On May 19, 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in Petrella v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (decision available here) that the equitable defense of laches (unreasonable, prejudicial delay in commencing suit) may not bar relief on a copyright infringement claim brought within § 507(b)’s three-year limitations period. Specifically, the Supreme Court held:
To the extent that an infringement suit seeks relief solely for conduct occurring within the limitations period, however, courts are not at liberty to jettison Congress’ judgment on the timeliness of suit. Laches, we hold, cannot be invoked to preclude adjudication of a claim for damages brought within the three-year window.