The complaint
David Gordon Oppenheimer v. Compass Massachusetts, LLC d/b/a Boston Condo Buyers Guide and Doug Gribbel, No. 1:26-cv-14080-JEK (D. Mass.), is a ten-page complaint filed September 4, 2026, ECF No. 1, with a jury demand. The docket shows the case is assigned to District Judge Julia E. Kobick.
The photograph
Oppenheimer alleges that in 2018 he took an aerial photograph of Boston's Leather District from a helicopter, titled Boston Leather District Real Estate Aerial, and that he registered it with the Copyright Office on September 26, 2019 as part of a group registration, No. VAu 1-373-056. He alleges he published the photograph with a caption carrying a copyright notice and other copyright management information.
What it alleges
The complaint alleges that Compass Massachusetts does business as Boston Condo Buyers Guide and owned and operated the bostoncondobuyersguide.com website, and, on information and belief, that Doug Gribbel is a licensed broker with Compass. It alleges that one or more of the defendants copied the photograph and displayed it on the website to promote their real estate services without a license, removed Oppenheimer's copyright management information, and did not resolve the matter after Oppenheimer gave notice in June and July 2025.
Count I pleads copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501. Count II pleads removal of copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. § 1202(b). Count III pleads vicarious copyright infringement against Gribbel and alleges, on information and belief, that he had the right and ability to supervise the infringing activity and that Compass directed him to upload the photograph. Oppenheimer seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, actual damages and profits or, at his election, statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. §§ 504 and 1203, attorneys' fees and costs, and interest.
On the docket
Summonses issued on September 4, 2026. On October 26, 2026, the docket shows a motion to extend the time to answer and an order on that motion.