CopyrightLaw

TableofContents
1.CopyrightableSubjectMatter..23
2.OriginalWorksofAuthorship.34
3.Fixation..4
4.FactsandCompilations....5
5.DerivativeWorks...6
6.ComputerPrograms...67
7.Pictoral,GraphicandSculptural......7
8.ArchitecturalWorks...8
9.SubjectsofCopyright:Characters.9
10.SoundRecordings.910
11.SubjectMatter:GovernmentWorks.10
12.ExclusiveRightsUnderCopyright...1118
13FairUse.1821
14.SecondaryLiability.2122
15.Remedies..2224
16.FederalPreemptionofStateLaw..2428
17.Tests..2829

COPYRIGHTLAWOUTLINE
Copyright:Therightofanauthortocontrolthereproductionofhisintellectualcreation.
Restrainsapersonotherthanthecreatorfromreproducingtheworkw/otheownersconsent
Cantgetcopyrightunlesscreatedanoriginalworkofauthorship
o Originalstartling,novel,orunusual,amarkeddeparturefromthepast.Workowesitsorigin
totheauthor.FIXEDMEDIUM
o Assignmentsofrenewalrightsareeffective,providedthattheauthorsurviveduntilthetimeof
renewal.
BothpublishedandunpublishedworksmayberegisteredwiththeCopyrightoffice.
o Registrationisaprerequisiteforinfringementofregisteredworks
Thecertificateofregistrationisprimafacieevidenceofthevalidityofthecopyright,
providedthattheworkisregisterednolaterthanfiveyearsafterpublication.
Makeapublicrecordofcopyright
Copyrightterm:
19091978
28+28
19781998
28+47(appliesifworkwasmadepriorto1978)+20=95
authorslife+50(ifcreatedafter1978)+20=70
1998
authorslife+70years
Copyrightv.Chattel
202:OwnershipofCopyrightasDistinctfromOwnershipofMaterialObject
Ownershipofcopyrightoranyexclusiverightsunderacopyrightisdifferentfromownershipofany
materialobjectinwhichtheworkisembodied.
Transferofownershipofacopyrightdoesnotconveypropertyrightsinanymaterialobject
o Justbecauseyoupossesstheobjectinwhichthecopyrightwasfirstfixed,doesntmeanyouown
it.
Youjusthavetherightstothatobjecttheauthorstillhasthecopyrightinthesubstance
containedintheobject
o 204:ExecutionofTransfersofCopyrightOwnership
Notvalidunlessaninstrumentofconveyance,oranoteormemorandumofthetransfer,
isinwritingandsignedbytheowneroftherightsconveyedorsuchownersduly
authorizedagent.

Chapter2:CopyrightableSubjectMatter
1. CopyrightableSubjectMatter
a. InGeneral
i. 102.SubjectMatterofCopyright
2FundamentalCriteria:(1)Originality(2)Fixationinatangibleform
2

(a) Copyrightprotectionsubsists,inaccordancewiththistitle.inoriginal
worksofauthorshipfixedinanytangiblemediumofexpression,now
knownorlaterdeveloped,fromwhichtheycanbeperceived,reproduced,
orotherwisecommunicated,eitherdirectlyorwiththeaidofamachineor
device.Worksofauthorshipincludethefollowingcategories:
(1) Literaryworks
(2) Musicalworks,includinganyaccompanyingwords;
(3) Dramaticworks,includinganyaccompanyingmusic
(4) Pantomimesandchoreographicworks
(5) Pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks
(6) Motionpicturesandotheraudiovisualworks
(7) Soundrecordings
(8) Architecturalworks
5BasicRequirementstolookintotodecideifsomethingiscopyrightable(102)
1. Theworkhastobeoriginaltoyou
2. Ithastobeaworkofauthorship
3. Therehastobeamodicumofcreativity
a. Justaslightamountsomebutnotalot
b. Feistlowthreshold
4. IThastobeafixedinatangiblemedium/form
5. Italsocannotfallwithintheprohibitionof102(b)cannotbeafact,idea,process,instruction,or
theory.
Whatisauthorship?
Authorship:Entirelyhumanendeavor.Authorsofcopyrightableworksmustbehumans;worksowningtheir
formtotheforcesofnaturecannotbecopyrighted.
ASK:(1)Isthistheresultofahumansendeavor?
(2)Istheresomeformofartintheexpression?
EX:Burrowscase
***YOUMAKETHEWORKpaintbrushes,typewriters,pens,recordingequipmentarethetoolsinwhich
youusetofixyourwork***

OriginalWorksofAuthorship
Originality:istheonepervadingelementessentialforcopyrightprotectionregardlessoftheformofwork.
Whilethetestsfororiginalityisalowthreshold.theauthormustcontributemorethanatrivialvariationof
apreviouswork,theworkmustberecognizablyhisown.
TheFeistTest:
Theworkis:
1. Independentlycreatedbytheauthor
2. Possesssomeminimaldegreeofcreativity
TestforOriginalityisLowthreshold
3

Needtoshowthatitisrecognizablyyourown.Theauthormustcontributemorethanatrivialvariation
ofapreviouswork.
Doesnotrequirenovelty,ingenuity,oraestheticmerit.

EXCEPTIONS
Shortphrases,titlestypefaces
Cannotcopyrightinstructions
Process,methodsofoperation
Phrases,slogans,mottosandshortadvertisingexpressionsarenotcopyrightable
o HOWEVER,thelengthofasentenceisNOTdispositiveofwhetheritissubjecttoprotection
Notenoughcreativity
o Phrasesonlydescribethecontents
o Solidblacklinesarenotenoughtoconstitutedesigns
Ifinstructionsarepartoftheprocess,theycannotbecopyrighted
o Instructions,directions
Shortjokescannotbecopyrighted.Theyarentlongenough
o However,thewholecompilationofjokescanbecopyrighted
Ifinstructionsarepartoftheprocesscannotbecopyrighted(MagicMarking)

Fixation
101:Aworkisfixedinatangiblemediumofexpressionwhenitsembodimentinacopyorphonorecords
byorundertheauthorityoftheauthor,issufficientlypermanentorstabletopermitittobeperceived,
reproduced,orotherwisecommunicatedforaperiodofmorethantransitoryduration.Aworkconsistingof
sounds,orboth,thatarebeingtransmittedisfixedforpurposesofthistitleifafixationoftheworkisbeing
madesimultaneouslywithitstransmission.
OriginalworkandtangibleobjectmustmergethroughFixation
Aworkneedstobefixedinatangiblemediumexpression
Allyouneedtodoiseitherwriteitownorrecorditfiitsmusic(orlikeamovie)
Onlyiftheauthorisdoingthefixationdoesitleadtoanylegaltight
o YourecordingImogensingingdoesntgiveyoucopyrightImogenwouldneedtorecordit
(orhaveherproducerrecordit)
o Bookisacopynotaworkofauthorship
UnfixedWorks:
Improvisionorunrecordedchoreographicwork
Unfixedworkisnotprotectedby102,butareprotectedunderstatecommonlaw
Intermsoftheconstitutionalclauseforcopyright,music,liveperformances,cannotfitunder
constitutionaldefinition,BUTcongressmadealawthroughthecommerceclause:
o 1101:PerformersRightofFixation:Grantsperformeroflivemusicalperformancesrights
againstunauthorizedfixation,oftheirperformances,andagainstdistributionortransmissionof
saidunauthorizedfixation.
4

 Theserightsapplyafter1994.Post1994salesorpre1994fixationsapply
FixationinDigitalMedia
Entryofaworkintotherandomaccessmemory(RAM)ofacomputermakesacopy
TheIdea/ExpressionDichotomy
102(b)Innocasedoescopyrightprotectionforanoriginalworkofauthorshipextendtoanyidea,procedure,
process,system,methodofoperation,concept,principle,ordiscovery,regardlessoftheforminwhichit
described,explained,illustratedorembodiedinsuchwork.
Youcannotcopyanidea
Youcannotprecludeothersfromusingtheideasorinformationrevealedbytheauthorswork
o Pertainstooliterary,musical,graphicalorartisticformwhichauthorexpressedintellectual
concepts
Scenesafaire:meansthatcertainelementsofacreativeworkarenotprotected.(BakervSeldon)

FactsandCompilations
Factscannotbecopyrighted!Theyfailtomeettheconstitutionalrequirementoforiginality!
Factsarediscoverednotcreated
Definitionoflawbecomesafactwhenitisenacted,thuscannotbecopyrightable.
102(b):Cannotcopyrightatheory.Innocasedoescopyrightextendtoanyidea!Factsbecomecopyright
protectedwhentheyareinacompilationtheindividualfactsarecopyrightprotected,butthepresentationand
arrangementofthefacts(akathecompilation)is.
Compilations
Test
1. Istherecollectionandassemblyofpreexistingmaterials,facts,ordata?
2. Istheresomecreativityintheselectionandcoordinationofthematerialsinthework
a. Whichfactsselected
b. How/whatordertoplacethemin
c. Howtoarrangethecollecteddatasothattheymaybeusedeffectivelybythereader
3. Ifyes,byvirtueofaparticularselection,coordinationorarrangement,theworktakenasawhole
constitutesanoriginalworkofauthorship
BasicDoctrinalRules
Factsbecomecopyrightprotectedwhentheyareinacompilationtheindividualfactsarenotcopyright
protectedbutthemediuminwhichtheyarepresented,thecompilation,is.
Needtolookatalltheelementsofthework,includingtext,arrangementoftext,artwork,and
associationbetweenartworkandtextTakeitasawhole(RothGreetingCards).
Theminuteapenalcodegetsenactedintolaw,itbecomesafact,andafactcannotbecopyrighted
MergerDoctrineTheideaandtheexpressionhavecometogether
o MDdoesnotapplyforsoftideasinfusedwithtasteandopinion
o NoMDiftherearemanydifferentwaystoexpresstheidea(Mapscase)
101:Definitions:Compilation

Aworkformedbythecollectionandassemblingofpreexistingmaterialsorofdatathatareselected,
coordinated,orarrangedinsuchawaythattheresultinworkasawholeconstitutesanoriginalworkof
authorship.Includescollectiveworks.
Organized/puttogetherinsuchanauthorlywaythatitconstitutesanoriginalworkofauthorship
Needtomakeaselectionacompilationofeverythingisnotcopyrightable
Feistv.Rural
Analysis
Collectionoffactsarenotcopyrightedperse
Perstatute3elements:
o 1.Collectionandassemblyofpreexistingmaterials,facts,ordata.
o 2.Theselection,coordinationorarrangementofthosematerials
o 3.Thecreation,byvirtueofaparticularselection,coordinationorarrangementofanoriginal
workofauthorship
*Whenyouhaveacompilationcopyright,apersonhastotakethewholethinginorderforittobe
infringement

DerivativeWork
DerivativeWork
Aworkbasedupononeormoreexistingworksanyotherforminwhichaworkmayberecast,
transformed,oradapted.
o Moviesmadefrompreexistingwork=derivativework
o Recasting,transformingoradaption
SituationsTypicalofDerivativework
PublicDomainwork
SomethingaddedtoPublicDomainWork
Somebodycopieswhatwasadded
OriginalityinderivativeworksDerivativeworkmustcontainsufficientoriginalmaterialtostandonits
own:OriginalandSubstantial
SkyVodkaCase:Photographerloses,dominantfeatureinbothphotographsisthebottle,andthecopyrightin
thebottleitselfwasownedbySkyy.NOcopyrightintheshadowsofthebottle.
LBatin.v.Snyder:UncleSameBankinthepublicdomain.Manufacturermodifiesdesign(mostlyfor
functionality).Someonecopiesthisversion.
Thereweresomeveryminutedetailsthatweredifferent;notperceptibletothecasualobserver.Thatis
notsufficienttobeanoriginalwork.
AconsiderablehigherdegreeofskillsisneededtomakeitcopyrightableSOSNYDERLOSES.
ThresholdQuestion:

Isthereenoughdifferenceandcreativityinthemodificationsthatyouareentitledtocopyrightand

ComputerPrograms
nobodycancopyit?
o Soyes,sufficientcreativityforcopyright.

Sec.117:Copyingisnotokunlessthesetwosituations:
(1)Ifyoubuyaprogram,andfollowtheinstructionstomakeitarchivalcopyjustsoyouhaveitjustin
case,thatisnotaninfringement,or
(2)ifyoudownloaditontoaharddrive,youaremakingacopybutthatisnotaninfringement.

**Argumentforinfringementisthatanyotherinstancethanthesetwo,itsinfringement.Therefore,a
programiscopyrightable
Literaryworkbecauseuselettersandnumberstocreateawork.Suggestadditiontocopyrightlaw.
(AppleComputerv.Franklin)
Computerprogramslooklikemethodsofoperation

Methodofoperationifitistheonlywaytoaccomplishsomething
AppleComputerv.Franklin
Holding
Courtfindscomputerprogramisliterarywork
Operatingsystem,notanapplicationsystem.Somethingisbeingcommunicatedinside.
Objectcodebinary.Translatesinmachinetotellittodothings
Sourcecodeitswhatoperatesthesystem.Useslettersandnumberswhichmakesitaliterarywork.
Analysis
Twostepargument
o 1.Doesn'tfallwithinstatute
yesitdoesit'saliterarywork
o 2.Wellwhyisntitamethodofoperation
Methodofoperationifitistheonlywaytoaccomplishsomething
Becomemethodofopifnootherwaytodoit
Buthere,therearemanydifferentwaystodoitmanydifferentoperatingsystems
Rule
MethodsofOperationareunablebuthere,therearemanyoperatingCourtisliketheyboth
accomplishsomethingthatpeoplecanaccomplishwithdifferentsystemsManyoperatingsystems,so
thiswasn'ttheonlywaytorunacomputer.Therefore,itisablebecausetheideacanbeexpressedina
pluralityofdifferentmanners.

LotusDevelopmentv.BorlandIntl
SpreadsheetprogramcopiesmenutaborderfrompopularLotusapplication.Obviously,plentyofother
variationswerepossiblecouldhaveusedadifferentorder.ButcourtfindstheorderingwasNOT
able.Itsamethodofoperation.
o Therewasacircuitsplitonthis,andS.C.split44.So,meh.
7

Methodofoperationwhenyouconsiderprogramcompatibility.Mustlearnhowtodothesamethingfor
eachprogramused.

Pictorial,GraphicalandSculptural
Pictures(Pictorial,GraphicalandSculpturalWorks
Itshowyourenderthephotograph,thelightingandangles.
Specialstepstakeninusingtheequipment.Themorespecialstepsthataretaken,themorelikelyweare
goingtogetaresultthatiscopyrightable.
Takesomethingordinary,butbecauseofyourreputation,cangettocallitart.
Stillusedtheformwhichisexactlywhatcopyrightprotects.
Itsnottheidea,thephotographiswhatitis.
ProtectableElementsofPhotograph

Renditioncameraplacement,lens,lighting,etc.
TimingWaitforacertainmoment(certainreflectionfromsun;bearcatchingsalmoninmouth)
Creationofthesubjectcreationoforiginal/uniquescene

Cases:
1) Mannionv.CoorsCoorssinfringedonPscopyrightedworkwheretherewasmanytodepictthe
sameidea
2) BridgemanvCorelNoinphotographofpaintingwhichsimplytriestoreducepaintingaccurately
3) BillDiodatoRichwomanontoiletlackssufficientoriginalityforsonoinfringement

Functionality:
ProblemofAppliedArtandFunctionality

Ifsomethingisfunctional,itcannotbecopyrighted.Becauseprotectedbypatent
Howdoweknowwhethersomethingisfunctionalornot?
o 1.Thatcanbeidentifiedseparatelyfromand
o 2.Beingabletoexistingindependentlyofutilitarianaspectsofthearticle
FunctionalAspects
Protectedunderpatentlaw
o EvenexpressiveelementsareunprotectedwhentheyarefunctionalBakerv.Seldin
Abookdescribinganaccountingsystemcanbeprotected;thesystemitselfisnot
protected;onlytheauthorscreativedescriptionofsuch
Instructionsandrulesmayreceiveprotection;butonTHINprotection
UsefulArticles
Receiveprotectiononlyifitsaestheticfeaturesareseparablefromitsutilitarianaspects
CopyrightandFashion
Aclothingdesignisprotectableonlyifitsaestheticelementsareseparablefromitsfunctionfunction
andformaregenerallysointertwinedthatcopyrightprotectionisnegligible
PhysicalandConceptualSeparability
Physical
o Requirestheworktocontainseparatephysicalelements
Verytoughstandard
Conceptual
8

Cantheauthormakeaestheticchoicesthatdonotaffectthefunctionalaspectofthe

ArchitecturalWorks
Architecturalworks
TheplansandmodelsthatrepresentthestructureAND
Thearchitecturalstructureitself
Usedtobeconsideredusefuluntil1990swhenthelawstartedtorecognizeas.Architectural
drawingsandmodelswereable
o Treatedliketypicalpictures/pictorials,soprotectiononlyextendedtothoseelementsina
buildingthatwerephysicallyorconceptuallyseperable.
o Before1990,apersonwhohadaccesstotheplansordrawingscouldconstructabuildingand
escapeliabilityiftheplansanddrawingswereNOTcopied
o Now,infringementmaylieeventhoughaccesstothe3dworkisobtainedfromits2Dor3D
depiction
1990Act
101Anytangibleformofexpression,includingplansordrawingsbutonlyoverallformofbuildingis
protected,notstandardizedfeatures(doors,windows,etc.)
**Picturesofbuildingsarenotinfringementiftheyarepublicallyvisible
Ownerscanmodify/knockdownbuildingwithoutarchitectspermission
Kioskisnotabuildingmustbehabitable,permanent&stationary(home,officebuilding..etc)
placespeopleenter.
ScopeofProtection(Notfromclass)(Fromasupplement)
1. Onemustexaminetheworktodetermineifthereareoriginaldesignelements,includingtheoverall
shapeandinteriorarchitecture
2. Ifsuchdesignelementsarepresent,onemustthendeterminewhethertheelementsarefunctionally

SubjectsofCopyright:Characters
required.
a. IftheseelementsareNOTfunctionallyrequired,theworkwillbeprotectedw/oapplyingthe
physicalorconceptualseparabilitytest

Protectionofcharactersifcharacterdistinctiveenough,infringementcanbefoundbecauseofsimilarityin
character.
1.VisualCharacterarealwaysprotected.
o Winniethepooh,Snoopy
2.Literarycharactersarenotawardedtheamountofprotectionbecauseitshardertotangibly
invisionthecharacter.
TwoPossibleTests
1. StoryBeingToldTest(WBv.Columbia)
9

a. Ifthecharacteristhestorybeingtold,thereisprotectionforthatcharacter.Ifthecharacterisjust
thevehicle,notwithinprotection.Sohighlydelineated.
i. Ex.ForrestGump
2. DistinctivelyDelineatedTest
a. Charactercopyrighteddependingonhowpreciselydefinedheis.Canalsobeappliedtonon
centralcharacters.
Cases
WBv.Columbia(Dwins)(StoryBeingToldTest)
Holding
SamSpadelawsuit.WBheldonlyrightstoMalteseFalconstory,nottothecharacter
WBknewthatdetectivestoriesoftenhavesequelsanddidntnegotiateforcharacterrightsasan
experiencedparty,ambiguitieswereconstruedagainstthem.Didnotacquireexclusiveright

Andersonv.Stallone
Writerclaimsthoughtuptheideaforanewrockymovie.Suesforcopyrightforinfringinghistreatment
ofthefilm.Hereallydidfollowalotoftheelementsinthattreatment.
(FullyDelineatedTest):Insomemovies,thecharacteristheplot.Theyaresohighlydelineatedwe
(court)don'tcarewhatscenariotheyarein.Someonecantclaiminaderivativescriptofthe
characters
o WhatitwouldmeanisthatnooneelsewouldbeabletoeverusetheRockycharacteragainso
theyrejectedthatargument
Gaimanv.McFarlane
Comicbooks.Theminuteitbecomespictorialyoucanseeittheminutetheyweredrawnoutthey
becamepictorial.Gaimanhadpartialinterestineventhoughheonlywrotethecharactersand
Macfarlanedrewthem

CharactersinthePublicDomain
CanSherlockcharacterbeusedIfsome(stories?)inthepublicdomain,andnotfollowingplotoftheold
ones?
Yescanusethosecharacters,aslongasyoudon'tfollowthestoriesthatarestillcoveredunder
copyright.Charactersareinpublicdomain.(Klinger)

SoundRecordings
o o

Afraidtheyaregoingtomakehimsoundstupid

Worksthatresultfromthefixationofaseriesofmusical,spokenorothersounds.
Before1972Aliveperformanceisnotcoveredbycopyright.Andrecordingtheliveperformanceshouldn'tbe
copyright.Onlywhenitispublish.
After1972gotsoundrecordings
TwoEntitiestobeconcernedwithwhendiscussingwhosplitsthemoneythatcomesinfromsound
recordings.
10

o TheComposure
o Theperformer.
1976statutesoundrecordingsarefixedandsubjectto
Newyonv.Diamond

Facts
BeastieBoyssamplesJamesNewton(Jazzcomposerandflautist).Hadlicensetorecording,butnot
compositionThreenotescomposedandplayedbyNewton.Canhehaveacompositioninterestinthose
threenotes?
Holding
NOOitsthewaytheywereRECORDEDthatmakesthemdistinctive,andsincetheyhadrightstothe
recording,thatwasOK(deminimum)(takingwasdeminimis.Theysimplysangthosenotes.

SubjectMatter:GovernmentWorks
Recording3notesisnotenoughtoconstituteinfringement

NocopyrightforworkoftheU.S.government.
EveryworkoftheU.S.govt,whichiswhysomanycompaniescanprintSCOTUScases(Whetonv.
Peters)
TwoLimitations
(1)NotprecludedfromrecieivingcopyrightsfromasignofrequestgetCfromanassignment
(2)Ifdraftyofthearmy,anythingyoudoisownedbygovtworkforhireandsincegovtcantown
copyright,therewasnoinfringement
Statescantsowncopyrightseither
Everytimestateputsoutanopinion,itcanbecopiedforfree(Banksv.Manchester)
o Nosimplyrefertothebluebookforthelaw,itisnotthelawthough
forSacageweasculpturethatwasthebasisforgoldcoinISprotectablebecausegovtinheriteditby
assignment.didn'toriginateit.(however,worksforhirebygovt.arenotprotected)
o 105:governmentcanreceiveandholdstransferredtoitbyassignment,bequestorotherwise.
BriefsareCopyrightbale,butwestlawsuseofitwasfairuse.

Veeckv.SouthernBuildingCode
Modelbldg.codewasenactedintolaw.Anothercompanycopiesthelaws.Isthisinfringingonthe
modelcode?

TeachersExceptiontotheWorkforHireDoctrine
Teacherexceptiontoworkforhiredoctrineteachersowntheirlectures,eventhoughtheyare
employeesoftheUniversity
o teachersworkfromplacetoplace.

ExclusiveRightsUnderCopyright
11

106ExclusiveRightsUnderCopyright
Ownerofacopyrighthasexclusiverightto(andtoauthorize):
i.
Reproducethecopyrightedworkincopiesorphonorecords,
ii.
Preparederivativeworksbasedonthecopyrightedwork,
iii.
Todistributecopies,
iv.
ToPerformthecopyrightedworkpublically,
v. Todisplaythecopyrightedworkpublically,
vi.
Performbymeansofdigitaltransmission(forsoundrecordings)thecopyrightedworkincopiesor
phonorecords
Copies:
Copiesarematerialobjectsotherthanphonorecordsfixedform,materialobjecttheworkcanbe
perceivedreproducedorcommunicateddirectlyorwithaidofmachine
Reproductionofcopies
a. RAMifaninfringerarrangesforsomethingtoappearonyourscreenjustasRAM,itisan
infringementfixedenough
ElementsofaCopyrightInfringementClaim:PMUSTSHOW:
1.Plaintiffmustdemonstrateownershipofavalidcopyright
a.Mustbeanoriginalworkofauthorshipfixedinatangiblemediumofexpression.
b. Plaintiffmustshowthatheownsit.
c.TimelyRegistrationgivesistopresumptionthatthecopyrightisvalidandbelongstothe
registrant
2.Plaintiffmustshowthathis/herworkhasbeenCOPIED:TwoWaystoprove:
a.
DirectEvidenceofCopyingDefendanteitheradmitsthathecopieditorsomebodytestifiesthat
theysawthedefendantcopyingit.
b.
InferentialorIndirectproofofcopying*****(AccessandSubSimilarity)
i.Accessdefendanthadaccesstothework.
1.Veryloosestandarditcouldhavehappened.
ii.SubstantialsimilaritySuchsimilaritybetweenthecopyrightedworkandtheinfringing
workthatthesimilaritysimplycouldnothavecomethroughcoincidenceorothernatural
randomcauses
1.anexpertcanonlytestifyonstructuralsimilarities).
2.Substantialsimilarityisajuryquestiontheysoundfamiliar

CartoonNetworkLPv.CSCHoldings,Inc.
Rule
ifsomeonedoesitasyouragentitisnotinfrignemntbecauseofsection1008audiohomerecording
act108noactionmaybebroughtunderthistitleallegingcopyrightinfringementfor.Fornon
commercialusebyaconsumerofsuchadeviceformakinganalogcopes
Holding
ifyoudoityourself,athome,fornoncommercialreasons,youarehomefree.That'swhyno
infringement
Remotestoragewasdoingitforyou,whichisfunctionalequivalentofdoingityourself.
Analysis
12

RemotestorageDVRprogramcontentverybrieflystoredonremotedatabasespecificallysaidtheyre
anexceptionAmericanHomeRecordingActOKonyourownhomesystemforownuse.
2ndcircuitfindsCablevisionismerelytheviewersagent.Theyprovidedthetechnology..thecustomer
chooseswhattorecord
DishNetworkv.AmericanBroadcastingCos.Inc.
CametosameresultasCartoonNetwork.
DISHhasnocontroloverwhichprogramsusersdecidetocopy.Subscribermustdecidewhethershe
wantstousetherecorder,andifshedoesonwhatprograms.Showsarestoredonthepersonalharddrive
ontheHopper(DishNetworksDVRtechnology),NOTatDISHheadquarters
Dishprogramcreatesthecopyonlyinresponsetotheuserscommand.Therefore,thedistrict
courtdidnoterrinconcludingthattheuser,notdishmakesthecopy

.
TheRightToMakeCopies
1976Sec.1008Consumerscancopythingsforhomeuse
Ifyoudoityourselfathomefornocommercialreasonsyouarehomefree.Minuteyousayyoucandoit
yourself,ifyouhavesomeonedoitforyou,thenitsnotaninfringement

ProvingInfringement
Arnsteinv.Porter
Facts
ArnsteinclaimedafewofPorterssong
Issue1:
Atwhatstagecanyoudismissthiscase?
o Lowercourtgrantedsummaryjudgment
Holding
Highercourtsaidyouneedtohaveajurydecidetheseissues.Ordinaryobserverthatdecideissuesof
substantialsimilarity.
Issue2:
HowtoProveinfringement?
Holding
PorterWins.Verylimitedproofofthepossibilityofaccessisenoughtoshowaccessandalso,even
thoughexpertsmaytellyousomethingaboutthestructureofthetwopiecesofmusic,theycannotopine
onthefinalquestion:thatmustbeleftforthejury
Analysis
Caseisimportantforhowyouprovecopyrightinfringeandwhatyouhavetoshow:
o 1.Showownershipofavalidcopyright
Needtoshowyouownithasn'tbeenassignedoraworkforhire
Itsvalid
o 2.Accessandcopying
howtoshowcopying.
1.Evidencedefendantsadmission,circumstantialevidenceshowingaccessandwhere
areasonabletrieroffactmayreasonablyinfercopying
2.**Strikingsimilaritymayshowaccesstheyaresosimilarhemusthavelookedatit
o 3.ShowSubstantialSimilarity
13

ifthereisevidenceofaccessandsimilarty,trieroffactmustdeterminewhether
similaritiesaresufficienttofindcopying
Sostrikingyoudonothavetoproveaccess

BrightTunesMusicv.Harrisongs
AccessprovedbecauseHessoFinewasintheBillboardTop10whileBeatleswerealsointhe
charts.
CourtdecidesHarrisonsubconsciouslycopiedforMySweetLord

StrikingSimilarity:Similaritiesaresostrikingastoprecludeindependentlyarrivedatsameresult
Pricev.FoxEntertainment(DodgeballCase)
Rule
AdoptedStrikingSimilarity.
Analysis
Havetoproveaccess,itseasytoprove.Song,movie,bookoutinthepublic.
o PotentialaccessestablishedbyoverlapinagentswriteroftheStillermoviethenwrotehisfirst
draftwithalarmingspeedafterallegedaccess.
o Sentittoanagentthathasaccesstosomethingelse.Thatwasenough.
Movieswherecamerafocusesonacopyrightedimagineforlikeafewseconds.
Whywasthereaccess?They(copier)couldhaveheardit.Reasonabletoassumeteycouldhaveheard
it.

CircumstantialProofofCopying
Sellev.GibbBeeGees
Holding
7thCircuitrejectsstrikingsimilaritytestforaccesstheplaintifflostbecausehecouldnotproveaccess.
Hissongwasunpublishedandhadonlybeenperformedatweddingsandbarmitzvahs
Rule*
Courtwillnotsupportafindingofinfringementunlessthereisatleastsomeotherevidencewhich
wouldestablishareasonablepossibilitythatthecomplainingworkwasavailabletothealleged
infringer.
DistinguishingIdeaandExpression
PeterPanFabricv.MartinWeinerLearnedhandTest
Rule

Infringementexistswhen:Theordinaryobserver,unlesshesetouttodetectthedisparities,wouldbe
disposedtooverlookthem,andregardtheiraestheticappealasthesame.
o Atypicalobserverwouldoverlookthepartsthatarentidenticaltheordinaryobserverdoesn't
takethetimetopinpointalltheminimaldetailsbetweenthetwo.

Ideas/ExpressionsDistinctions:ScreenplaysnBaes.
14

**NICHOLSV.UNIVERSALPICTURESCORP.
(2ndmostimportantcppyrightcase)
Rule

LearnedHandtherightcannotbelimitedliterallytothetextasplageristwouldescapebyimmaterial
variation.don'thavetobecopiedwordforwordtoinfringe
o Itisofcourseessentialtoanyprotectionofliterarypropertyunderc.lthattherightcannotbe
limitedliterallytothetext,elseaplagiaristwouldescapebyimmaterialvariations.
**Twowaysofcopying
o Copywords/dialoguefragmentedliteralsimilarity
o Copycomprehensivenonliteralsimilarity
Intheseriesofabstrations,whentheyarenolongerprotected,somethingaboutexpressionnotbe
extended
Holding
L.Handfindsnotenoughsimilarityloversarestockcharacters,jewishdadshavedifferent
personalities.Quarrelandresolution,RomeoandJulietnonsensenotenoughplotoverlap
o Thedifferencesthatdidexistbetweenthecharactersonlymakeupasmallpartofthewholeof
thecharacter(thestockcharacter).
Analysis
Tosay/holdinfringementwouldbetogivetheplaintiff/playrighttheabilitytopreventtheuseofhis
ideastowhich,apartfromtheirexpression,hispropertyneverextended
TakeawaysFromNichols
LiteralAppropriationmaytakepartofthedialogandthenapplyfairusedoctrineortakesanAbstractthe
wholething,thatmakesitmoredifficult.Themoredetailyoutakeoutanduse,themoreitlooksliketheother
play.
o Thedetailsarethecopyrightedshit
TwoWaystoofCopying
Fragmentedliteralsimilaritydon'ttakeallthewords,justpiecesofthewordparaphrasinglines.
Specificwordsaretakenfromonecreationtoanother.Ifthathappens,applyfairusedoctrine.
ComprehensiveNonliteralSimilaritycopyingofstructure/plot.Patternsimilarity.
StockPlotgenericplotlinePlotofRomeoandJulietnotcopyrightable
StockCharactersNotcopyrightable.
SHELDONV.METROGOLDWYNPICTURESCORP.(1936)
Facts
Themoviebuystherightsfromthebook,anditcanusewhateverfromthetrialcuzitsinthepublic
domain.Itcannotusewhatisintheplaythattheplayaddedtothetrial.Whatevertheplayaddedtothe
trialthatiscopyrightable.DCcourtjudgeandLearnedHandhavedifferentmovieinterpretation
Issue
Didthemovietakewhatwasaddedtothetrialbytheplay?Didthepicturetakenewmaterialthatwasin
theplaybutnotinthenovel?
Testish/LegalAnalysis
(1)Whetherhe()usedtheplay
(2)Whethertherewasaninfringinguse
15

o **LearnedHandestablishedthatinordertofigureoutifthereisinfringement,heneedsto
lookatthescenes/statethesimilarities
Thepoisoningsceneswerebasicallythesame
Holding
NoplagiaristcanexcusethewrongbyshowinghowmuchhisworkhedidNOTpirate.
Unconsciousplagiarismisactionablequiteasmuchasdeliberate
Courtconcludedthatthedefendantsmotionpicturetrackedtoomuchofthealtogetherfictional
elementscontributedbytheplaintifffromherimagination.
o Plaintiffactuallysucceeded,whichisrare
Analysis
Theplayisthesequenceoftheconfluentsofallthesemeans,boundtogetherinaninseparableunity;it
mayoftenbemosteffectivelypiratedbyleavingoutthespeech,forwhichasubstitutecanbefound,
whichkeepsthewholedramaticmeaningthisisexactlywhatthedefendantdidinthiscasethe
dramaticsignificanceofthesceneswehaverecitedisthesame,almosttotheletter.
Surelythesequenceofthesedetailsisprotanto(asfaraspossible)theveryweboftheauthors
dramaticexpression,andcopyingthemisNOTfairuse.
o Defendantsneedtosteerclearoftheplaintiffsexpression,butcouldusethegeneralideas.
Detailsinthesamesequenceembodymorethantheideaoftheplay;theyaretheveryraiment.
Thiscasetooktheplot,notthelinespatternsimilarity/Comprehensivenonliterarysimilarity
HowdoyouknowiftheTwoplaysareSubstantiallysimilar?
Needtogothroughtheplot,thecharacters,particularscenes
Whatisthebasicplot
Whoarethecharacters
Wheredoestheactionoccur.
Characterinmoviearestillprotected,theminuteyougobeyondreproducingthecharactersexactlyyou
aregoingbeyondyourcopyrightpermission.Interferingwithcharactersinthemovie.(WBCASE)
Computers
ComputerAssociatesv.Altai
Thisisthedefinitivedecisioninthecopyrightfield(forcomps)

Facts
Computerprogrammercopiedanotherco.sprogram.Theprogramremovedhimfromtheprojectand
hadotherprogrammersredesignit,scrubbinganythingthatwastakendirectlyfromtheoriginal
program.
Issue:
Towhatextentarenonliteralaspectsofacomputerprogramprotectedbycopyright?
Holding:Noinfringement:Substantialsimilaritytestforcompprogramstructure=abstractionfiltration
comparison
Analysis
Courtappliestheabstractiontest(LearnedHandfromNichols)removepublicdomain,nonable
elements,etc.Lookedatalltheseliterarycases:
1.Abstractouttheutilitarian(subtracttheidea)
2.Thenfiltrateitoutsubtract/eliminatelikeNichols
16

o a.Elementsdictatedbyefficiencyifthisisthemostefficientwaytodosomething,evenifitis
notnecessary,subtractitout.
Natureofcomputerprogrammakesthisdifficultanefficientcomputerprogramwilldo
onlywhatitssupposedtodo,andsuchstrippeddownprogrammingwilllikelybevery
similartoanyotherprogramdesignedtodothesamething.Howmuchwasdictated
solelybyefficiency?Mustfilteroutthoseelementsoutofanalysis
o b.elementsdictatedbyexternalfactorsIncorporatesliteraryelements(i.e.thestockor
standardliterarydevicesintheNicholscase).Seefactorsonp.568thesearefactorsthatareso
closelyassociatedwiththisparticularprogramandsostandardthattheexpressionofthemisnot
copyrightable.
Standardwaysofdoingthings/itandthereforemustexaminestructural
o c.StuffinthepublicdomainElementsthathaveenteredthepublicdomainbyvirtueoffreely
accessibleprogramexchanges
Ultimately,onthesefacts,oncetheseelementswereremoved,therewasnoinfringement
Everyonenowfollowsthis2ndcircuitformula.
Steinbergv.Columbia
MoscowontheHudsonposterinfringesNewYorkercover?myopicviewofNYersdetailedviews
ofNYwithminimizedlandscapeinthebuildingonelookswest,theotherlookseast.Allthisdetailof
NYbuildingsandavenues
YesInfringement.Samefont,style.
***IFYOUDONTOWNTHEANYMOREYOUCANNOTCOPYTHEWORK!***

MUSIC:THERIGHTTOMAKEPHONORECORDS
101.DEFINITIONS.Phonorecordsarematerialobjectsinwhichsounds,otherthanthoseaccompanyinga
motionpictureorotheraudiovisualwork,arefixedbyanymethodnowknownorlaterdeveloped,andfrom
whichthesoundscanbeperceived,reproduced,orotherwisecommunicated,eitherdirectlyorwiththeaidofa
machineordevice.Thetermphonorecordsincludesthematerialobjectinwhichthesoundsarefirstfixed.
a. Phonorecordsbecamecopyrightablesubjectmatterin1971.BIGDIFFERENCEbetweenthesound
recordingandthecompositionitselfthesearetwoseparaterights.

115CompulsoryLicense

Authorsofliteraryworksenjoyfullrightstoauthorizeorprohibitthecreationofrecordedperformances
oftheirworks.
Assoonasyoureleaseasong,anyoneelsecanmaketheirownversionofarecordingonceitisout.
115requiresyouservenoticew/in30daysofcreationandBEFORErelease/distribution.Andpaythe
9.1c.
Apersonwishingtoobtainacompulsorylicensemustfilewiththecopyrightownera(1)noticeof
intentiontodistributephonorecordsofthecopyrightedwork,and(2)istopayaroyaltyforeach
recordoftheworkthatismadeanddistributed.
17

Justrecordthesong,contactthecopyrightoffice/personwiththecopyrightandpaythemforeach
recordsold.Makeyourversionofit.

SoundRecordingsGenerally

Soundrecordingsareusuallyaboutacapturedperformance
Sometimestheyalsocontainoriginalmusicthatisbeingcopyrightedforfirsttimebutusuallyjusta
performanceofalreadycopyrightedmusic.
Therighttomakesoundrecordingsislimitedbytwosections:115and114
115dealsw/useofthemusicalcomposition
114dealsw/useofthesoundrecording

115CompulsoryLicense
Basics:
Forasetsumofmoney,youhaverighttousemusictomakeyourownrecordingofthemusic.
Copyrightownercannotrefuse.
Licenseisnotsubjecttoindividualnegotiationflatrateforall.
Youcannotgetalicenseuntilthemusicispublished(madepublic)
Firstrecordinggetsmadethroughindividualnegotiation
Onlycoversmusiccapturedinaperformanceandmadeavailableforsaletogeneralpublic
TECHNICALREQUIREMENTSUNDER115:
115(b)Mustsendanoticeofintentiontotheownerbeforeyoudistributethework.Ifyoucannotidentify
theowner,fileitwiththecopyrightoffice.
Generally,onewilljustphonetherecordcompanyandnegotiateapriceforlessthanthe9centsthey
usuallydoit
Ifyoucannotdothis,beforedistributionofthework,youmustservethenoticeofintentiontoobtaina
compulsorylicenseunder115.Ifyoudonotdothis,orifyoumisstheservicerequirementbyone
day,youcanbefacing$150,000instatutorydamagesinsteadofpaying9.1centsperrecordtouseit.
Limitations:
Courtshavebeenstrictinapplying115onceyouaddvisualelementstothesoundrecordinglike
w/karaoke,itisnotsubjecttothecompulsorylicense.
DERIVATIVEWORKS:Youcannotmakeaderivativework115(a)(2)
Youcanmakecertainadaptationsthatrelatetostyleofperformerornecessityofperformance
Youcannotfundamentallychangemelodyorcharacter
Procedures
1.Timing
2.MustgivenoticetocopyrightholderandCopyrightOffice
18

3.Accountingprovisionspayingroyalties

HarryFoxAgencyandCollectiveRightsOrganizations
115proceduresarehardforindividualstofollowsomusicindustrycameupw/collectiverights
organizationstomonitor
HarryFoxholdsaslicensee,the115rightsofcomposers
Sowhenyouwantacompulsorylicense,yougothroughHarryFoxandnottheactualauthor
HFmanagesthenumeroussmalltransactions
Cutsdownontransactioncostsofmanagingsuchsmallrights.Therightsareonlyvaluablecollectively.

TheHarryFoxLicense

AlargenumberofmusicpublishersandcopyrightownershaveauthorizedHFAtoissuelicensesand
collectroyaltiesontheirbehalfformakinganddistributingphonorecordsoftheirmusicalcompositions
intheformofCDs,cassettes,andvinylrecords.
HarryFoxalsolicensesotherreproductionrightsoutsideof115,includingtheuseofmusicalworksas
ringtones,andforbackgroundmusicandfordigitaljukeboxservices.
In2001,themusicpublishersandrecordlabelsreachedanagreementtolicensesuchonlinedescription
services(i.e.Rhapsody,Napster,etc.).Theagreement,whichwasfollowedbysimilaragreementwith
nonlabelownedmusicservices,extendsthemechanicallicensetocovercopies/phonorecordsmadeas
partoftimelimiteddownloadsandondemanddigitalaudiostreams.

DigitalPerformanceRightinSoundRecordingsActof1995Digitalphonographdeliveryisequivalentto
thesaleanddistributionofamusicalrecordingextendsthecompulsorylicensetoonlinedownloads,or
deliveriespassedbycongress.Thisneverwentintoeffecthoweverbecausethereweretoomanypeoples
rightstoobtainandagovernmentsponsoredNapsterprogramjustwouldnotwork.

Sampling
114allowsthecopyrightholderexclusiverightsoverexactreproductionsandoverworksinwhichthe
actualsoundsfixedarerearranged,remixed,orotherwisealteredinsequenceorquality. Thishas
tendedtoworkitselfoutintheindustryindustrytendstoallowsamplingbecausetheyweresickof
thelitigation.

BRIDGEPORTMUSICv.DIMENSIONFILMS(2005)(samplingcase)
*CourtcameupwithBrightlinetestGetalicenseordonotsample

AudioHomeRecordingAct(AHRA) (p.600)IfyoumakeatapeoraCDfromaradiobroadcastfor
noncommercialuse,thatisnotaninfringinguse.

RighttoPrepareDerivativeWorksUnder106(2)
19

DerivativeWork:aworkbaseduponthecopyrightedwork;itmustincorporateaportionofthe
copyrightedworkinsomeform.Forexample,ifyouwriteanovelandsomebodymakesamovieaboutit.
Sometimesitisnotsoeasytofigureoutifthereisaderivativework.
haventrecastoriginalworkandcourtfoundthatitwasn'taderitativeworkbecausetheoriginalworkis
stillthereinallitsglory

106:Copyrightownerandonlythecopyrightownerhastherighttopreparederivativeworks.Recast
transformedoradapted.
VisualArtistsRightsActof1990(VARA)Added106Atothecopyrightlawandaddedadefinitionof
visualartto101.VARAonlyprotectsvisualarts(definedin101asapainting,drawing,print,or
sculptureorastillphotographicimage;101alsooutlinesseveralexclusions,includingworksmadeforhire).
Ifitdoesnotmeetthedefinitionofvisualartin101,canstillrelyontheLanhamActandotherprovisions
ofcopyrightlaw,butthereisnoprotectionunderVARA.VARAprotectsboththepaternity(authorship)and
integrityofthework.
Onlyvisualworksthatareconsideredartareprotectedsoyoucantdistort,mutilateorother
modificationoftheworkwhichwouldbeprejudicialtohisorherhonororreputation.
IthinkthisbasicallymeansyoucantmakederivativeworksofVisualArts
Thiswillapplytoappliedartandutilitarianpurposes
o CARTERCASE

FairUse
Themostsignificantlimitationonanauthorsorcopyrightholdersprerogatives.Thisdefenseisalmost
automatic.Everyinfringementactionisgoingtohavesomefairuse.Thewaytoresolveitistoseewhatthe
courtshavedecided,andseewhatisfair.
FairUse
Fairuseofcopyrightedwork
Somefairusesthatarenotaninfringement:Criticism,newsreporting,comment,Classroomusage/teaching,
scholarship,orresearch.
107:Factorstobeincludedshallinclude:4factors
a. Thepurposeandcharacteroftheuseincludingwhethersuchuse(bytheinfringer)isof
commercialnatureorfornonprofit
a. Purposeandcharacteroftheuseaskswhetherandtowhatextentthenewworkis
transformative.Themoretransformativeofthefirstworkthesecondworkis,themorelikelyit
isthatitisfairuse.
b. Transformative means something that has used heavily the mind of another person. The
defendanthasbroughtalottothetabletakenalotoftheirownbrainandchangeditfora
purpose.(Profitmakingislesslegitimate;educationismorelegitimate.)
c. Ingeneral,commercialusetendstogoagainstfairuseandmoretowardscopyrightinfringement;
nonprofit/educationaluseismorelikelytobefoundtobefairuse.Thisdoesnotmeanthatif
youuseitforcommercialpurposeyouautomaticallylosejustafactortobeconsidered.
b. Thenatureofthecopyrightedwork
a. Creativeorfactualworkifitscreative,gotoP.IfitsfactualgotoD
20

c. Theamountandsubstantialityoftheportionusedinrelationtothecopyrightedworkasawhole;
and
a. Amountandsubstantiality.1%yeahnotok.Amountmightbesmallbutsubstantialisa
judgmentcall.Lookatwhatismostimportantinthebookandseewhetherthatwastaken.
b. Looktoprecedentcasestoseehowmany/muchthecourtsallowforapublishedworkaswellas
unpublishedwork(dependinguponwhichyouaredealingwith)(Schlossv.Sweeney)
c.
d. TheeffectoftheuseuponthePotentialmarkfororvalueofthecopyrightedwork
a. Concerniswithwhetherthenewworkwillbecomeasubstitutefortheoriginal;bestwayto
showthisistoshowthatsalesforthe2ndworkincreasedassalesforthefirstdecreased
b.anymarket.ThePOTENTIALmarket
i. IftheplaintiffcompanywouldNOTgointothemarket,buttheownerofthecompany
couldpossiblywanttogointothemarketNOdistinctionbetweenthecompanyand
theowner
Howarethefactorsweighed?
a. theSupremeCourt(Nation)saidthatthe4thfactoristhemostimportantandthatifyouwonthat
factor,youdonlyhavetowinoneoftheothers.TheninCampbelltheydidnotmentionthatatall
andfocusedonthefirstfactorandhowtransformativetheusewas.Nowthecourtsallsaythatthe1st
factoristhemostimportant.
b. Judgestendtocometoaconclusion;thentheyfigureoutthefactorsaccordingly.
c. Doesn'teffectthemarketifnevermeanttosellthem
d. Hisheirscouldsellit,andthat'spotentialmarket
e. Salingerwon
DEFENSEINDEPENDENTCREATION(Cameupwiththeideayourself)
Parody
Parodyhastobelaughable.Ifnot,itsaderivativework.
Whenyouhavetheparody,threeofthefactorsgotheotherway.
Parody:factor1iftransformativeenoughtomakepeoplelaugh.Factor2notreallyrelevant.Youneed
touseenoughoftheoriginaltocreateanexpectationmustconjureuptheoriginal
***DEMIMOOREPREGNANTPHOTOparody***(Leibovitzv.Paramount)
SuntrustBankv.HoughtonMifflinCo.
havetocopyenoughtotransformwhatwasthere.
Facts
GonewiththeWindparodywhereslavesareintelligentandheroic,whitemastersareweakand
ignoarant(TheWindDoneGone).Districtcourtissuedinjunctionbecauseitrippedoffthefullstory(in
thecourtsview)Circuitcourtreversed1stamendmentconcernsandlackofharmtoGWTWholder
Rule
havetocopyenoughtotransformwhatwasthere.
treataworkasaparodyifitsaimistocommentuponorcriticizeapriorworkbyappropriating
elementsoftheoriginalincreatinganewartisticasopposedtoscholarlyorjournalisticwork.
Holding
21

ThefactthatTWDGisacommercialworkisstronglyovershadowedandoutweighedinviewofits
highlytransformativeuseofGWTWscopyrightedelements.Itdoesnotmatterthattheparodyisnot
funny;aslongasitisatransformativeuseandtheparodiccharacterisclear,itwilllikelybefoundtobe
fairuse.Theminutesomethingisparodicorlikeaparodyandistransformative,youwinthefirst
character

Mattelv.WalkingMountainProductions(whoreBarbie)(Dwins)
Barbieincompromisingpositions.CourtfoundtheamountandsubstantialityfactortoweighinForsythes
favor.Thedefendantsusewasfairuse.HisworkisaparodyofBarbieandhighlytransformative.Theamount
ofMattelsfigurethatheusedwasjustified.HisinfringementhadnodiscernableimpactofMattelsmarketfor
derivativeuses.Finally,thebenefitstothepublicinallowingsuchusearegreat.Wedonotrequireparodic
workstotaketheabsoluteminimumamountofthecopyrightedworkpossible.
Ads:generallynotfairusebecauseofcommercialnature
LosAngelesnewsserv.V.Cbsbroadcasting,inc.
o PolicehelicoptertookpicturesofL.A.riotsandcaughtfootageofReginaldDennybeingtorn
from his truck and beaten up. News channels wanted to use that footage. Hot News
Exceptiontofairuseitisfairuseifitisusedwhenitisveryimportantandveryvivid.But
ifyouusethesamefootageayearlater,itmightnolongerbefoundtobefairuse.
Showingopponentsspeechinpoliticalcommercialisfairuseitstransformativebecauseyoureusing
itfortheoppositepurposeheintendedtomakehimlooklikeanidiot

CastleRockv.CarolPub
Seinfeldquizbook(askingquestionsaboutplotsofepisodes)wasntfairusederivativemarketwhich
NBCCOULDHAVEengagedinalsocouldhavelicensed.Also,minimalcreativeelements/not
transformativepurpose.

SegaandElectronicCases
Segav.Accoladeco.
Facts:
ReverseengineeredSegasystemsocouldmakegamesthatarecompatible.Ittookitapart.Youare
takingitapartbutmakingacopyoftheconstituentparts.Itreliedontheinfroamtionitgatheredfrom
thereverseengineering
Issue:Isrecompliationwrong?
Analysis
Factor1:Nodobuttheymadeanentirecopyoftheoriginalconsolebutisitsusetransformative?
Yestransformativeusetheoriginalcodetodiscoverhowtomakegamescompatiblewiththis
console
Factor1Whatistheprupsoeandcharacteroftheuse
o Theaccoladetookitaparttofigureouthowitworkstofigureoutcompatibilitywiththeconsole
Hadtoperformtheirowncreativework
Itwroteitsownprocedures
th
4 factorTheyarenotdirectlycompetingwithsega,theyarecreatingtheirowngames
1st2ndand4gotowardsaccolades
22

Holding
Takingapartaedworkandcopyingtheprogramwasfine,solongastheydiditonlytoultimatelyuse
partsofthesystemthatwereNOTaffordedprotectionandcouldn'tbeobtainedanyotherway.

SonyCase(Dwins)
SamefactsasSegaforthemostpart.MechansimforallowingpeopletoplayPSgamesoncomputer.
1stfactorModestlytransformative,newplatformSimplyallowsyoutousesonygamesonacomp
that'slikekindabetterforSony
4t
h
SecondaryLiability

factorextentoftheharmisntbig,andnotanadverseimpactonthemarketitexpandsthemarket.
Notcompetitiveinanyway.
Onceitstransformativeandtheresnomarketimpact,itsfairuseusually**

ApplicationofFairUseDoctrinetoNewTechnologies
Photocopyingmachinesmadeiteasiertocopyshit.Priortothem,authorswerentreallyworriedtoomuch
abouttheeconomicimpact.

PersonsLiable
Notonlyisdirectinfringerliable(entitythatcopiedcopyrightedwork),butdistributoralsoliable(see
OrtizGonzalezv.Fonovisa),aswellascontributoryandvicariousinfringers(SeeA&MRecords,Inc.
v.Napster).
SECONDARYLIABILITY:Somebodyelseisinfringing,butyoueitherhelpthemorencouragethemand
youarethereforeequallyliablefortheinfringement.
A.ContributoryInfringer:Onewhowithknowledgeoftheinfringingactivity,induces,causesormaterially
contributestotheinfringingconductofanother,maybeheldliable.(GershwinPub.Co.v.ColumbiaArtists
Mgmt):Knowledge.Inducement
NoKnowledgeTHISGETSOVERTURNEDINFRAC.
B.VicariousInfringer:liabilityextendsbeyondanemployer/employeerelationshiptocasesinwhicha
defendanthastherightandabilitytosuperviseinfringingactivity,andalsohasadirectfinancialinterestin
suchactivities(Fonovisa,Inc.v.CherryAuction,inc).Control.FinancialInterest/profit
o Control(ofpremises)weretheyabletostopthepersonfrominfringing
o Obtainprofit
C.INDUCEMENT(GROKSTER):Onewhodistributesadevicewiththeobjectofpromotingitsuseto
infringe,asshownbyclearexpressionorotherwiseaffirmativestepstakentofosterinfringement,isliablefor
theresultingactsofinfringementbythirdparties.
InducementExistswhen:
1. Distributedevice
2. Withtheobjectofpromotingitsusetoinfringecopyright
3. Clearintent(affirmativesteps)tofosterinfringement.
23

FacilitationofInfringementbyEndUsers:Cases:
Perfect10v.Visa(Dwins)
Facts
Websiteoffemalemodelschargesbycreditcard.Usersbuyimagesandthensharewithfriends.Credit
cardco.secondaryinfringer?(Perfect10notifiedVisaofitsconsumersinfringinguses&Visa
admittedlydidnothing).(Note:Perfect10issuingVisabecausesleazywebuserisprobablyinsolvent)
Holding
Novicariousnocontrolovertheactivity;creditcardhassubstantiallegalpurposes
Processingpaymentsdoesntsubstantiallyassistinfringement(unlikeGoogle)
o Thatdefendantshavethepowertounderminethecommercialviabilityofinfringementdoesnot
demonstratethatdefendantsmateriallycontributetothatinfringement
Nocontributorydidntinduce/causedoesnthelplocate/stealimageinfringingactivityonlyoccurs
AFTERdownload

Remedies
EnforcementofCopyright
501:InfringementofCopyright:Anyonewhoviolatesanyoftheexclusiverightsofthecopyrightownerisan
infringer
a. Thepeoplewhocansueareamuchbroadergroupratherthantheonepersonwhoownsthecopyright
maybeonelegalownerofthecopyright(whosenameisonthecopyrightcertificate)butalsothe
beneficialowner(suchassomeoneentitledtothemovierights,etc.oranyoneelsewhogets$$because
theisbeingexploited)
th
11 amendment
cantsuestateformoney,butcanenjointhem!!!
BeneficialownerWithin501e.g.,publisherwhoholdsnottheinthework,butthepublishingrights;
owneroffilmrights(anyonewhoismakingmoneyfromsomeexclusiverightunderthe(Leonthinksthata
bookpublisherwouldbeabletorecoveragainstaninfringingmovieproduction,eventhoughtheyarenotin
directcompetition).
Someoneinthechainoftitlewhowilleventuallyhavepropertyhereitslikethepublisherwhogetsthe
benefitfromthewritersbook.
A(bookwriter)B(bookPublisher)
[
C(moviecompany)X(movie)
bookwritercansuemoviecobecausebookcohasexclusiverighttosellbooks
SomeonehastoregisterthecopyrightCANNOTBRINGLAWSUITIFTHECOPYRIGHTISNOT
REGISTERED
Thepersonwhoregistersthecopyrightisntnecessarilythebeneficialowner.
Thebeneficialownermustservenoticeoftheactionwiththecopyofthecomplaintonanypersonon
therecordwiththe.(sothepeoplewhoareonthefiledrecords).Afterbeneficialownerhasbrought
action,trueownermaybeabletointervene.
ReversionIfBondeathbedleavescopyrighttoC,Cisabeneficialowner

24

Remedies:Firstthingyougetisinjunction
502:RemediesforInfringement:Injunctions:AnyCourthavingjurisdictionunderthistitleMAYgrant
temporaryandfinalinjunctiononsuchtermsasitmaydeemreasonabletopreventorrestraininfringementofa
copyright
501Courtmaygrantinjunctivereliefbuttheassumptionhasalwaysbeenthatthisverynearly
must,becausethereputationalharm/lossofgoodwill/difficultyofdeterminingpotentiallostprofits
areincalculable
o Goodreasonsnottoenjoinifbook/newspaper/magazine1stamendmentviolation
Ebay4PartTest(patentcase):TraditionalRequirements
1. SufferedirreparableinjuryDamagetogoodwill.
2. Remediesavailableatlaw,suchasmonetary,areinadequate
a. Damagesarentadequatebecauseyouwilllosesalesyouwouldhavehadthatcantbecoveredby
damagesreputationalunderminegoodwilloftheownerofthecopyright(patent).Cant
traceallofthedamage.
3. ConsideringthebalanceofhardshipsbtwPandD,aremedyinequityiswarranted
4. Thepublicinterestwouldnotbedisservedbyaninjunction
StandardToday:RandomHouse(HoldenCaufield):2ndcircuittest:likelihoodofsuccess,orin2ndcircuit,
raisingofsubstantialquestionsandabalanceofhardshipinfavorofmovingparty.
1.IrreparableharmAND
2(a)Likelihoodofsuccessonthemerits,OR
2(b)(i)SufficientlyseriousquestionsonthemeritstomakethemfairgroundsforlitigationAND
2(b)(ii)Balanceofhardshipstiltstowardsplaintiff
IrreperableHarm
Canusuallybemetbyproofofalikelihoodofsuccessonthemerits(ABKCOMusic).
BUTsincethegoalofcopyrightistostimulatethecreationandpublicationofedifyingmatter,Courts
maywishtobearthisinmindbeforegivinganinjunction(someskepticism/discretion)

Disneyv.Powell:(PwinInjunction)
OnlyinfringeMickeyandMinnie.DisneywantstoenjoinyoufromcopyingalloftheircharactersYes,can
getalllikelyyouaregoingtocopymoreinthefuture
Gettyv.Microsoft(Pnoinj.)
Videoclipservicecopyrightingnewsbroadcast.Injunctiontostoppresentmaterialandfuturematerial.
FutureWorksinthesameareaYesyoucantheoryisthisiscloseenough,andsinceyouhave
alreadydonesomethingbad,anditslikelyyouaregoingtodoitinthefuture
DidthecourtissueaninjunctionwhereabigasscompanylikeMicrosoftsaidwepromisewedon'ttake
anymoreNopetheydidn'tPfailedtoshowirreparableharmifMicrosoftpromisesnottodo
something,theyarentgoingtodoit.
Damages
504theoreticallyareentitledtoInjunction(A)andActualDamages(B)andAdditionalProfits(C),OR
InjunctionANDStatutoryDamages:ABCorAD.
ActualDamages:Actualdamagessufferedbyanowner.
Oneyearyouget10,000.Thenaninfringementandnowyouonlyget5000soactualdamageis$5000
25

LossofALicensingFee:Thereasonablecostofalicensethatcouldhavebeennegotiatedbetweenthe
partiesofuseofthecopyrightedwork(OnDavisv.TheGap)
Anysuchlostlicnesefeemustbebasedonfairmarketvalue(Ringgoldv.BET)(Rogersv.Koons)
Profits:Successfulplaintiffisentitledtoreceivethedefendantsprofitsattributabletotheinfringementand
needonlypresentproofoninfringersgrossrevenue.
Ifgrossrevenueisunrelatedtoinfringement,thenplaintiffmustshowcloserconnection
o (ThuswhenadvertisementsforTheGapstoresshowedmodelwearingplainitffsjewelry,itwas
notenoughtoshowthatTheGapearnedanadditional$146millioninsalesaftertheadswere
published.Impossibletoattributethatincreasetotheuseofaphotographatissue.)(On
Davisv.TheGap).
IndirectProfitsifPclaimsthatadditionalindirectprofitswereearnedbyinfringer,mustpresentsome
evidenceofsuchprofitstoresistsumjudg.
ProofofGrossRevenue:Phasburdenofprovinggrossrevenueunder17U.S.C.504(b),andcannot
merelyestimatesuchrevenue.
StatutoryDamages:copyrightownermustregistertheworkBEFOREinfringement(iftheworkis
unpublished)orwithinathreemonthgraceperiodaftertheworkispublished(412(2)).
412attorneysfees=requiresregistrationofbeforecommencementofinfringement(forbooks,
within3mos.Ofpublication)
InnocentIngringer
o Min200
o Max30,000
Ordinaryinfringement
o Minimum750
o Max30,000
WillfullyInfringment
o Minimum750
o Max150,000
o NotnecessarytoshowthatDwasawareofPsandconsciouslycopiedprotectableelements.
Willfulnesscanbefoundifdefendantwasrecklessinmakingtheinquiry.
Don'tneedtoproveanythingforstatutorydamagesexceptactualinfirngement
Jurydecidestheamountofdamages
CandemandstatutorydamagesANYTIMEbeforefinaljudgmentevenwhilethejuryisdeliberating
beforetheyvedeliveredaverdict.

FederalPreemptionofStateLaw:Chapter10
Preemption301(a):Federallawsaresupremeoverstate.Fedlawpreemptsstatelawwhenthereisalwfor
thesamething.ItmustfallwithinthesubjectmatterANDitmustbeequivalenttothoserightsunder106.
Preemption301(b):StateLawAction,withinthescopeofcopyrightthatcomewithinsubjectmatterof
copyright(lookatsection102originalworkofauthorshipthatisfixedifnot,notpreemptive),orifaskingfor
reliefthatisequivalenttoanythingin106(equivalentmeans106aretherightsyouaretryingtogettostop
someonefromcopyingorperforming)NotpreemptedifoutsidethesubjectmatteroffederallawANDthe
locallawcontainsanextraelementIfeitheroneistrue,thentheactionispreempted
Copyrightpreemptsanystatelaw.Jan1,1978
ImpliedPreemption:Pervasive,dominantfederalinterest,orobjectsobtainedstateandfederalclash
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Analysisof301(a)and(b):
a. Workshavetobefixedbeforeanypreemptionisdue
b. Rightsorremediesunderotherfederalstatutesaresavedfrompreemption
c. Fixation,notpublicationisnowthedividinglinebetweenfederalprotectionunderthestatuteand
commonlawprotection
StateLawsRestrictingCopying:Whatkindofrightsdoesapersonhaveiftheyobjecttosomebookor
movieorplaywrittenaboutthem?
1. CommonLawCopyright:After1978,FedlawexistswhenitsFIXED.IfitsnotFixed(ex.Recitinga
poemoutloud),callitmisappropriation.Cannotquotefromsomeoneelsesletter
2. UnfairCompetitionMisappropriation:Infringermarketsaworkauthoredbyholderwhilecreatingthe
impressionthattheinfringeristheauthor.Allowstheinfringertogetthecredit(andincome)forawork
actuallygeneratedbyanotherwhoisnotknowntobethesource.
a. INSv.AP:Misappropriation(fruitoflabor).CantuseAPstuffuntilitscommercialvalueas
newstoAPandallofitsmembershaspassedaway.
b. FederalcommonlawprotectionforindividualintellectualeffortgonenowbecauseofErie.
Misappropriationcanbestateclaim.Preemptedif:
i. Whateveryouarelookingatisfixed
ii. Youdon'thaveanyothercauseofaction.
3. Privacy:Cannotusepersonsname,characterorlikenessforpurposesoftrade.Ifyouuseapersons
pictureinanad,andtheyareendorsingsomeproduct,thatisaviolationofprivacybecauseusingname,
person,orlikelnessfortrade.
a. Aslongasyoudon'tusepersonsname,thereisnoviolationtotherighttoprivacy
b. NewYorkLawLawdoesnotcoververbalportraits,aslongasyouchangethename
c. Don'tfictionalizeifyouareusingarealnameofapersonwhenwritinganunauthorized
biography
4. RighttoPersona:Famouspeoplewanttobepaidiftheirimagesareused
a. VannaWhiteCase
5.
Libel/Defamation:Forfictionalworktobeactionable,thework/descriptionmustbesoclosethatthe
readerofthebooklinkingtherealperson.
a. Therearecasesthatsayifyouwriteanovel,abookaboutsomeone,andeveryoneknowswhoit
is,butyoudon'tknowname.Ifclearlyidentifiable,thanthatcouldbelibel/defamation
b. Havetochangeafewbasicfactsaboutaperson.Addsomeunflatteringcharacteristicsso
nobodywouldwanttosaythat'sme.
i. Smallpenisrulenoselfrespectingmanwouldeveradmittobeingthatguywitha
smallpenis
6.
Contract:Whennospecificwordsarecopied,justtheidea(gouptoproducer,tellhimaboutthemovie,
andthenhemakesit).Canonlysueunderthiscauseofactionifrequirementsaremet
a.1.Therehastobearelationshipoftrustandanimpliedinfactcontract
b.2.Theideahastobeanovelidea
i.ifmovieissoobvious,thereisNOconsideration
c. Iwilltalktoyou,butyoucantpublishanythingbeforeIapprove
7. FalseAdvertising:Advertisingthatdrawsmorethanthenumberofpeoplewhowouldrespondtoit
that'sfalse
8. TradeSecret:Informationthatisusedforonesbusiness.

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4SCOTUScases
Searsv.Stiffel(preempted)

Facts
Polelamp.Someonehaddesignedamechanicalpolegotapatentonitwerenotvalidpatents.Butthe
lowercourtssaidthedesignofthepolenamewasatradedress(theshapeofitwasanindicationthat
spifflemadeit.)Soitwasprotectedundertradedressprotection
Holding
Statelawpreempted.Problemhereisgivingprotectionunderstatelawtosomethingthatfederallaws
sayscantbeprotected.Wouldgivepotentiallyinfinitelifeprotectiontosomethingpatentofficerejected
evengiven20yearstoo.So,cantgivestatelawprotectiontosomethingthatfederallawwontprotect

Compcov.DayBriteLighting(preempted)
PrettymuchthesameoutcomeinSears
Granting/applyingtheunfaircompetitionlawwouldbeparticularlyproblematicbecauseunfair
competitionlawwouldbeongoing.ItwouldgiveMOREprotectionthanpatenttosomethingthatfed
govtsaysdoesn'tmeritanyprotection

Goldsteinv.California(notpreempted)
Didn'tprotectsoundrecordinguntil1972.Goldsteinwasprosecutedunderstatelaw.Notfixed,not
published,itwasequivalenttoaliveperformance.
Issue/Holding:
Whensaynothing,doesitmeanwedon'twantitprotected,ordoesitsaywejustdidn'tcare,wejust
didn'twanttoputitunderfederallaw?meansstatescanprotectit.(think10thamendmentthisisthe
constitutionweareexpounding)
IfFederalgovernmentsilent,interpretthatasthemnotcaring.Greenlightforstate
Kewaneev.Bicron
Isatradesecretclaimpreemptedbypatent?
Holding
Aslongasstatelawclaimhasanextraelement,anextraelementtoprove,thencangetprotection
ScopeofcopyrightLawisbroaderthanwhatisactuallyenforceableundertheCopyrightlaw
o Ifitswiritngsomethingthatisfixedforsomereasonnotcannotbecopieditstillcannotbe
protectedunderstatelawbcthefedclawpremptedthestatelaw
Extraelement=itwasasecret.
1101Bootleggingaliveperformancenottechnicallyabecauseitsnotfixedbutlegislaturejustifiesit
throughcommerceclause(butthisdoesn'tpreemptstatelaw
1101(a)Appliesretroactivelyandprospectivelysoforpastperfroamcnesbeforethelaw.
1101:UnauthorizedActsAnyone,whowithouttheconsentoftheperformer,
1. (1)fixesthesoundorsoundsandimagesofalivemusicalperformanceinacopyorphonorecord,or
reproducescopiesorphonorecordsofsuchaperformancefromanunauthorizedfixation,
2. (2)transmitsorotherwisecommunicatestothepublicthesoundsorsoundandimagesoflivemusical
performances,or
3. (3)distributesorofferstodistribute,sells,orofferstosell,rents,orofferstorent,ortrafficsinanycopy
orphonorecordfixedasdescribedinparagraph(1),regardlessofwhetherfixationsoccurredinthe
28

UnitedStates,shallbesubjecttotheremediesprovidedinsections502through505,tothesame
extentasaninringerofcopyright.
Liveperformancesarestillprotectediffitunderdefinitionof1101
Nopreemptionbyfederalstatute
Toneyv.LOreal

Rule
Anythingthatidentifiestheindividual(voiceetc.)cantbeusedinpublicity/commercialcontext
Holding
Notpreemptedbecauseapersonsimageisntfixed
o Butwheretheperformanceisentirelyfixedwithinacopyrightedwork(e.gasong),itsprobably
preempted
Selfie
Boyfriendwhosendsaselfyousenthimoutisaviolationoftherighttoprivacy(LOL)
Disclosureofintimatepersonalfact
Dependngonwhotookthepicuter,youmayhavedifferentrights.Ifyoutookthepicyourself,yousue
forcopyrightinfrignemtn.Ifsomeonehacksintoyoursystem,whatcanyoudo.(intentionalinflictionof
emotionaldistress)
**Righttoprivacyisntpreemptedbecauseneedtoshowextraelemtnwhichisnamecharacterlikeness
whichismisused.
Illionisrightofpublicity
It'saprivacyissue,notacopyrightissuebutitmaybeifyoutookthepicture
Lawsv.Sony
Sampledsomeonesperformanceusinghervoice.Doesshehaveaclaimagainstthecompanythat
sampledher?Ishervoicealikenessthatcantbecopiedbysomeoneelse
Holding
Copyrightpreemptsmisapporopiationwhenthepartisfullycontainedin(voicewaspartofthe
recording,shedidn'thaveanindividualrighttotherecording)
NotEquivalent:Name,likeness,characternotwithinsubjectnotawriting
Equivalent
Soemonestealsyouridea.Saysgoingtosueyouforconversion
Isthatpreempted?
Pg1172textbooksaysifyoutakemyidea,itisntprotectedbycopyrightsoitsok.
ANideaisnotcopyrightable,butitsstillwithinthescopeofcopyrightifitisfixed(inwritingandfixed)
Onlywayitcanbeprotectedisifthereisacontract,becausethereisanextraelementinacontract
yousignedit.
ImpliedContractualRights

Desnyv.Wilder
Ifyoutellamovieproduceranidea,theresanimpliedcontractthathellcreditandpayyouforit(CA
law)contractimpliedbylaw.Ifthescriptisused,youmustbecompensatedforthat.
Youneedanextraelementneedtoshowthattherewasapromiseoryoutoldittoapersonexpected
topayyou,ortoldtoapersonwhohavearelationshipoftrust.
o Willyoupaymeifyouuseit
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NBAv.Motorola****
Facts
Reportingfacts.Theydon'tlikewhensomeonecomesalongandreportswhatshappeningWhoever
controlthesportswanttomakesuretheyaregettingmoneyforit
Rule
Nomorefederalmisappropriation(INS)becauseofErie.BUTstatemisappropriation

5elementsinINS
o 1.Theplaintiffgeneratesorcollectsinformationatsomecostorexpene
o 2.Thevalueoftheinformationishighlytimesensitive
o 3.Thedefendantsuseoftheinformationconstitutesfreeridingontheplaintiffscostlyeffortsto
generateorcollectit
o 4.Thedefendantsuseoftheinformationisindirectcompetitionwithaproductorservice
offeredbytheplaintiff
o 5.Theabilityofotherpartiestofreerideontheeffortsoftheplaintiffwouldsoreducethe
incentivetoproducetheproductorservicethatitsexistenceorqualitywouldbesubstantially
threatened
CourttriedtotakeprinciplesofINS,establishnewprinciples.Hotnewsmisappropriationthose5
thingsandall5ofthemneedtoapply.
Holding
All5didnotapplyforNBAclaimisnotgood
o Courtfindsnocompetition,anddoesnotunderminetheexistenceofNBAelements4and5
don'tapply.
Analysis
4directcompetition?Notlikely.Itsnotofferinginformationaboutthescoreatanytime.
5wouldunderminetheexistenceofNBA?NOPE
NBCv.CBSMacysDayparadeCase
NBCwantstostopCBSfrombroadcastingportionsofMacysParade.Theonlywaytheycouldfindto
stopthemwastoplaymusicthatwasbrandnew&hadntgonethroughASCAPsotherewasno
compulsorylicense.
o CBScircumventedthisbyplayingtheirownmusicoverthebroadcast.
Misappropriationnotpreemptedbylaw

Tests
1)Copyrightinfringement
ElementsofaCopyrightInfringementClaim:PMUSTSHOW:
1.Plaintiffmustdemonstrateownershipofavalidcopyright
a.Mustbeanoriginalworkofauthorshipfixedinatangiblemediumofexpression.
b. Plaintiffmustshowthatheownsit.
c.TimelyRegistrationgivesistopresumptionthatthecopyrightisvalidandbelongstotheregistrant
2.Plaintiffmustshowthathis/herworkhasbeenCOPIED:TwoWaystoprove:
a.
DirectEvidenceofCopyingDefendanteitheradmitsthathecopieditorsomebodytestifiesthattheysawthe
defendantcopyingit.
b.
InferentialorIndirectproofofcopying*****(AccessandSubSimilarity)
i.Accessdefendanthadaccesstothework.

30

1.Veryloosestandarditcouldhavehappened.
ii.SubstantialsimilaritySuchsimilaritybetweenthecopyrightedworkandtheinfringingworkthatthe
similaritysimplycouldnothavecomethroughcoincidenceorothernaturalrandomcauses
1.anexpertcanonlytestifyonstructuralsimilarities).
2.Substantialsimilarityisajuryquestiontheysoundfamiliar

3. DoestheMergerDoctrineapply?
o
o
o

Thereisadistinctionbetweenthemergerdoctrineandthescenesfairedoctrine.
Themergerdoctrineapplieswhentheideaandtheexpressionareinseparable.
Thescenesfairedoctrineapplieswhensubstantialsimilarityoftheexpressionisanaturalresultofthegenreor
commonidea.

Whenacourtfindsthata
defendantfailstoproveaffirmativedefenseofscenesfaireormerger,aplaintiffmuststillshowthereissubstantial
similaritybetweenthetwoworks.Itistheplaintiffsultimateburdenofprooftoprovethattheallegedinfringingworkisasa
matteroffact,substantiallysimilar.
Inordertomeetthissubstantiallysimilarstandard,thecourtsrequireaplaintifftomeetatwoprongedtest:
(1)aplaintiffmustshowthatthegeneralideasaresubstantiallysimilarusinganextrinsictest;and
(2)theplaintiffmustshowthattheexpressionofthoseideasaresubstantiallysimilarusinganintrinsictest.
o Theextrinsictestforsimilarityofideasscrutinizesspecificcriteria,whichcanbelistedandanalyzed.Thisextrinsic
criteriamayincludethetypeofartworkinvolved,thematerialsused,thesubjectmatter,andthesettingforthe
subject.Thisquestionisusuallydecidedasamatteroflaw.
o Thetrieroffact,however,determinestheintrinsictest.Eitherajudgeorajurydecideswhetherthetwocompeting
worksaresubstantiallysimilarenoughintheexpressionoftheideainordertoconstituteinfringement.
o Theintrinsictestappliesusingtheordinaryreasonablepersonstandard.
o However,wherethecourtrecognizesthattheaffirmativedefenseofscenesfaireormergerdoctrineapplies,the
courtisinessencemakingadeterminationastothesubstantialsimilarityoftheworks.
o Thecourtrecognizesthateventhoughtheworksmaybesubstantiallysimilar,thescenesfairedoctrineorthe
mergerdoctrineprecluderecoverforinfringement.

FAIRUSE(ONEISMOSTIMPORTANT)
107:Factorstobeincludedshallinclude:4factors
Thepurposeandcharacteroftheuseincludingwhethersuchuse(bytheinfringer)isofcommercialnatureorfor
nonprofit
a. Purposeandcharacteroftheuseaskswhetherandtowhatextentthenewworkistransformative.Themore
transformativeofthefirstworkthesecondworkis,themorelikelyitisthatitisfairuse.
b. Transformativemeanssomethingthathasusedheavilythemindofanotherperson.Thedefendanthasbroughta
lottothetabletakenalotoftheirownbrainandchangeditforapurpose. (Profitmakingislesslegitimate;
educationismorelegitimate.)
c. In general, commercial use tends to go against fair use and more towards copyright infringement; non
profit/educationaluseismorelikelytobefoundtobefairuse.Thisdoesnotmeanthatifyouuseitforcommercial
purposeyouautomaticallylosejustafactortobeconsidered.
b. Thenatureofthecopyrightedwork
a. Creativeorfactualworkifitscreative,gotoP.IfitsfactualgotoD
c. Theamountandsubstantialityoftheportionusedinrelationtothecopyrightedworkasawhole;and
a. Amountandsubstantiality.1%yeahnotok.Amountmightbesmallbutsubstantialisajudgmentcall.Lookat
whatismostimportantinthebookandseewhetherthatwastaken.
b. Looktoprecedentcasestoseehowmany/muchthecourtsallowforapublishedworkaswellasunpublishedwork
(dependinguponwhichyouaredealingwith)(Schlossv.Sweeney)
c.
d. TheeffectoftheuseuponthePotentialmarkfororvalueofthecopyrightedwork
a. Concerniswithwhetherthenewworkwillbecomeasubstitutefortheoriginal;bestwaytoshowthisistoshow
thatsalesforthe2ndworkincreasedassalesforthefirstdecreased
b.anymarket.ThePOTENTIALmarket
a.

31

i. IftheplaintiffcompanywouldNOTgointothemarket,buttheownerofthecompanycouldpossiblywant
togointothemarketNOdistinctionbetweenthecompanyandtheowner

32