The complaint

Marco Verch v. Broward Community & Family Health Centers Inc, No. 0:26-cv-63130 (S.D. Fla., Fort Lauderdale Division), was filed November 6, 2026 (8 pages). The plaintiff is Marco Verch, whom the complaint describes as a photographer from Cologne, Germany. The defendant is Broward Community & Family Health Centers Inc, which the complaint describes as a Florida not-for-profit healthcare provider in Hollywood, Florida. The complaint demands a jury trial. (Compl. caption; paras. 2, 3, 9; jury demand.)

The work

The complaint alleges that in 2019 another photographer created the photograph entitled "Wicker-basket-in-the-shape-of-a-heart-filled-with-fresh-vegetables-and-herbs" (the "Work"), and that this third party later transferred all rights in the Work to Verch. It alleges Verch registered the Work on February 25, 2020, as part of group registration VA 2-196-997, and that he owned it at all relevant times. (Compl. paras. 10 to 13.) The Copyright Office public record for VA 2-196-997 (VA0002196997) is a group registration of 750 published photographs, type Visual Material, registered February 25, 2020, with publication dates of January 7, 2019 to November 21, 2019, and with Marco Verch as claimant by written agreement.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint alleges that the defendant, which it calls BCOM Health, was never licensed to use the Work, and that it copied the Work from the internet to advertise, market, and promote its business. It alleges that on or about November 11, 2023, Verch discovered the unauthorized use on the defendant's website, and that BCOM Health used the Work on its Facebook page to advertise a food-distribution event. It alleges that after the copying, BCOM Health made further copies and distributed the Work on the internet, and that it incorporated the Work into a promotional flyer for a "BCOM Pop-Up Food Distribution" event and published that flyer on its Facebook page. It alleges the flyer places the name and logo "BCOM" above the Work and the domain name BCOMHealth.org at the bottom of the flyer, and that the flyer has no credit or other information identifying Verch as the author or owner. It alleges that by placing its name, logo, and domain name on the flyer, BCOM Health identified itself to the public as the author and owner, that it knew it was not, and that it added and distributed that information to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement. It alleges Verch notified BCOM Health on April 21, 2025 and June 9, 2025, and that the parties have not resolved the matter. (Compl. paras. 4, 14 to 28.)

The counts and relief

Count I alleges copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501. It alleges BCOM Health copied, displayed, and distributed the Work and made derivatives of it without authorization. Count II alleges false copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. § 1202(a). It alleges the name, logo, and domain name on the flyer are copyright management information, that the information is false because BCOM Health is not the author or owner, that BCOM Health knowingly provided false copyright management information in violation of § 1202(a)(1), and that it knowingly distributed that information in violation of § 1202(a)(2) by publishing the flyer on its Facebook page, with intent to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement. Both counts allege that the acts were willful. Verch seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions against the acts alleged to violate 17 U.S.C. § 1202 and § 501; his actual damages and the defendant's profits or, at his election, statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. § 1203 and § 504; costs and attorney fees; and pre- and post-judgment interest. The complaint demands a jury trial. (Compl. paras. 29 to 47; prayer a to j; jury demand.)

The docket

A summons issued on November 6, 2026, and the docket records Form AO 120/121 the same day. The clerk entered a notice of judge assignment and optional consent on November 6, 2026. (Docket entries 3 and 4; minute entry of Nov. 6, 2026.)