The operator of a real estate brokerage web site has been ordered to pay $1 million in damages to the California Association of Realtors for reproducing its legal documents on-line without permission. The web site is also permanently banned from using the documents.

Equisource, which runs RealtyCity.net, was determined to have wilfully and intentionally infringed on the Association's copyrights in numerous forms by unauthorised reproduction, preparation of derivative works, distribution and display of such forms in connection with the site.

"[The Association's] standard forms are the most widely used legal documents for the purchase and sale of residential real estate in California," said its President, Robert Bailey. "These forms belong to our members and, as such, it's illegal for anyone to copy [an Association] form for their own financial benefit."

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