Archinect - News2024-12-23T18:25:54-05:00https://archinect.com/news/article/150420873/smithgroup-files-suit-over-copyright-violations-for-michigan-hospital-design
SmithGroup files suit over copyright violations for Michigan hospital design Josh Niland2024-03-19T18:24:00-04:00>2024-03-21T17:06:48-04:00
<img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/8b/8b68bad28d86ff43935a0b6d6ba0537b.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>An argument concerning a new pediatric hospital design in <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/212268/grand-rapids" target="_blank">Grand Rapids</a>, Michigan, has spurred a lawsuit from <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/67683/smithgroup" target="_blank">SmithGroup</a> against the local firm <a href="https://archinect.com/purearchitects" target="_blank">Pure Architects</a> over an alleged violation of the copyright of an earlier unrealized project. <a href="https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/architecture-firm-sues-mary-free-bed-pure-architects-over-pediatric-hospital-designs/" target="_blank">Crain’s</a> business journal is reporting on the disputed Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital project after SmithGroup filed a suit in federal court last week. </p>
<p>In the suit, SmithGroup alleges that the termination of their contract for the new Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital never resulted in the required payment of licensing and other fees on the part of the hospital. They say that, in the aftermath, the hospital “improperly copied, reproduced, prepared derivative works” before sharing the plans with other architects, “willfully” infringing the copyright to generate new renderings. </p>
<p>Both the firm and the hospital are denying these claims publically. The $60 million project is expected to get underway this spring and be completed in 2026...</p>