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 is best left for a trial on the merits. Summary judgment on this issue is not appropriate at this stage. This alone, however, suffices to defeat Plaintiffs' motion.


 * B.

Equitable estoppel works "to deny a party the right to plead or prove an otherwise important fact -- here, the act of infringement -- because of something he has done or omitted to do." , 746 F. Supp. 320, 329 (S.D.N.Y. 1990). Estoppel requires proof that (1) plaintiffs had knowledge of defendants' infringing conduct; (2) plaintiffs intended that defendants rely on plaintiffs' conduct, or plaintiffs acted in such a manner that defendants had a right to believe they were intended to rely on the conduct; (3) defendants were ignorant of the true facts; and (4) defendants did, in fact, rely to their detriment. ;, 456 F. Supp. 531, 534 (S.D.N.Y. 1977), 592 F.2d 651 (2d Cir. 1978). Defendants may prevail on their estoppel defense only if they can prove a reasonable and justifiable belief that plaintiffs gave them permission to copy. , 828 F. Supp. 1048, 1064