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 by claiming copyright protection on the registration certificate for 1983 and 1984 versions of the programs which could not be reproduced, and depositing with the application 1986 versions of the programs. They note that plaintiff deleted the “comments” from the versions deposited with the Copyright Office, some of which indicated that those versions had been edited, or at least examined, after 1983 and 1984. (Tr. 135–40).

This argument finds evil intent where innocent error is the far more likely explanation. Plaintiff clearly seeks protection against defendants’ use of the Alpha Micro programs as they now exist, not as they existed in 1983 and 1984. The most reasonable explanation for the date discrepancy is that plaintiff entered the wrong dates on the registration forms. Melhado credibly testified that he had been advised, presumably by counsel, to enter 1983 and 1984 on the registration forms. (Tr. 67–68). There is no reason to believe DSI entered those dates in order to mislead the Copyright Office. Nor is there any reason to believe that the Copyright Office would have denied the registration application had 1986 been entered on the forms. It is not clear why Melhado caused the computer mechanically to remove the comments from the printout submitted to the Copyright Office. However, it is clear that he removed all the comments, and not only those that indicated the most recent “edit” dates, from the printout. There is no reason to believe he did so to mislead the Copyright Office.

Defendants also contend plaintiff deliberately concealed Censor’s ownership of the 1975 programs and the simulation games in its registration application “in the face of specific and clear instructions” to reveal it. (Def. Mem. at 31). Space 6 of the registration application requires the applicant to “[i]dentify any preexisting work or works that this work is based on or incorporates.” In this space on both forms, plaintiff wrote, “Computer generated simulations of same title published in 1975.” (Pl. Ex. 6, 7).

This statement sets forth exactly what plaintiff was commanded to set forth by the instructions. I cannot agree with defendants that the “clear inference from plaintiff’s responses in Space 6 was that the preexisting works were owned by plaintiff.” (Def. Mem. at 31). Plaintiff’s entries in Space 6 are simply silent as to ownership of the preexisting works identified. Its response put the Copyright Office on notice that the works to be registered were derivative, permitting it to make further inquiry as to ownership if so advised. Compare Russ Bertie, supra, 482 F.Supp. at 988 (plaintiff deliberately concealed fact that work was based on prior works).

For these reasons, I reject defendants’ claim that plaintiff knowingly misled the Copyright Office or deprived it of the “opportunity to pass on plaintiff’s claim accurately presented.” Id.

Defendants argue plaintiff has misbehaved in other ways which bar its claim for equitable relief. First, they point to plaintiff’s allegedly wrongful use of the 1975 programs and simulation games owned by Censor. I have already rejected this argument, concluding that plaintiff’s use of Censor either authorized or ratified plain­tiff’s use of his programs and games to create the Alpha Micro programs.

Defendants next argue that plaintiff’s attempt to “force Mr. Censor to the [bargaining] table” (Tr. 169) is a coercive misuse of its copyrights. This bargaining position, however, is part and parcel of the exclusive rights the Copyright Act confers upon a holder. To invoke that right may be “hard ball,” but it can hardly be considered wrongful.

Finally, defendants argue that plaintiff’s hands are unclean because prior to 1981 it conducted training seminars in Europe