The complaint

Paetzold v. Schedule A Defendants, No. 2:26-cv-02270 (W.D. Pa.), was filed October 20, 2026. The complaint is Document 1, seeks damages and injunctive relief, and demands a jury. The defendants are the individuals, partnerships, and unincorporated associations identified on Schedule A, which the complaint says is the subject of a motion to file under seal. The same day the docket shows a motion for a temporary restraining order, an asset restraint, expedited relief, and an order to show cause, and a motion for leave to file documents under seal. The complaint is signed by Stanley D. Ference III of Ference & Associates LLC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The parties and the works

The complaint describes Franziska Paetzold as an illustrator based in Berlin, Germany who has illustrated full time since 2015. It pleads five registrations: VA 2-467-317 (Bookshelf with Cat, Colour V2), VA 2-467-074 (Cherry Tree Pattern), VA 2-467-224 (Bookshelf with Cat, Christmas Version), VA 2-467-294 (Bookshelf with Cat and Bird), and VA 2-467-322 (Colourful Birds Pattern). Its comparison chart assigns each design to numbered defendants, from 1 through 66.

What it alleges

The complaint alleges the defendants operate storefronts on Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Temu.com and sell products that copy Paetzold's works, and that each defendant has infringed at least one registration. It alleges the storefronts share identifiers that tie them to the same series of transactions.

Count I alleges willful copyright infringement of the exclusive rights of reproduction and distribution under the Copyright Act and seeks relief under 17 U.S.C. 502 through 505. Count II alleges, on information and belief, that the defendants agreed to a scheme to distribute and sell products bearing Paetzold's designs, and pleads civil conspiracy.

Relief sought

The complaint asks for temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctions, orders directing marketplaces, social media platforms, and search engines to disable the defendants' accounts, advertisements, and links, a judgment of willful infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501, actual or statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. 504, attorney's fees and costs, and punitive damages.