Do Publishing Companies Enforce Copyright Infringement Lawsuits?

I have a friend who was selling solutions manuals on ebay (PDF files) and ebay stopped the listings but not before he sold several manuals. My friend is not a bigtime operator and didn't know the copyright laws. One of the publishing companies recently sent him a letter telling him that he commited piracy and that they could sue him for LOTS of money and possibly even have him pay for their law fees.

However they also said that they would give him 10 days to accept a resolution in which he would pay the companies all profits derived from the manuals and an additional $100 dollars for legal costs incurred to date.



If my friend does not accept the resolution will the publishing company file a suit? Can they really ask for an additional $100 dollars?



My friend would love some advice...preferably from somebody familiar with the law. Thank you!Do Publishing Companies Enforce Copyright Infringement Lawsuits?
Ignorance of the law is no excuse and no defense. The oopyright statement is WRITTEN RIGHT IN THE MANUALS your friend was selling!



As they have access to the records of the sales via eBay, and know who did it, yes, they will most likely pursue to matter thru the courts to seek satisfaction if your friend does not cooperate. They are not just being mean, but they need to protect their property, whether it was one copy or one million copies. It was not your friend's property to sell, and the profits he made from the sales should be restituted to the company, as well as the amount they had to expend to get the money back.Do Publishing Companies Enforce Copyright Infringement Lawsuits?
yes yes and yes