or, at Cook's election, statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. § 504, seizure, impoundment, or destruction of the products used in the alleged infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 503, attorney's fees and costs, and pre- and post-judgment interest.