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C O M P E N D I U M : Chapter900

VisualArtWorks901 What This Chapter Covers

ThisChaptercoversissuesrelatedtotheexaminationandregistrationofvisualartworks.Visualartworksincludeawidevarietyofpictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworksandarchitecturalworks,whicharediscussedinmoredetailbelow.

• Forageneraloverviewoftheregistrationprocess,seeChapter200.

• Forageneraldiscussionofcopyrightableauthorship,seeChapter300.

• Foradiscussionofwhomayfileanapplication,seeChapter400.

• Forguidanceinidentifyingtheworkthattheapplicantintendstoregister,seeChapter500.

• Forguidanceincompletingthefields/spacesofabasicapplication,seeChapter600.

• Forguidanceonthefilingfee,seeChapter1400.

• Forguidanceonsubmittingthedepositcopy(ies),seeChapter1500.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficeusestheterm“visualartworks”and“worksofthevisualarts”tocollectivelyrefertothetypesofworkslistedinSections903.1and903.2below.ThisChapterdoesnotdiscuss“worksofvisualart,”whichisaspecificclassofworksthatareeligibleforprotectionundertheVisualArtistsRightsAct.See17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“workofvisualart”),106A.ForadefinitionofthistermandforinformationconcerningtheVisualArtsRegistryforsuchworks,seeChapter2300,Section2314.

Likewise,thisChapterdoesnotdiscusstheregistrationandexaminationofmaskworksorvesseldesigns,whichareexaminedbytheVisualArtsDivisionoftheU.S.CopyrightOffice.Forinformationontheregistrationandexaminationofmaskworks,andvesseldesigns,seeChapters1200and1300.

902 Visual Arts Division

TheU.S.CopyrightOffice’sVisualArtsDivision(“VA”)handlestheexaminationandregistrationofallvisualartworks.TheregistrationspecialistsinVAhaveexperiencereviewingavarietyofvisualartworksandspecializeintheseparticulartypesofworkworks.

903 What Is a Visual Art Work?

Forpurposesofregistration,theU.S.CopyrightOfficedefinesvisualartworksas(i)pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks,and(ii)architecturalworks.

This redline compares the Compendium (Third) released September 29, 2017, and the draft Compendium (Third) released March 15, 2019.

C O M P E N D I U M O F U . S . C O P Y R I G H T O F F I C E P R A C T I C E S , Third Edition


903.1 Pictorial, Graphic, and Sculptural Works

Themostcommontypesofvisualartworksarepictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks.ThesetypesofworksincludeTheCopyrightActprotectsavarietyofworksinthesecategoriesandspecificallyidentifiesthefollowing:

• Fineart(e.g.,paintingandsculpture).

• Graphicart.

• Appliedart(e.g.,artappliedtoanarticle).

• Photographs.

• Printsandart.

• Artreproductions.

• Maps,andglobes,andothercartographicmaterials.

• ChartsandDiagramsdiagrams.

• Models.

• Technicaldrawings,includingarchitecturalplans.

• Models.

• Worksofartisticcraftsmanship(Appliedart(i.e.g.,jewelry,decorativeglassware,pottery,wallplaques,toys,dolls,andstuffedtoyanimals).

• The.,theseparablefeaturesoftwo-dimensionalandthree-dimensionalusefularticles.).

• Worksofartisticcraftsmanship.

17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”).Forinformationconcerningspecifictypesofpictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks,seeSections908through923.

AsdiscussedinSection924,“an“[A]nartisticfeatureofthedesignofausefularticle”“iseligibleforcopyrightprotectiononlyifthefeature(1)canbeperceivedasatwo-dimensionalorthree-dimensionalworkofartseparatefromtheusefularticleand(2)wouldqualifyasaprotectablepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork–eitheronitsownorfixedinsomeothertangiblemediumofexpression–ifitwereimaginedseparatelyfromtheusefularticleintowhichitisincorporated.”StarAthletica,LLC,v.VarsityBrands,Inc.,137S.Ct.1002,10071014(2017).




Forinformationconcerningthedesignaspectsofausefularticle,seeSection924.Forinformationconcerningothertypesofpictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks,seeSections908through923,andSection925.

903.2 Architectural Works

TheCopyrightActprotectscertainarchitecturalworks,whicharedefinedas“thedesignofabuildingasembodiedinanytangiblemediumofexpression,includingabuilding,architecturalplans,ordrawings.”17U.S.C.§101.Anarchitecturalwork“includestheoverallformaswellasthearrangementandcompositionofspacesandelementsinthedesign,butdoesnotincludeindividualstandardfeatures.”Id.Fordetailedinformationconcerningarchitecturalworks,seeSection923.926.

904 Fixation of Visual Art Works

Avisualartworkmustbe“fixed”ina“tangiblemediumofexpression”tobeeligibleforcopyrightprotection.17U.S.C.§102(a).Theauthorshipmaybenewormayconsistofregistrablederivativeauthorship.Thebasicrequirementisthattheworkmustbeembodiedinsomeformthatallowstheworktobe“perceived,reproduced,orotherwisecommunicatedforaperiodofmorethanatransitoryduration.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“fixed”).TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregistervisualartworksthatareembodiedinawidevarietyoftwo-dimensionalandthree-dimensionalforms,includingsuchas:

• Canvas.

• Paper.

• Clay.

• Stone.

• Metal.

• Prints.

• Collages.

• Photographicfilm.

• Digitalfiles.

• Hologramsandindividualslides.

• Artreproductions.

• Diagrams,patterns,andmodels.

• Ediblematerials,suchasamoldedchocolaterabbitorafrostingdesignonacake.




• Constructedbuildings,architecturaldrawings,blueprints,ormodelsdepictinganarchitecturalwork.

ThisisnotanexhaustivelistandtheOfficewillconsiderotherformsofembodimentonacase-by-casebasis.Inparticular,architecturalworksdonothavetobeconstructedtobeeligibleforcopyrightprotection.

Whilemostvisualartworksarefixedbytheirverynature(e.g.,asculpture,apainting,oradrawing),therearesomeworksthatmaynotbesufficientlyfixedtowarrantregistration.Specifically,theOfficecannotregisteraworkcreatedinamediumthatisnotintendedtoexistformorethanatransitoryperiod,orinamediumthatisconstantlychanging.

Mostvisualartworkssatisfythefixationrequirement,becausethedepositcopy(ies)oridentifyingmaterialsubmittedwiththeapplicationusuallyindicatethattheworkiscapableofbeingperceivedformorethanatransitoryduration.However,thefactthatuncopyrightablematerialhasbeenfixedthroughreproductiondoesnotmaketheunderlyingmaterialcopyrightable.Forexample,aphotographofafireworksdisplaymaybeacopyrightablefixationofthephotographicimage,butthefireworksthemselvesdonotconstitutecopyrightablesubjectmatter.Similarly,atextualdescriptionoftheideaforapaintingmaybeacopyrightablefixationofthetext,butitisnotafixationofthepaintingdescribedtherein.

Asageneralrule,applicantsdonothavetosubmitanoriginaloruniquecopyofavisualartworkinordertoregisterthatworkwiththeOffice.Inmostcases,applicantsmaysubmitphotographsorotheridentifyingmaterialsthatprovidetheOfficewithasufficientrepresentationordepictionoftheworkforexaminationpurposes.

Whencompletinganapplication,applicantsshouldaccuratelyidentifytheworkthatisbeingsubmittedforregistration,particularlywhensubmittingidentifyingmaterial.Forexample,iftheapplicantintendstoregisterasculptureandsubmitsaphotographofthesculptureastheidentifyingmaterial,theapplicantshouldexpresslystate“sculpture”intheapplication.Otherwise,itmaybeunclearwhethertheapplicantintendstoregisterthephotographorthesculptureshowninthephotograph.

Beforesubmittingidentifyingmaterialforapublishedvisualartwork,applicantsshoulddeterminewhethertheworkissubjecttothebesteditionrequirement.Asageneralrule,anapplicantshouldsubmitthe“bestedition”iftheworkwaspublishedintheUnitedStatesonorafterJanuary1,1978.Thecriteriausedtoidentifythebesteditionofaparticularworkarelistedinthe“BestEditionStatement,”whichissetforthinAppendixBtoPart202oftheOffice’sregulations.ItisalsopostedontheOffice’swebsiteinBestEditionofPublishedCopyrightedWorksfortheCollectionsoftheLibraryofCongress(Circular7b).Forspecificdepositrequirementsfordifferenttypesofvisualartworks,seeChapter1500,Section1509.3.

905 Copyrightable Authorship in Visual Art Works

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisteravisualartwork(i)ifitistheproductofhumanauthorship,(ii)ifitwasindependentlycreated(meaningthattheworkwasnotmerely




copiedfromanothersource),and(iii)ifitcontainsasufficientamountoforiginalpictorial,graphic,sculptural,orarchitecturalauthorship.TheOfficereviewsvisualartworksconsistentwiththegeneralprinciplessetforthinChapter300(CopyrightableAuthorship:WhatCanBeRegistered),aswellastheguidelinesdescribedinthisChapter.

“Inordertobeacceptableasapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,theworkmustembodysomecreativeauthorshipinitsdelineationorform.”37C.F.R.§202.10(a).Theauthor’sintentionsconcerningtheuseofthework,orthenumberofcopiesmadeisirrelevanttothisdetermination.Thefactthattheworkmaybeprotectedbyautilityordesignpatentisalsoirrelevant.Seeid.

Inallcases,thework“mustbeoriginal,thatis,theauthor’stangibleexpressionofhis[orher]ideas.Suchexpression,whethermeticulouslydelineatingthemodelormentalimageorconveyingthemeaningbymodernisticformorcolor,iscopyrightable.”Mazerv.Stein,347U.S.201,214(1954).

Inthecaseoftwo-dimensionalworks,originalauthorshipmaybeexpressedinavarietyofways,suchasthelinearcontoursofadrawing,thedesignandbrushstrokesofapainting,thediversefragmentsformingacollage,thepiecesofcoloredstonearrangedinamosaicportrait,amongotherformsofpictorialorgraphicexpression.

Inthecaseofthree-dimensionalworks,originalauthorshipmaybeexpressedinmanyways,suchascarving,cutting,molding,casting,shaping,orotherwiseprocessingmaterialintoathree-dimensionalworkofsculpture.

Likewise,originalauthorshipmaybepresentintheselection,coordination,and/orarrangementofimages,words,orotherelements,providedthatthereisasufficientamountofcreativeexpressionintheworkasawhole.

Inallcases,avisualartworkmustcontainasufficientamountofcreativeexpression.Merelybringingtogetheronlyafewstandardformsorshapeswithminorlinearorspatialvariationsdoesnotsatisfythisrequirement.

TheOfficewillnotregisterworksthatconsistentirelyofuncopyrightableelements(suchasthosediscussedinChapter300,Section313andSection906below)unlessthoseelementshavebeenselected,coordinated,and/orarrangedinasufficientlycreativemanner.Innoeventcanregistrationrestsolelyuponthemerecommunicationintwo-orthree-dimensionalformofanidea,methodofoperation,process,orsystem.Ineachcase,theauthor’screativeexpressionmuststandaloneasanindependentworkapartfromtheideawhichinformsit.17U.S.C.§102(b).;Mazer,347U.S.at217(“[A]copyrightgivesnoexclusiverighttotheartdisclosed;protectionisgivenonlytotheexpressionoftheidea–nottheideaitself.”).

Formoreinformationoncopyrightableauthorship,seeChapter300(CopyrightableAuthorship:WhatCanbeBeRegistered).




906 Uncopyrightable Material

Section102(a)oftheCopyrightActstatesthatcopyrightprotectiononlyextendsto“originalworksofauthorship.”17U.S.C.§102(a).Worksthathavenotbeenfixedinatangiblemediumofexpression,worksthathavenotbeencreatedbyahumanbeing,andworksthatarenoteligibleforcopyrightprotectionintheUnitedStatesdonotsatisfythisrequirement.Likewise,thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectworksthatdonotconstitutecopyrightablesubjectmatterorworksthatdonotcontainasufficientamountoforiginalauthorship.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregisteravisualartworkthatincludesuncopyrightablematerialiftheworkasawholeissufficientlycreativeandoriginal.SomeoftheuncopyrightableelementsthatarecommonlyfoundinvisualartworksarediscussedinSections906.1through906.8906.10below.Forageneraldiscussionofuncopyrightablematerial,seeChapter300,Section313.

906.1 Common Geometric Shapes

TheCopyrightActdoesnotprotectcommongeometricshapes,eitherintwo-dimensionalorthree-dimensionalform.Therearenumerouscommongeometricshapes,including,withoutlimitation,straightorcurvedlines,circles,ovals,spheres,triangles,cones,squares,squares,cubes,rectangles,diamonds,trapezoids,parallelograms,pentagons,hexagons,heptagons,octagons,anddecagons.

Generally,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisteraworkthatmerelyconsistsofcommongeometricshapesunlesstheauthor’suseofthoseshapesresultsinaworkthat,asawhole,issufficientlycreative.

Examples:

• GeoffreyGeorgecreatesadrawingdepictingastandardpentagonwithnoadditionaldesignelements.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthedrawingbecauseitconsistsonlyofasimplegeometricshape.

• GeorginaGlennpainstakinglysculptsaperfectlysmoothmarblesphereoveraperiodoffivemonths.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisworkbecauseitisacommongeometricshapeandanydesigninthemarbleismerelyanattributeofthenaturalstone,ratherthanaproductofhumanexpression.

• GroverGoldcreatesapaintingofabeachscenethatincludescirclesofvaryingsizesrepresentingbubbles,striatedlinesrepresentingoceancurrents,aswellastrianglesandcurvedlinesrepresentingbirdsandsharkfins.Theregistrationspecialistwillregistertheclaimdespitethepresenceofthecommongeometricshapes.




• GloriaGrimwaldpaintsapicturewithapurplebackgroundandevenlyspacedwhitecircles:

Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisclaimbecausesimplegeometricsymbolsarenoteligibleforcopyrightprotection,andthecombinationofthepurplerectangleandthestandardsymmetricalarrangementofthewhitecirclesdoesnotcontainasufficientamountofcreativeexpressiontowarrantregistration.

• GemmaGraysoncreatesawrappingpaperdesignthatincludescircles,triangles,andstarsarrangedinanunusualpatternwitheachelementportrayedinadifferentcolor:

Theregistrationspecialistwillregisterthisclaimbecauseitcombinesmultipletypesofgeometricshapesinavarietyofsizesandcolors,culminatinginacreativedesignthatgoesbeyondthemeredisplayofafewgeometricshapesinapreordainedorobviousarrangement.

906.2 Familiar Symbols and Designs

FamiliarsymbolsanddesignsarenotprotectedbytheCopyrightAct.37C.F.R.§202.1(a).Likewise,thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectmerevariationsonafamiliarsymbolordesign,eitherintwoorthree-dimensionalform.ForrepresentativeexamplesofsymbolsordesignsthatcannotberegisteredwiththeU.S.CopyrightOffice,seeChapter300,Section313.4(J).

Aworkthatincludesfamiliarsymbolsordesignsmayberegisterediftheregistrationspecialistdeterminesthattheauthorusedtheseelementsinacreativemannerandthattheworkasawholeiseligibleforcopyrightprotection.




Examples:

• FrancisFordcreatedasketchofthestandardfleurdelysdesignusedbytheFrenchmonarchy.Theregistrationspecialistmayrefusetoregisterthisclaimiftheworkmerelydepictsacommonfleurdelys.

• SamanthaStonedrewanoriginalsilhouetteofMarieAntoinettewithabackdropfeaturingmultiplefleurdelysdesigns.Theregistrationspecialistmayregisterthisworkbecauseitincorporatesanoriginal,artisticdrawinginadditiontothestandardfleurdelysdesigns.

906.3 Colors, Coloring, and Coloration

Merecolorationormerevariationsincoloringalonearenoteligibleforcopyrightprotection.37C.F.R.§202.1(a).

Merelyaddingorchangingoneorrelativelyfewcolorsinawork,orcombiningexpectedorfamiliarpairsorsetsofcolorsisnotcopyrightable,regardlessofwhetherthechangesaremadebyhand,computer,orsomeotherprocess.Thisisthecaseevenifthecolorationmakesaworkmoreaestheticallypleasingorcommerciallyvaluable.Forexample,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisteravisualartworkiftheauthormerelyaddedrelativelyfewcolorstoapreexistingdesignorsimplycreatedmultiplecolorizedversionsofthesamebasicdesign.CopyrightRegistrationforColorizedVersionsofBlackandWhiteMotionPictures,52Fed.Reg.23,443,23,444(June22,1987).Likewise,theOfficegenerallywillnotregisteravisualartworkiftheauthormerelyappliedcolorstoaidinthevisualdisplayofagraph,chart,table,device,orotherarticle.

TheOfficeunderstandsthatcolorisamajorelementofdesigninvisualartworks,andtheOfficewillallowanapplicanttoincludeappropriatereferencestocolorinanapplication.Forinstance,ifanapplicantreferstospecificcolorsorusestermssuchas“color,”“colored,”“colors,”“coloring,”or“coloration,”theregistrationspecialistgenerallywillnotrejecttheclaimiftheworkcontainsasufficientamountofcreativeauthorshipasidefromthecolorationalone.

Examples:

• CleoCamptookaphotographofatreeanddigitallyeditedtheimagetoaddnewshadesofredandblue.Cleosubmittedanapplicationtoregisterthealteredphotographanddescribedherauthorshipas“originalphotographdigitallyeditedtoaddnewshadesofblueandredincertainplaces.”Theregistrationspecialistwillregistertheclaimbecausethecreativityinthephotograph,togetherwiththealterationofthecolors,issufficientlycreative.

• CharlesCartertookadigitalimageofLeonardodaVinci’sMonaLisaandaddeddifferenthaircolor,colorednailpolish,stylizedclothing,anddarkenedskin.Charlessubmittedanapplicationtoregistertheimage,anddescribedhisauthorshipas“changedpublicdomain




MonaLisatogreenandpinkstreakedhair;purplenailpolish;prisoner-stripedblack-whiteclothing;anddarkenedrougeoncheeks.”Theregistrationspecialistwillregistertheworkbecausethechangesincoloraresufficienttoconstituteanewworkofauthorship.

• ClaraConnorfoundablackandwhitephotographthatisinthepublicdomain.Shealteredtheimagebyaddingavarietyofcolors,shades,andtonestomakeitappearasifthephotowastakeninadifferentseason.ClarasubmittedanapplicationtoregistertherevisedphotographandintheAuthorCreatedandNewMaterialIncludedfieldsshedescribedherauthorshipas“adaptedpublicdomainblack-whiteimagebyaddingdifferentcolors,shades,tones,invariousplacesofderivativework.”TheregistrationspecialistmayregistertheworkifClaramadesufficientchangestothepreexistingphotograph.

• ChrisCrisppurchasedacoloringbookandcoloredtheimageswithwatercolors.HesubmittedanapplicationtoregistertheworkanddescribedhisauthorshipintheAuthorCreatedandNewMaterialIncludedfieldsas“addedselectedcolorstopicturesinsomeoneelse’scoloringbook.”Theregistrationspecialistmayrefusetoregistertheworkifthechangesweredictatedbythecoloringbookandtheadditionofcolorwasnotsufficientlycreative.

• ColetteCardregisteredafabricdesigncalled“BabyGirlFabric,”whichcontainsapinkbackgroundwithstylizedimagesofcribs,rattles,andpacifiers.Colettethencreatedafabricdesigncalled“BabyBoyFabric”thatisidenticaltothe“BabyGirlFabric”design,exceptthatthebackgroundcolorisblueinsteadofpink.Coletteattemptstoregisterthe“BabyBoyFabric,”disclaimingthepriorregistrationforthe“BabyGirlFabric.”Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthebluevariationbecauseitisidenticaltothepreexisting“BabyGirlFabric”designasidefromthemerechangeinbackgroundcolor.

906.4 Typeface, Typefont, Lettering, Calligraphy, and Typographic Ornamentation

Asageneralrule,typeface,typefont,lettering,calligraphy,andtypographicornamentationarenotregistrable.37C.F.R.§202.1(a),(e).Theseelementsaremerevariationsofuncopyrightablelettersorwords,whichinturnarethebuildingblocksofexpression.Seeid.TheOfficetypicallyrefusesclaimsbasedonindividualalphabeticornumberingcharacters,setsorfontsofrelatedcharacters,fancifulletteringandcalligraphy,orotherformsoftypeface.Thisistrueregardlessofhownovelandcreativetheshapeandformofthetypefacecharactersmaybe.




Examples:

• FeliciaFrostcreatesafontcalled“PioneerLiving”thatevokeshistorical“Wanted:DeadorAlive”posters.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisfontbecauseitisabuildingblockofwriting.

• CalliopeCashcreatesatextilefabricconsistingofablueandwhiteverticallystripedgrassclothandatraditionalChineseproverb.Eachcharacterispaintedonaseparatestripeinstandard,unembellishedcalligraphy.TheregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisfabricdesignbecausethecalligraphyconsistsofstandardChinesecharacters,andthesimplearrangementofcharactersonverticalstripesandthechoiceofgrassclothdoesnotaddsufficientcreativitytowarrantregistration.

TherearesomeverylimitedcaseswheretheOfficemayregistersometypesoftypeface,typefont,lettering,orcalligraphy,suchasthefollowing:

• Pictorialorgraphicelementsthatareincorporatedintouncopyrightablecharactersorusedtorepresentanentireletterornumbermayberegistrable.Examplesincludeoriginalpictorialartthatformstheentirebodyorshapeofthetypefacecharacters,suchasarepresentationofanoaktree,arose,oragiraffethatisdepictedintheshapeofaparticularletter.

• Typefaceornamentationthatisseparablefromthetypefacecharactersisalmostalwaysanadd-ontothebeginningand/orendingofthecharacters.Totheextentthatsuchflourishes,swirls,vectorornaments,scrollwork,bordersandframes,wreaths,andthelikerepresentworksofpictorialorgraphicauthorshipineithertheirindividualdesignsorpatternedrepetitions,theymaybeprotectedbycopyright.However,themereuseoftexteffects(includingchalk,popuppapercraft,neon,beerglass,spooky-fog,andweathered-and-worn),whilepotentiallyseparable,isdeminimisandnotsufficienttosupportaregistration.

TheOfficemayregisteracomputerprogramthatcreatesorusescertaintypefaceortypefontdesigns,buttheregistrationcoversonlythesourcecodethatgeneratesthesedesigns,notthetypeface,typefont,lettering,orcalligraphyitself.Forageneraldiscussionofcomputerprogramsthatgeneratetypefacedesigns,seeChapter700,Section723.

Toregisterthecopyrightableornamentationintypeface,typefont,lettering,orcalligraphy,theapplicantshoulddescribethesurfacedecorationorotherornamentationandshouldexplainhowitisseparablefromthetypefacecharacters.Theapplicantshouldavoidusingunclearterms,suchas“typeface,”“type,”“font,”“letters,”“lettering,”orsimilarterms.




906.5 Spatial Format and Layout Design

Asageneralrule,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotacceptvagueclaimsin“format”or“layout.”Thegenerallayoutorformatofabook,apage,awebsite,awebpage,aposter,aform,etc.,isnotcopyrightable,becauseitismerelyatemplateforexpressionanddoesnotconstituteoriginalexpressioninandofitself.Iftheapplicantusestheterms“layout”and/or“format”intheapplication,theregistrationspecialistwillcommunicatewiththeapplicanttoclarifytheclaim.Copyrightprotectionmaybeavailablefortheauthor’soriginalselectionand/orarrangementofspecificcontentifitissufficientlycreative,butthecopyrightdoesnotextendtotheorganizationwithoutthatparticularcontent.

Examples:

• LorettaLeonardpublishedaseriesofbooksonbirdwatching.Eachbookhasatwo-inchrightmarginandahalf-inchleftmargin,withthetextappearingintwocolumnsofdifferinglengths.Lorettasubmitsanapplicationtoregisterthetemplateforthislayout.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisclaimbecausethelayoutofthesebooksdoesnotcontainasufficientamountoforiginalitytobeprotectedbycopyrightlaw.

• FredFosterpublishesaone-pagenewslettertitledCondoLivingthatprovidesinformationforresidentsofhiscondominiumcomplex.Eachissuecontainsthenameofthenewsletter,adrawingofthesunrisingoverthecomplex,twocolumnsreservedfortext,andaboxunderneaththecolumnsreservedforphotographs.Fredattemptstoregisterthelayoutforhisnewsletter.Theregistrationspecialistwillrejecttheclaiminlayout,butmayregistertheillustrationifitissufficientlycreative.

906.6 Mechanical Processes and Random Selection

Thecopyrightlawonlyprotectsworksofauthorshipthatarecreatedbyhumanbeings.Worksmadethroughpurelymechanicalprocessesorwithanautomatedselectionandarrangementarenoteligibleforcopyrightprotection.TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillrefusetoregisteraclaiminaworkthatiscreatedthroughtheoperationofamachineorprocesswithoutanyhumaninteraction,evenifthedesignisrandomlygenerated.

Example:

• MeganMottdevelopedlinoleumflooringwitharandomconfettidesign.Thedesignwascreatedbyapurelymechanicalprocessthatrandomlydistributedmaterialonthesurfaceofthelinoleum.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisdesignbecauseitwasproducedbyamechanicalprocessandarandomselectionandarrangement.




Blank Forms

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterblankforms,whicharesolelydesignedforrecordinginformationanddonotconveyinformation,regardlessofhowtheyaredescribedinanapplication.37C.F.R.§202.1(c).Examplesofblankformsincludetimecards,graphpaper,accountbooks,diaries,bankchecks,scorecards,addressbooks,reportforms,orderforms,andvouchers.Id.

Blankformsarenotcopyrightablebecausetheymerelyreflectandimplementunderlyingprocedures,processes,systems,methods,concepts,orprinciples.17U.S.C.§102(b);Bakerv.Selden,101U.S.99(1879).Likewise,theOfficewillrefusetoregisterclaimsbasedsolelyonthearrangement,spacing,orjuxtapositionofstandardtextonablankform.RegistrationofClaimstoCopyright;NoticeofTerminationofInquiryRegardingBlankForms,45Fed.Reg.63,297(Sept.24,1980).However,aregistrationspecialistmayregisterliteraryorvisualartscontentthathasbeenaddedtoablankformifitiscopyrightable,suchasartworkthatdecoratestheformorliteraryelementsthatdescribeorexplainhowtocompletetheform.Seeid.at63,298.

Examples:

• BrendaBlandcreatesacolor-codeddailyjournal.Thejournalincludessixcolumnswithtypicalheadingsandmultiplecolorstoaidtheuserinorganizingcontent.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisjournalbecauseitisablankformthatdoesnotcontainasufficientamountofliteraryorpictorialauthorshiptosupportaregistration.

• BerniceBrowncreatesadailydiarythatincludessixcolumnswithtypicalheadingsandgraphicartworkalongtheborderofeachpage.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthecolumnsandheadingsbecauseitismerelyablankform,butmayregisterthedecorativeborderifitissufficientlycreative.

• BlytheBurnfilesanapplicationtoregistera“graphicaidfordiagnosingAlzheimer’sdisease.”Thedepositcopyconsistsofablankformforrecordingpatientdata.Theformcontainseightboxeswithvariousquestionsthatareintendedtoidentifysymptomsofthisdisease.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetheclaimin“graphicaid”andmayrefertheclaimtotheLiteraryDivisiontodeterminewhetherthetextualauthorshipsupportsaclaiminaliterarywork.

906.7 Naturally Occurring and Discovered Material

Becausehumanauthorshipisrequiredforcopyrightprotection,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisternaturallyoccurringobjectsormaterialsthatarediscoveredinnature.Thisincludesnaturalobjectsormaterialswithstandardwearoracutebreaksorfissuresresultingfromweatherconditionsorothernaturalphenomena,suchaswatercurrents,wind,rain,lightning,sunlight,heat,orcold.Similarly,theOfficewillrefusetoregisteraworkthatiscreatedthroughnaturallyoccurringprocessesorevents,suchas




theresultingvisualappearanceofanobjectorliquidwhendifferentchemicalelementsinteractwitheachother.

Examples:

• NinaNinefoundapieceofdriftwoodthatwassmoothedbyoceancurrents.Shecarvedanintricateseagulldesigninthesideofthedriftwood,polishedit,andsubmittedanapplicationtoregistertheoverallwork.Althoughthereisnohumanauthorshipinthedriftwooditself,theregistrationspecialistmayregistertheseagullcarvingifitissufficientlycreative.

• FelipeFrenchfoundastonewithdeepgrooves.Felipebroughtthestonetohisstudio,polishedit,mounteditonabrassplate,andsubmitteditforregistration.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefuseregistrationbecausethestone’sappearancewastheresultofanaturallyoccurringphenomenonandthepolishingandmountingwasweremerelydeminimis.

• NataliaNightcreatesastickermadeoftwoclearplasticsheetsbondedtogetherwithasmallamountofcoloredliquidpetroleumbetweenthesheets.Duetothewaypetroleumnaturallybehaves,anyslightpressureontheoutsideofthestickercreatesundulatingpatternsandshapes,notwoofwhichareeveridentical.TheregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisstickerbecausethespecificoutlinesandcontoursofthepatternsandshapesformedbytheliquidpetroleumwerenotcreatedbyNatalia,butinsteadwerecreatedbyanaturallyoccurringphenomenon.

906.8 Functional and Useful Elements Mechanical Processes and Random Selection

Thecopyrightlawonlyprotectsworksofauthorshipthatarecreatedbyhumanbeings.Worksmadethroughpurelymechanicalprocessesorwithanautomatedselectionandarrangementarenoteligibleforcopyrightprotectionwithoutsufficienthumanauthorship.TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillrefusetoregisteraclaiminaworkthatiscreatedthroughtheoperationofamachineorprocesswithoutsufficienthumaninteraction,evenifthedesignisrandomlygenerated.

Example:

• MeganMottdevelopedlinoleumflooringwitharandomconfettidesign.Thedesignwascreatedbyapurelymechanicalprocessthatrandomlydistributedmaterialonthesurfaceofthelinoleum.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisdesignbecauseitwasproducedbyamechanicalprocessandarandomselectionandarrangement.




906.9 Measuring and Computing Devices

Devicesthatcompute,measure,andrecorddataareusefularticles.Commonexamplesofsuchdevicesincludesliderulers,wheeldials,depthgauges,divecomputers,echo-sounders,andperpetualcalendardesigns.Thesetypesofdevicesdonotcontainexpressiveauthorshipandaremerelydesignedtocalculateandproducefacts,data,orotherusefulinformation.Assuch,theyarenotcopyrightable.See37C.F.R.§202.1(d).

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisterpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthathavebeenappliedtoameasuringorcomputingdevice,butonlyifthosefeaturesareseparablefromthearticle.Forexample,alogoappearingonascale,orafancifulgraphiconatelescopemayberegisterediftheyincorporate“pictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthatcanbeidentifiedseparatelyfrom,andarecapableofexistingindependentlyof,theutilitarianaspectsofthearticle.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”).Forageneraldiscussionofusefularticles,seeSection924.

Likewise,textualorartisticmaterialthatexplainsorillustratesadeviceanditsusemaybeprotectableifitissufficientlycreative,aslongasitdoesnotitselfperformtheactualusefulfunctionofthedevice.Forexample,atechnicaldrawingwithsignificanttextandpicturesthatshowshowtouseadevicemayberegistrable.Buttheregistrationforthatdrawingwouldextendonlytothedescriptiveorillustrativeauthorshipandwouldnotextendtotheconcept,physicaldesign,anduseofthedeviceitself.See17U.S.C.§113(b).

Whenassertingaclaiminaninstructionalmanualorothertextorimagesthatexplainorillustrateadevice,applicantsshouldusetermsthatspecificallydescribetheexpressiveauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothework,suchas“textofdescriptionofdevice,”“textofinstructions,”“technicaldiagrams,”or“photographsofdevice.”

Applicantsshouldavoidusingtheterms“device,”“equipment,”“sculpture,”“housing,”or“container”torefertocontentthatappearsonthefaceorsurfaceofthedevice.Applicantsshouldavoidusingtheterms“format,”“layout,”and“compilation”torefertotheoveralldesignfeaturesortotheoverallcombinationofcontentonthefaceorsurfaceofthedevice.Applicantsalsoshouldavoidusingvagueterms,suchas“entirework.”

906.10 Useful Articles and the Mechanical or Utilitarian Aspects of Works of Artistic Craftsmanship

Thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectusefularticles.17U.S.C.§101(definitionofpictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks).Butitdoesprotecttwo-orthree-dimensionalartisticfeaturesthathavebeenincorporatedintothedesignofausefularticle,ifthosefeaturesareseparablefromthearticle.Id.

Copyrightalsoprotectsthecreativeformofaworkofartisticcraftsmanship,butitdoesnotprotectthe“mechanicalorutilitarianaspects”ofsuchworks.”Id.




Foradefinitionanddetaileddiscussionofthelegalstandardsforevaluatingcopyrightableauthorshipinthedesignofausefularticleoraworkofartisticcraftsmanship,seeSections924and925.

Thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotect“usefularticles”assuch,orthe“mechanicalorusefulaspects”ofworksofartisticcraftsmanship.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionofPictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks).However,copyrightdoesprotectthecreativeformofaworkofartisticcraftsmanship,suchasacreativelyshapednecklaceordecorativevase.Copyrightalsoprotectstwo-orthree-dimensionalartisticfeaturesincorporatedintothedesignofausefularticle,ifthosefeaturesareseparablefromtheusefularticle.

Forexample,alampisconsideredausefularticle,becauseithasanintrinsicutilitarianfunction,namely,toprovidelighting.Bycontrast,athree-dimensionalfloraldesignaffixedtothebaseofalamporatwo-dimensionalgardendesignpaintedonalampshadedoesnothaveanintrinsicutilitarianfunction.Therefore,theU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisterthosedesignfeaturesiftheyareseparablefromthefunctionalaspectsofthelampandiftheyaresufficientlyoriginalandcreative.SeeStarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1007,1011-12.

Forageneraldiscussionofthelegalstandardforevaluatingusefularticles,seeSection924.

907 Derivative Visual Art Works

907.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Derivative Works

Aderivativevisualartworkisaworkbasedonorderivedfromoneormorepreexistingworks.Aderivativeworkmayberegisterediftheauthorofthatworkcontributedasufficientamountofnewauthorshiptocreateanoriginalworkofauthorship.Thenewmaterialmustbeoriginalandcopyrightableinitself.

Examplesofvisualartworksthatmayberegisteredasderivativeworksinclude:

• Sculpturesbasedondrawings.

• Drawingsbasedonphotographs.

• Lithographsbasedonpaintings.

• Booksofmapsbasedonpublicdomainmapswithadditionalfeatures.

Examplesofworksthatcannotberegisteredasderivativeworks,becausetheycontainnonewauthorshiporonlyademinimisamountofauthorshipincludethefollowingtypesofvisualartworks:




• Photocopiesanddigitalscansofworks.

• Merereproductionsofpreexistingworks.

Forageneraldiscussionofthelegalstandardfordeterminingwhetheraderivativeworkcontainsasufficientamountoforiginalexpressiontowarrantregistration,seeChapter300,Section311.

907.2 Permission to Use Preexisting Material

Authorsoftenincorporatematerialcreatedbythirdpartiesintotheirvisualartworks,suchasathirdpartyphotographthatisusedinacollageorthirdpartyclipartthatisusedinalogo.Generally,ifthethirdpartymaterialisprotectedbycopyright,theapplicantmustexcludethatmaterialfromtheclaimusingtheproceduredescribedinChapter600,Section621.8.However,theapplicantdoesnothavetodisclaimuncopyrightableelements,suchaslettersofthealphabetorgeometricshapes.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficegenerallydoesnotinvestigatethecopyrightstatusofpreexistingmaterialorinvestigatewhetherithasbeenusedlawfully.However,theregistrationspecialistmaycommunicatewiththeapplicanttodeterminewhetherpermissionwasobtainedwherearecognizablepreexistingworkhasbeenincorporatedintoavisualartwork.TheapplicantmayclarifythelawfuluseofpreexistingmaterialbyincludingastatementtothateffectintheNotetoCopyrightOfficefieldoftheonlineapplicationorinacoverlettersubmittedwiththepaperapplication.Ifitbecomesclearthatpreexistingmaterialwasusedunlawfully,theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheclaim.

Example:

• TheresaTellcreatesacollagethatcombinesherownartworkwithlogosfromanumberoffamouscompanies.Shefilesanapplicationtoregisterher“two-dimensionalartwork.”Dependingonthefactspresented,theregistrationspecialistmayasktheapplicanttoexcludethelogosfromtheclaimbystating“preexistinglogosincorporated”intheMaterialExcludedfield.Inaddition,thespecialistmayaskTheresatolimitherclaimbystating“selectionandarrangementofpreexistinglogoswithnewtwo-dimensionalartworkadded”intheNewMaterialIncludedfield.

Formoreinformationonderivativeworksincorporatingthirdpartycontent,seeChapter300,Section313.6(B).

908 Jewelry Designs

JewelrydesignsaretypicallyprotectedundertheU.S.copyrightlawassculpturalworks,althoughinrarecasestheymaybeprotectedaspictorialworks.ThisSectiondiscussescertainissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.




908.1 What Is Jewelry?

Forpurposesofcopyrightregistration,jewelrydesignsareconsidered“worksofartisticcraftsmanship,”whichareprotected“insofarastheirformbutnottheirmechanicalorutilitarianaspectsareconcerned.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”).JewelryincludesJewelrydesignsincludeanydecorativearticlethatisintendedtobewornasapersonaladornment,regardlessofwhetheritishung,pinned,orclippedontothebody(suchasnecklaces,bangles,orearrings)orpinned,clipped,orsewnontoclothing(suchasbrooches,pins,orbeadedmotifs).

Jewelryalsoincludesjeweledandbeadeddesignsthataremaybeappliedtogarments,footwear,andaccessories(suchashatpins,hairpins,haircombs,andtiepins).However,whenthesetypesofworksarefixedontoclothingand/oraccessoriesausefularticle,theymayberegisteredonlyiftheyareseparablefromtheclothingand/oraccessoriesutilitarianaspectsofthatarticle.

908.2 Copyrightable Authorship in Jewelry

Jewelrydesignsmaybecreatedinavarietyofways,suchascarving,cutting,molding,casting,orshapingthework,arrangingtheelementsintoanoriginalcombination,ordecoratingtheworkwithpictorialmatter,suchasadrawingoretching.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisterjewelrydesignsiftheyaresufficientlycreativeorexpressive.TheOfficewillnotregisterpiecesthat,asawhole,donotsatisfythisrequirement,suchasmerevariationsonacommonorstandardizeddesignorfamiliarsymbol,designsmadeupofonlycommonplacedesignelementsarrangedinacommonorobviousmanner,oranyofthemechanicalorutilitarianaspectsofthejewelry.Commondeminimisdesignsincludesolitairerings,simplediamondstudearrings,plainbanglebracelets,simplehoopearrings,amongothercommonlyuseddesigns,settings,andgemstonecuts.

Examples:

• JanineJacksoncreatesabroochconsistingofthreeparallelrowsofsapphires.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefuseregistrationbecausethedesigniscommonandthereisonlyademinimisamountofauthorshipinthearrangementofstones.

• JeremiahJonescreatesanecklaceconsistingofastandardcrossonablacksilkcordwithasilverclasp.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisworkbecauseitconsistsoffunctionalelements(e.g.,asilkcordandasilverclasp)andafamiliarsymbol(thestandardcross).

908.3 Application Tips for Jewelry

Whenpreparingtheidentifyingmaterialforajewelrydesign(whichmayconsistofphotographsordrawings)theapplicantshouldincludeallofthecopyrightableelementsthattheapplicantintendstoregister.Thisisimportantbecausetheregistrationspecialistcanexamineonlythedesignsthatareactuallydepictedintheidentifying




material.Iftheapplicantwantstheregistrationtocovermorethanjustthefaceofajewelrydesign,theidentifyingmaterialshoulddepictthedesignfromdifferentangles.Additionally,iftheapplicantwantstheregistrationtocoverpartofthedesignordetailsthatarerelativelysmall,theapplicantshouldmakesurethatthoseportionsareclearlyvisibleintheidentifyingmaterial.

Whenevaluatingajewelrydesignforcopyrightableauthorship,theregistrationspecialistwillconsiderthedesignasawhole,ratherthanboththecomponentelementsofthedesignandthedesignasawhole.Inmakingthisdetermination,thespecialistmayconsiderthefollowingaspectsofajewelrydesign:

• Theshapesofthevariouselements(e.g.,gemstones,beads,metalpieces,etc.).

• Theuseofcolortocreateanartisticdesign(althoughcoloraloneisgenerallyinsufficient).

• Decorationonthesurfaceofthejewelry(e.g.,engraveddesigns,variationsoftexture,etc.).

• Theselectionandarrangementofthevariouselements.

Thefollowingaspectsofjewelrygenerallyarenotcopyrightableandarenotconsideredinanalyzingcopyrightability:

• Facetingofindividualstones(i.e.,gem-cutting).

• Purelyfunctionalelements,suchasaclasporfastener.

• Commonorsymmetricalarrangements.

Asageneralrule,iftheshapeordecorationofaparticularelementcontainsenoughoriginalauthorshiptosupportaregistration,thespecialistwillregistertheclaim.Ifnot,thespecialistwillconsiderotherfactors,suchastheselection,coordination,and/orarrangementofelements,aswellasthedegreeofsymmetry.

Whenevaluatingthecopyrightabilityofajewelrydesign,thespecialistmayconsiderthenumberofelementsinthedesign.Moreelementsmayweighinfavorofcopyrightability,althoughaworkcontainingmultipleelementsmaybeuncopyrightableiftheelementsarerepeatedinastandardgeometricarrangementoracommonplacedesign.Aworkcontainingonlyafewelementsmaybecopyrightableifthedecoration,arrangement,useofcolor,shapes,ortexturesaresufficienttosupportaclaim.

909 Photographic Works

TheU.S.copyrightlawprotectsphotographsaspictorialworks.ThisSectiondiscussescertainissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.




909.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Photographs

Aswithallcopyrightedworks,aphotographmusthaveasufficientamountofcreativeexpressiontobeeligibleforregistration.Thecreativityinaphotographmayincludethephotographer’sartisticchoicesincreatingtheimage,suchastheselectionofthesubjectmatter,thelighting,anypositioningofsubjects,theselectionofcameralens,theplacementofthecamera,theangleoftheimage,andthetimingoftheimage.

Example:

• TheOfficereceivestenapplications,onefromeachmemberofalocalphotographyclub.AllofthephotographsdepicttheWashingtonMonumentandallofthemweretakenonthesameafternoon.Althoughsomeofthephotographsareremarkablysimilarinperspective,theregistrationspecialistwillregisteralloftheclaims,becauseeachphotographerselectedtheangleandpositioningofhisorherphotograph,amongothercreativechoices.

909.2 Subject Matter of Photographs

Tobeeligibleforcopyrightprotection,thesubjectofthephotographdoesnotneedtobecopyrightable.AphotographmaybeprotectedbycopyrightandregisteredwiththeU.S.CopyrightOffice,evenifthesubjectofthephotographisanitemorscenethatisuncopyrightableorinthepublicdomain.

Example:

• PhoebePooltakesaphotographofamountainrange,selectingtheangle,distance,andlightingfortheimage.Theregistrationspecialistwillregistertheworkeventhoughthemountainrangeitselfisnotcopyrightable.

909.3 Uncopyrightable Material

909.3(A) Photographic Reproductions, Digital Copying, and EditingDigital Restoration

Althoughmostphotographswarrantcopyrightprotection,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterphotographsthatdonotdisplayasufficientamountofcreativeexpression.Aphotographthatismerelya“slavishcopy”ofapainting,drawing,orotherpublicdomainorcopyrightedworkisnoteligibleforregistration.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefuseaclaimifitisclearthatthephotographermerelyusedthecameratocopythesourceworkwithoutaddinganycreativeexpressiontothephoto.Similarly,merelyscanninganddigitizingexistingworksdoesnotcontainasufficientamountofcreativitytowarrantcopyrightprotection.

Example:

• PamelaPattersontakesahighresolutionphotographofLeonardodaVinci’sMonaLisa.Sheintendstocreateanexactreplicaofthepainting,andtheThephotographisvirtuallyidenticaltothe




painting.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthephotograph,becauseitisaslavishcopyofaworkthatisinthepublicdomain.See,e.g.,BridgemanArtLibrary,Ltd.v.CorelCorp.,36F.Supp.2d191,196-97(S.D.N.Y.1999).

TheOfficeoftenreceivesapplicationstoregisterpreexistingworksthathavebeenrestoredtotheiroriginalqualityandcharacter.Merelyrestoringadamagedoragedphotographtoitsoriginalstatewithoutaddingasufficientamountoforiginal,creativeauthorshipdoesnotwarrantcopyrightprotection.

Theregistrationspecialistwillanalyzeonacase-by-casebasisallclaimsinwhichtheauthoruseddigitaleditingsoftwaretoproduceaderivativephotographorartwork.Typicaltechnicalalterationsthatdonotwarrantregistrationincludealigningpagesandcolumns;repairingfadedprintandvisualcontent;andsharpeningandbalancingcolors,tint,tone,andthelike,eventhoughthealterationsmaybehighlyskilledandmayproduceavaluableproduct.Ifanapplicantassertsaclaiminarestorationofortouchupstoapreexistingwork,theregistrationspecialistgenerallywillasktheapplicantfordetailsconcerningthenatureofchangesthathavebeenmade.Thespecialistwillrefuseallclaimswheretheauthormerelyrestoredthesourceworktoitsoriginalorpreviouscontentorqualitywithoutaddingsubstantialnewauthorshipthatwasnotpresentintheoriginal.

Thespecialistmayregisteraclaiminarestoredorretouchedphotographiftheauthoraddedasubstantialamountofnewcontent,suchasrecreatingmissingpartsofthephotographorusingairbrushingtechniquestochangetheimage.Asageneralrule,applicantsshouldusetermssuchas“photograph”or“2-Dartwork”todescribethistypeofauthorship,andshouldavoidusingtermssuchas“digitalediting,”“touchup,”“scanned,”“digitized,”or“restored.”

Examples:

• SarahSmithdiscoversaboxofoldfamilyphotographsinhergreat-grandmother’sattic.Shescansthemintohercomputerandusessoftwarethatautomaticallysmoothensthecreasesintheimages.Sarahfilesanapplicationtoregisteraclaimforherownauthorshipinthealteredphotographs.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheseworkstheclaim,becausetheuseofautomatedsoftwaretosmoothpreexistingphotographswasdeminimis.

• DaveDanielsubmitsanapplicationclaiming“photographandtwo-dimensionalartwork.”TheregistrationspecialistasksDavetoclarifythenatureofthetwo-dimensionalartworkthathecontributedtothiswork.Daveexplainsthathetookaphotographandthendigitallytouchedupseveralpartsofhisimage.Healsoexplainsthatheimprovedthecolor,tone,andtemper;removednoiseimperfectionsinherentinthefilm;andadjustedaspectstobalancethephotograph.Thespecialistwillregistertheclaiminthe“photograph,”becausethistermaccuratelydescribesthephotographandtheauthorshipinvolvedineditingtheoriginal




image.Thespecialistwillaskforpermissiontoremovetheclaimin“two-dimensionalartwork”becausetheworkcontainsnoadditionalartworkasidefromthephotographitself.

909.3(B) X-Rays, Medical Imaging, and Non-Medical Echo Sonography

Asageneralrule,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregistermedicalx-raysorimaging,regardlessofwhethertheyareclaimedonanapplicationasphotographs,images,artwork,orgraphics.Thesetypesofimagesdonottypicallypossessasufficientdegreeofcreativitytosustainacopyrightclaim.

NOTE:Medicalx-raysorimagingarenotconsideredusefularticlesforpurposesofregistrationbecausetheyconveyinformation.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”).Assuch,theyarenotsubjecttotheseparabilitytestdescribedinSection924.3.

Inmostcases,x-raysorothermedicalimagesareproducedwithoutanycreativeinputfromahumanauthor.Andtheappearanceoftheresultingimageisdictatedentirelybyfunctionalrequirements,suchasobtaininganimagethatoptimallypermitsthediagnosisofaninjuryordisease.Asaresult,thesetypesofimagesmerelycontainademinimisamountofexpression,ifany.SeeBurrow-GilesLithographicCo.v.Sarony,111U.S.53,59(1884)(“[T]heordinaryproductionofaphotograph”with“noplacefornovelty,invention,ororiginality”mayresultin“noprotection”forthatimage).

Thefollowingisanonexhaustivelistofsuchgenerallyuncopyrightableworks:

• Medicalx-rays.

• Magneticresonanceimaging.

• Echocardiography.

• Echomammography.

• Varietiesofultrasound.

• Iodinatedultravenousimaging.

• Angiography.

• Electrocardiography.

• Three-dimensionalcomputedtomography.

• Positronemissiontomography.

• Electroencephalographyimaging.

• Computedaxialtomography.




Forthesamereasons,theOfficewillnotregistersurveysofwaterandlandmassesthatarecapturedbythedatathatecho-soundersandsimilarequipmentproduce.

Whenx-raysorothermedicalimagesareusedtoillustratealiterarywork,suchasmedicaltextbooks,excavationtrainingguides,andjournalarticles,theOfficemayacceptaclaimina“compilationofimages,”“textandillustrations,”“textandillustrativediagrams,”or“textandfigures.”Theregistrationforsuchworkswillcoverthetextandthecopyrightablecompilationauthorship,butnottheunderlyingx-raysormedicalimages.

Similarly,applicantsmayusetermssuchas“illustrations,”“figures,”or“illustrativediagrams”todescribex-raysormedicalimagesthathavebeenmodifiedwithwords,abbreviations,symbols,orcolorindicators,suchasarrows,markers,orpointersthatillustratetopicsdiscussedintheaccompanyingliterarywork.Insuchcases,theOfficemayregisterthemodifiedimageasatechnicaldrawingifitissufficientlycreative,buttheOfficewillnotacceptaclaimintheunderlyingimageitself.

Thesetypesoftechnologieswerecreatedfordiagnosticorotherfunctionalpurposes,buttheycanconceivablybeusedinanartisticmanner.Ifanx-raymachineormedicalimagingdeviceisusedasatoolforanauthor’screativeexpression,thatexpressionmayberegisteredasapictorialorgraphicworkiftheresultingimagecontainsasufficientamountofartisticexpressioncreatedbyahumanauthor.Insuchcases,theauthor’sexpressionmustberecognizablefromthedepositcopy(ies),ratherthantheauthor’sexplanationofhisorhercreativeprocess.

Examples:

• XavierXanderfilesanapplicationforanx-rayofabrokenarmanddescribeshisauthorshipasa“photograph.”Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheclaim.

• XeniaXonsubmitsanapplicationforanx-rayofafarmanimalthathasbeenmodifiedwithbrightredcolorsandoriginalimagesofprocessedfoodproducts.Shedescribesherauthorshipas“two-dimensionalartwork.”Theregistrationspecialistmayregistertheclaim,becausethecreativeexpressionintheworkasawholeisapparentfromthedepositcopy.

• XandraXeesubmitsanapplicationforanx-rayofacreativecollageconsistingofflowersandcookies.Shedescribestheauthorshipasa“photograph.”BecauseXandrausedanx-raymachineasacreativetool,ratherthanadiagnosticdevice,theresultingimagewouldberegistrable.

910 Games

ThisSectiondiscussescertainissuesthatcommonlyarisewithboardgames,cardgames,andothergameswithpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalauthorship.Forinformationconcerningvideogames,seeChapter800,Section807.7(A).




Gamesoftenincludebothcopyrightableanduncopyrightableelements.Thecopyrightableelementsofagamemayincludetext,artwork,soundrecordings,and/oraudiovisualmaterial.,orotherworksofauthorship.Theseelementstypesofworksmaybeprotectableiftheycontainasufficientamountoforiginalauthorship.Uncopyrightableelementsincludetheunderlyingideasforagameandthemethodsforplayingandscoringagame.Theseelementscannotberegistered,regardlessofhowunique,clever,orfuntheymaybe.

Whencompletinganapplicationforthistypeofworkagame,applicantsshoulddescribethespecificelementsofthegamework(s)thattheapplicantintendstoregister,suchastheinstructionaltext,theartworkonaplayingboard,and/ortheoriginalsculpturalelementsofgamepieces.Applicantsshouldnotassertaclaimin“game”or“gamedesign,”becauseitisgenerallyunderstoodthatthegameasawholeencompassestheideasunderlyingthegame.Forthesamereason,applicantsshouldnotassertaclaiminthemethodsforplayingthegame.

Examples:

• GloriaGlamfilesanapplicationtoregisteranewboardgame.Inherapplicationsheassertsaclaimin“textandboardartwork.”Thegameboardcontainsintricatedesignsandtheinstructionsconsistoftwopagesoftext.Theregistrationspecialistwillregistertheclaim.withanannotation,suchas:“Basisforregistration:Unitofpublication.”

• GarfieldGrantfilesanapplicationforanewtypeofsoccerplayingfield.andassertsaclaimin“technicaldrawing.”Thedepositmaterialcontainstextandasetoftechnicaldrawings.withaccompanyingtext.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheplayingfielditself,butwillregisterclaim;thedrawingsandtextthatdescribethefield.Theregistrationwillextendonlytotheactualdrawingsanddescriptivetextanddrawingsandbutnottothedesignforthefielditself.

• GlennGarnerfilesanapplicationtoregistera“newgameofchess,consistingofanewwaytoplaythegame,newplayingpieces,andanewboardwiththreelevels.”Theregistrationspecialistmayregisteranydescriptivetextandthedesignoftheplayingpiecesiftheycontainasufficientamountofcreativeexpression.However,thespecialistwillrefusetocannotregistertheideaforandmethodofplayingthenewgame,aswellasortheideaofplayingthegameonaboardsplitintothreelevels.Therefore,thespecialistmayaddtwoannotations,suchas:“Basisforregistration:Unitofpublication”and“Regardingauthorshipinformation:ideafor,andprocedureormethodofoperationusedin,gamenotcopyrightable.17U.S.C.§102(b).Registrationextendstoartworkdeposited.”

Gamesareoftendistributedinaphysicalpackagethatcontainsseparatelyfixedcomponentworksthathavebeenbundledtogetheranddistributedtothepublic




asasingle,integratedunit.Insuchcases,itmaybepossibletoregisterthecomponentworkswiththeunitofpublicationoption,whichallowsmultipleworkstoberegisteredtogetherwithoneapplicationandonefilingfee.See37C.F.R.§202.3(b)(4).Forinformationconcerningthisoption,seeChapter1100,Section1103.

Forinformationonhowtoregisterpurelyliteraryaspectsofagame,seeChapter700,Section714.Forinformationconcerningthedepositrequirementsforgames,seeChapter1500,Sections1509.1(B)and1509.3(A)(7).

911 Characters

Theoriginal,visualaspectsofacharactermaybeprotectedbycopyrightiftheyaresufficientlyoriginal.Thismayincludethephysicalattributesofthecharacter,suchasfacialfeaturesandspecificbodyshape,aswellasimagesofclothingandanyothervisualelements.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregistervisualartworksthatdepictacharacter,suchasdrawings,sculptures,andpaintings.Aregistrationforsuchworksextendstotheparticularauthorshipdepictedinthedepositmaterial,butdoesnotextendtounfixedcharacteristicsofthecharacterthatarenotdepictedinthedeposit.Nordoesitcoverthenameorthegeneralideaforthecharacter.

Whencompletinganapplicationtoregistersuchworks,theapplicantshoulduseanappropriatetermtodescribetheauthorshipembodiedinthedepositmaterial,suchas“2-Dartwork”or“photograph.”Applicantsshouldnotrefertoorassertclaimsin“character,”“characterconcept,idea,orstyle,”oracharacter’sgeneralizedpersonality,conduct,temperament,orcostume.Iftheapplicantusestheseterms,theregistrationspecialistmayasktheapplicanttoremovethemfromregistertheclaim.Likewise,ifwithanannotation,suchas:“Regardingauthorshipinformation:Registrationbasedondeposited[pictorial,graphic,orsculptural]authorshipdescribing,depicting,orembodyingcharacter(s).Compendium313.4(H).”Ifthedepositmaterialcontainsawell-knownorrecognizablecharacter,thespecialistmayasktheapplicanttoexcludethatpreexistingmaterialfromtheclaimiftheapplicantfailstocompletetheLimitationofClaimportionoftheapplication.

Examples:

• CharlesCrestcreatesasketchofafieldmousewithastrawhatandamischievousgrin.Heintendstousethesketchinananimatedfilm.Hefilesanapplicationthatassertsaclaimin“two-dimensionalartwork”and“character.”TheregistrationspecialistmayaskCharlestolimitregistertheclaimtotheartworkandtoremovetheterm“withanannotation,suchas:“Regardingauthorshipinformation:Registrationbasedondepositedpictorialauthorshipdescribing,depicting,orembodyingcharacter”fromtheapplication(s).Compendium313.4(H).”




• ChrisCrowcreatesaseriesofdrawingsfeaturingastylizedflamingoinseveralposesandwearingdifferenthats.Hefilesanapplicationtoregisterhisdrawingsunderthetitle“ConceptDrawingsforCharacterDesigns”andheassertsaclaimin“two-dimensionalartwork.”Theregistrationspecialistmayregistertheclaimandmaysendtheapplicantawarningletternotingthattheregistrationcoversonlythespecificsketchesincludedinthedeposit.

• ChloeCrowncreatesaseriesofdrawingsdepictingseveralwell-knowncomicbookcharacters.Shefilesanapplicationthatassertsaclaimin“characterredesigns”or“newversionsofcharacters.”TheregistrationspecialistmayaskChloeifshehaspermissiontopreparethesederivativeworksandtoclarifythederivativeauthorshipthatshecontributedtothepreexistingmaterial.

912 Cartoons, Comic Strips, and Comic Books

Cartoons,comicstrips,andcomicbookstypicallycontainpictorialexpressionoracombinationofpictorialandwrittenexpression.Thesetypesofworksmayberegisteredasvisualartworksorliteraryworks,dependingonthenatureoftheexpressionthattheauthorcontributedtothework.Iftheworkcontainspictorialmaterialorasubstantialamountofpictorialmaterialcombinedwithtext,theapplicantshouldselectWorkoftheVisualArts(inthecaseofanonlineapplication)orFormVA(inthecaseofapaperapplication).Iftheworkmostlycontainstextwithasmallamountofpictorialmaterial,theapplicantshouldselectLiteraryWorkforanonlineapplicationorFormTXforapaperapplication.Ifthetypesofauthorshipareroughlyequal,theapplicantmayuseanytypeofapplicationthatisappropriate.

Aregistrationforacartoon,comicstrip,orcomicbookonlycoversthespecificworkthatissubmittedtotheU.S.CopyrightOffice.TheOfficedoesnotofferso-called“blanketregistrations”thatcoverpriororsubsequentiterationsofthesamework.Forexample,aregistrationforacomicstripthatdepictsaparticularcharactercoverstheexpressionsetforthinthatparticularstrip,butitdoesnotcoverthecharacterperseoranyotherstriporotherworkthatfeaturesthesamecharacter.(Formoreinformationconcerningcharacters,seeSection911.)

Insomecasesitmaybepossibletoregisteranumberofcartoons,comicstrips,orcomicbookswithoneapplicationandonefilingfee.

• Ifalloftheworksareunpublished,itmaybepossibletoregisteruptotenworkstogetherasagroup.

• Ifalloftheworksareunpublishedwerefirstpublishedasacontributiontoaperiodical,suchasanewspaperormagazine,itmaybepossibletoregisterthemasanunpublishedcollection.thecontributionsasagroup.

• Ifalltheworkswerephysicallybundledtogetherbytheclaimantfordistributiontothepublicasasingle,integratedunit,andifalltheworkswerefirstpublishedinthatintegratedunititmaybepossibletoregisterthemusing




theunitofpublicationoption.However,theworkscannotbeaggregatedsimplyforthepurposeofregistration;insteadtheymusthavebeenfirstdistributedtothepublicinthepackagedunit.Ifalloftheworkswerefirstpublishedasacontributiontoaperiodical,suchasanewspaperormagazine,itmaybepossibletoregisterthecontributionsasagroup.

Fordetailedinformationconcerningunpublishedcollections,theunitofpublicationoption,andthegroupregistrationoptionsforunpublishedworksandcontributionstoperiodicals,seeChapter1100,Sections1103,1106,1107,and11151110.

Comicbooksaretypicallycreatedbymultipleauthors,andtheissuessurroundingtheauthorshipandownershipofthevariouscontributionscanbecomplex.Insomecases,thecreatorsmaypreparetheircontributionsonaworkforhirebasisasemployeesorpursuanttoafreelancerworkmadeforhireagreement.Insomecases,thecomicbookmaybeajointwork.Inothercases,differentauthorsmaycreatedifferentaspectsofthecomicbook,withsomeaspectsoriginatingfromthepublisherandotheraspectsoriginatingfromoneormoreindividual,nonemployeeauthors(i.e.,derivativeworks).Forexample,thepublishermayclaimownershipofthecharactersandthebasicstory,andmayhireotherstocreatetheartwork,text,and/orletteringforparticularissues.Thenafreelanceorstaffcontributormaycontributecoloringandediting.Ifalloftheworkisdoneonaworkmadeforhirebasis,theauthorshipisclearlyownedbythepublisher,andassuchthepublishershouldbenamedastheclaimant.

Ifmultipleauthorscontributedtothecomicbookasindividualauthors(notasjointauthorsorunderaworkmadeforhireagreement),andifitisunclearfromthefaceofthedepositcopy(ies)whichauthorcreatedwhatauthorshipandonwhatbasis,theapplicantshouldprovidethatinformationintheAuthorCreatedfieldoftheonlineapplicationortheNatureofAuthorshipspaceofthepaperapplication.Suchclaimsmayrequiremultipleseparateapplicationstoregisterthederivativeauthorship(e.g.,anapplicationforthepencildrawingsandaseparateapplicationforthecoloringofthepreexistingdrawings).

Insomecases,comicbookpublisherslicensetheuseofanotherparty’scharactersandstories.Inothercases,thepublishercreatesthestories,butthecharactershavebeenlicensed.Insuchcases,theapplicantshouldexcludethelicensedcharactersand/orstoriesfromtheclaimbystating“licensedcharacter”or“licensedcharacterandstoryline”intheMaterialExcluded/PreexistingMaterialsfield/space.Theclaimantshouldnotnamethelicensorofthepreexistingcharactersand/orstoriesasanauthorofthenewtextandartworkinthecomicbook.

Theregistrationspecialistwillcommunicatewiththeapplicantiftheauthorshiporownershipinformationprovidedintheapplicationisunclearorinconsistentwithotherstatementsintheapplication,thedepositcopy(ies),orindustrypractice.Inaddition,thespecialistmayquestionwhetheragivenworkisacollectiveworkorjointwork,ratherthanaworkconsistingofseparatelyownedcontributionsorworks.

TheOfficewillnotregistermerereprints,reissues,re-inks/letters/colors,orpreviouslypublished,orpreviouslyregisteredcomicbooks,unlesstheauthorcontributednewcopyrightableauthorshipincompiling,adapting,orchangingthepreexistingcontent.




913 Prints

Printsincludeawidevarietyofpictorialandgraphicworks,suchasgreetingcards,postcards,posters,decals,stationery,illustrations,andotherabstractandrepresentationaldesigns.Thiscategoryalsoincludesadvertisements,billboards,brochures,andothertwo-dimensionalworks“intendedforuseinadvertisingandcommerce.”H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at54(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.Nat5667.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisteraprintifitcontainsatleastaminimumamountoforiginalpictorialorgraphicauthorship.Inmakingthisdetermination,theregistrationspecialistwillnotconsidertheartisticmerit,aestheticvalue,orintrinsicqualityoftheprint.Seeid.NorwilltheOfficeconsiderthecommercialpurposeorintendeduseofthework.Bleisteinv.DonaldsonLithographingCo.,188U.S.239,251(1903)(“Apictureisnonethelessapictureandnonethelessasubjectofcopyrightthatitisusedforanadvertisement.”).

Acopyrightclaimcannotbebasedsolelyonmerevariationsoftypographicornamentation,lettering,orcoloring.37C.F.R.§202.1(a).Likewise,themerearrangementoftypeonapageorwebsitecannotsupportacopyrightclaim,unlesstheoverallarrangementproducesanoriginalpictorialorgraphicdesign,suchasavisualrepresentationofapersonorproduct.

914 Trademarks, Logos, and Labels

913914.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Trademarks, Logos, and Labels

Avisualartworkthatisusedasatrademark,logo,orlabelmayberegisteredifitsatisfies“therequisitequalificationsforcopyright.”37C.F.R.§202.10(b).Theauthorshipintheworkmaybepictorial,graphic,orinrarecasessculptural,ortheworkmaycontainacombinationoftheseelements.Whenreviewinganapplicationtoregisteratrademark,logo,orlabeltheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillexaminetheworktodetermineifitembodies“somecreativeauthorshipinitsdelineationorform.”Id.§202.10(a).However,theOfficewillnotconsiderwhethertheworkhasbeenorcanberegisteredwiththeU.S.PatentandTrademarkOffice.Id.§202.10(b).

Thecopyrightlawcoversthecreativeaspectsofapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,regardlessofwhethertheworkhasbeenusedoriscapableofbeingusedasanindicatorofsource.Unliketrademarklaw,copyrightlawisnotconcernedwithconsumerconfusionandatrademark,logo,orlabelmaybeeligibleforcopyrightprotectionregardlessofwhethertheworkisdistinctiveorwhetherconsumersmaybeconfusedbytheuseofthatwork.Inotherwords,avisualartworkmaybedistinctiveinthetrademarksense,evenifitdoesnotqualifyasaworkoforiginalauthorshipinthecopyrightsense.

TheOfficetypicallyrefusestoregistertrademarks,logos,orlabelsthatconsistofonlythefollowingcontent:

• Wording.

• Merescriptingorlettering,eitherwithorwithoutuncopyrightableornamentation.




• Handwrittenwordsorsignatures,regardlessofhowfancifultheymaybe.

• Merespatialplacementorformatoftrademark,logo,orlabelelements.

• Uncopyrightableuseofcolor,frames,borders,ordifferentlysizedfont.

• Mereuseofdifferentfontsorfunctionalcolors,frames,orborders,eitherstandingaloneorincombination.

Example:

• LoriLewissubmitsalogoconsistingoftwoletterslinkedtogetherandfacingeachotherinamirrorimage,andtwounlinkedlettersfacingeachotherandpositionedperpendiculartothelinkedletters.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisworkbecauselettersalonecannotberegistered,andthereisinsufficientcreativityinthecombinationandarrangementoftheseelements.SeeCoach,Inc.v.Peters,386F.Supp.2d495,498(S.D.N.Y.2005).

913914.2 Application Tips for Trademarks, Logos, and Labels

Whencompletinganapplicationforatrademark,logo,orlabel,applicantsshoulddescribethepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothework.Applicantsshouldavoidusingvagueterms,suchas“trademarkdesign,”“tradedressdesign,”“mark,”“logo,”“logotype,”or“symbol.”Likewise,applicantsshouldavoidusingthefollowingtermswhichmaybequestionedbytheregistrationspecialist:“compositework,”“collectivework,”“selectionandarrangement,”“lookandfeel,”“distinctive,”“distinctiveness,”“totalityofdesign,”or“totalconceptandfeel.”

914915 Catalogs

Forpurposesofcopyrightregistration,catalogsareconsideredcompilationsofinformationorcollectiveworksthatcontainwrittendescriptionsand/orpictorialdepictionsoftwoorthree-dimensionalproducts.Catalogsgenerallycontaincopyrightablepictorialand/orliteraryauthorship,andtheyalsomaycontaincopyrightableauthorshipintheselection,coordination,and/orarrangementofcopyrightableoruncopyrightableelements.

Thephotographswithinacatalogmayberegisteredtogetherwiththecatalogasawhole(i)ifthephotographsandthecatalogwerecreatedbythesameauthor,or(ii)ifthecopyrightclaimantownsalloftherightsinthephotographicauthorshipphotographsandthecompilationauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtoinvolvedincreatingthecatalogasawhole,and(iii)ifthephotographshavenotbeenpreviouslypublishedorpreviouslyregistered.However,aclaiminthephotographsdoesnotextendtotheactualworksorobjectsdepictedinthoseimages.

Acatalogmayberegisteredasacompilationofphotographsoracollectiveworkconsistingofphotographsifthereisasufficientamountofcreativeexpressionintheauthor’sselection,coordination,and/orarrangementoftheimages.However,acatalogisnotconsideredacompilationoftheworksorobjectsdepictedinthosephotographs,




norisitconsideredacollectiveworkconsistingoftheworksorobjectsdepictedtherein.AccordRegistrationofClaimstoCopyright,77Fed.Reg.37,605,37,606(June22,2012).Asaresult,aregistrationforacataloggenerallydoesnotextendtotheworksorobjectsshowninthatwork,eveniftheyareeligibleforcopyrightprotectionandeveniftheclaimantownsalloftherightsinthoseworksorobjects.Instead,theregistrationextendsonlytothepictorialauthorshipinvolvedincreatingtheimages,andtheauthorshipinvolvedinselecting,coordinating,and/orarrangingthoseimageswithinthecatalogasawhole.See17U.S.C.§113(b).

Bycontrast,iftheapplicantsubmitsindividualphotographsorpictorialillustrationsofatwo-orthree-dimensionalwork(asopposedtoacatalogdepictingatwo-orthree-dimensionalwork),theregistrationmaycoverthepictorialorsculpturalauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothatworkifitisclearthattheindividualphotographsorillustrationsarebeingusedasidentifyingmaterialfortheworkdepictedthereinandthattheapplicantisnotattemptingtoregistertheauthorshipinvolvedincreatingthoseimages.theimagesthemselves.Forinformationconcerningthetypesofworksthatmayberegisteredwithidentifyingmaterial,seeChapter1500,Section1506.

Asageneralrule,itisnotpossibletoregisteragroupofpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkswithoneapplication,onefilingfee,andasubmissionofidentifyingmaterial.Instead,theapplicantgenerallymustsubmitaseparateclaimforeachwork.However,therearetwolimitedexceptionstothisrule.

• Iftheworksareunpublisheditmaybepossibletoregisterthemasagroupofanunpublishedworkscollection.Photographsorillustrationsofthetwo-orthree-dimensionalworksmaybeusedasidentifyingmaterialinthissituation,providedthat.Insuchcases,theapplicantassertsshouldassertaclaimintheworksdepictedinthoseimagesratherthantheauthorshipinvolvedincreatingtheimagesthemselves.

• Iftheworkswerephysicallybundledtogetherfordistributiontothepublicasasingle,integratedunitandifalltheworkswerefirstpublishedinthatintegratedunit,itmaybepossibletoregisterthemusingtheunitofpublicationoption.

Whenagroupofphotographsarepublishedinacatalog,theworksdepictedthereinareconsideredpublished,regardlessofwhethertheyaretwo-orthree-dimensional.However,thefactthatagroupofworkswerepublishedinthesamecatalogdoesnotnecessarilymeanthatthecatalogconstitutesaunitofpublicationorthattheworksmayberegisteredtogetherwiththeunitofpublicationoption.

Aunitofpublicationisapackageofseparatelyfixedelementsandworksthatarephysicallybundledtogetherbytheclaimantfordistributiontothepublicasasingle,integratedunit.Theunitmustcontainanactualcopyoftheworksandtheworksmustbedistributedtothepublicasanintegralpartoftheunit.Aunitthatmerelycontainsarepresentationoftheworks,ormerelyoffersthoseworkstothepublic(withoutactuallydistributingthem)doesnotsatisfythisrequirement.Forexample,aboxedsetoffiftydifferentgreetingcardssoldasapackagetoretailpurchaserswouldqualifyasaunitofpublication.Bycontrast,acatalogofferingfiftydifferentgreetingcardsforindividualpurchasewouldnotbeconsideredaunitofpublication,evenifallofthecards




maybeorderedfromthecatalogforasingleprice.Althoughacatalogmayoffermultipleitemsforsaletothepublic,thecatalogitselfdoesnotqualifyasaunitofpublication,becausetheitemsthemselvesarenotpackagedtogetherinthecatalogforactualdistributiontothepublic.

Forageneraldiscussionofcompilationsandcollectiveworks,seeChapter500,Sections508and509.Fordetailedinformationconcerningunpublishedcollectionsandtheunitofpublicationoptionandthegroupregistrationoptionforunpublishedworks,seeChapter1100,Sections11061103and11071106.

915916 Retrospective Works and Exhibition Catalogs

Retrospectiveworksarepublishedbooks,websites,orotherworksthatrevieworlookbackonthecareerofavisualartist.Exhibitioncatalogsarecatalogs,brochures,orotherworksthatcontaincopiesofworksfeaturedinaparticularexhibitionorotherworksbythesamevisualartist(s).Bothretrospectiveworksandexhibitioncatalogstypicallycontainbothnewandpreexistingauthorship.

Thenewauthorshipisusuallypreparedexpresslyfortheretrospectiveworkortheexhibitioncatalog,andmayincludeelementssuchasanintroduction,criticalessays,photographs,annotatedbibliographies,chronologicaltimelines,andthelike.

Asforthevisualartist’sworks,retrospectiveworksandexhibitioncatalogsusuallycontain(i)worksthatwerepublishedbeforetheyappearedinthenewwork,and(ii)otherworksthathaveneverbeensoldorotherwisepublishedorpubliclyexhibitedbeforetheyappearedinthenewwork.

Whenapreviouslyunpublishedworkisfirstpublishedinaretrospectiveworkorexhibitioncatalog,thefactthattheworkhasbeenpublishedwillaffectthesubsequentregistrationoptionsforthatwork.Forthisreason,artistsmaywanttoconsiderregisteringtheirpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkspriortoauthorizingtheirdepictioninaretrospectiveworkorexhibitioncatalog.

Toregisteraretrospectiveworkorexhibitioncatalog,theapplicantshouldlimittheclaimtothenewcontentthatwaspreparedspecificallyforthatwork,suchasnewartwork,essays,photographs,indexes,chronologies,bibliographies,orthelike.Anyartworkthatwaspreviouslyregistered,published,orinthepublicdomainshouldbeexcludedfromtheclaimusingtheproceduresdescribedinChapter600,Section621.8.

Inallcases,theapplicantshouldanticipatethattheregistrationspecialistwillraisequestionsabouttheownershipandfirstpublicationprovenanceofartworkdepictedinaretrospectiveworkorexhibitioncatalog.Therefore,whencompletingtheapplication,theapplicantshouldprovideasmuchinformationaboutthoseworksaspossible.




916917 Art Prints and Reproductions

916917.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Art Prints and Reproductions

Areproductionofaworkofartoratwo-dimensionalartprintreproductionmaybeprotectedasaderivativework,butonlyiftheprintorreproductioncontainsnewauthorshipthatdoesnotappearintheoriginalsourcework.Thiscategoryincludeshandpaintedreproductions(typicallyoncanvas);plate,screen,andoffsetlithographicreproductionsofpaintings;Gicléeprints;blockprints;aquaprint;artagraph;amongotherformsofexpression.

MakinganAnexactcopyofasourceworkisnoteligibleforcopyrightprotection,becauseitisakintoapurelymechanicalcopyandincludesnonewauthorship,regardlessoftheprocessusedtocreatethecopyortheskill,craft,orinvestmentneededtorenderthecopies.Forthesamereason,aprintorreproductionofaworkofartcannotbeprotectedbasedsolelyonthecomplexnatureofthesourcework,theapparentnumberoftechnicaldecisionsneededtoproduceanear-exactreproduction,orthefactthatthesourceworkhasbeenrenderedinadifferentmedium.Forexample,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterthefollowingtypesofprintsandreproductionsworks:

• Reproductionsofpurelytextualworks.

• Reproductionsinwhichtheonlychangesaretothesizeorfontstyleofthetextinanunderlyingwork.

• Merescansordigitizationsoftextsorworksofart.

• Reproductionsinwhichtheonlychangefromtheoriginalworkisachangeintheprintingormanufacturingtype,paperstock,orotherreproductionmaterials.

• Preservationandrestorationefforts.

• Anyexactduplication,regardlessofthemediumusedtocreatetheduplication(e.g.,handpainting,etching,etc.).

TheOfficewillregisteranynewandcreativeauthorshipthatisfixedinaprintoranartreproduction.However,theregistrationspecialistwillnotassumethatallsuchworksembodynew,registrableauthorship.Inaddition,thespecialistwillcommunicatewiththeapplicantiftheapplicationreferstoanewprocesspreviouslyunknowntotheOffice,orifitappearsthattheauthormadenomorethanahighqualitycopyofthesourcework.




916917.2 Application Tips for Art Prints and Reproductions

916917.2(A) Distinguishing Art Prints and Reproductions from the Source Work and Identifying Material

Toregisteranartprintorareproductionofaworkofart,theapplicantshouldfullydescribethenewauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothesourcework.Asageneralrule,theterms“2-Dartwork”or“reproductionofworkofart”maybeusedtodescribetheauthorshipinvolvedinrecasting,transforming,oradaptingthesourcework.WhencompletinganonlineapplicationtheapplicantshouldprovidethisinformationintheAuthorCreatedfield.Whencompletingapaperapplication,theapplicantshouldprovidethisinformationintheNatureofAuthorshipspace.Inaddition,applicantsarestronglyencouragedtoprovideacleardescriptionofthenewauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtotheartprintorreproductionusingspecifictermsthatdistinguishthenewauthorshipfromthesourcework.ThisinformationmaybeprovidedintheNotetoCopyrightOfficefieldorinacoverletter.Doingsomayavoidtheneedforcorrespondencethatcoulddelaytheexaminationoftheapplication.

Theapplicantshouldnotrefertotheauthorshipinthesourceworkthathasbeenrecast,transformed,oradaptedbytheauthoroftheprintorreproduction.Likewise,theapplicantshouldnotrefertothetypeofidentifyingmaterialthattheapplicantintendstosubmittotheOffice.Forexample,iftheapplicantintendstoregisteralithographicreproductionofapreexistingpainting,theapplicantshouldclearlydescribethenewartworkthattheauthorcontributedtothatreproduction.Theauthorshouldnotrefertothepreexistingpaintingthatisdepictedinthelithograph.Iftheapplicantintendstosubmitaphotographofthelithographastheidentifyingmaterialfortheclaim,theapplicantshouldnotrefertothereproductionasa“photograph.”Iftheapplicantstates“photograph”theregistrationspecialistmayassumethattheapplicantintendstoregistertheauthorshipinvolvedintakingthephotographofthelithograph,ratherthantheauthorshipinvolvedincreatingthereproductionofthepreexistingpainting.

916917.2(B) Authorship Unclear

Applicantsshouldnotusevaguetermstodescribethenewauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtoanartprintorreproduction.Likewise,applicantsshouldnotusetermsthatmerelydescribethetoolsormethodsthattheauthorusedtocreatethework,suchas“computerprint,”“computerreproduction,”“blockprint,”“offsetprint,”“print,”or“photoengraving,”becausethissuggeststhattheapplicantmaybeassertingaclaiminanidea,procedure,process,system,methodofoperation,concept,principle,ordiscovery.

Iftheauthormerelypaintedoverareasofthesourcework,theregistrationspecialistmaycommunicatewiththeapplicantifitappearsthattheapplicantisattemptingtoregistertheauthorship(ifany)involvedinrestoringthesourceworktoitsoriginalcondition.

917918 Installation Art

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficegenerallydiscouragesapplicantsfromusingtheterm“installationart”inapplicationstoregistervisualartworks.Applicantsusethistermfor




awidevarietyofartisticendeavorsandithasmanybroad,ambiguousmeanings.Becausethistermisunclear,theregistrationspecialistwillmaycommunicatewithapplicantsiftheydescribeapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkas“installationart.”

Instead,applicantsshouldidentifyanycopyrightablecontentintheworkandshoulddescribethatcontentusingtermssuchas“sculpture,”“painting,”“photographs,”orthelike.Thisistrueeveniftheoverallinstallationitselfisaregistrableworkofauthorship.Insuchcasestheapplicantshoulduseacceptedtermstodescribethework,suchas“aseriesofsequentiallyandthematicallyrelatedphotographsinterspersedwithdrawnandpaintedimagestocreatealargerworkofauthorship.”

918919 Maps

Mapsmaybeprotectedunderthecopyrightlawaspictorialworksorsculpturalworks,dependingonwhethertheworkcontainstwo-orthree-dimensionalauthorship.Indeed,mapswereamongthefirstworksthatwereeligibleforcopyrightprotectionunderthe1790Act.ThisSectiondiscussescertainissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.

918919.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Maps

Mapsarecartographicorvisualrepresentationsofanarea.Examplesincludeterrestrialmapsandatlases,marinecharts,celestialmaps,aswellasthree-dimensionalworks,suchasglobesandreliefmodels.Amapmayrepresentarealorimaginedplace,suchasamapinabookorvideogamethatdepictsafictionalcountry.

Mapsarenotconsideredusefularticlesforpurposesofregistration,becausetheyconveyinformation.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”).Assuch,theyarenotsubjecttotheseparabilitytestdescribedinSection924.3.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregistermaps,globes,andothercartographicworksiftheydisplayasufficientamountoforiginalpictorialorsculpturalauthorship.

TheOfficemayregisteranoriginalselection,coordination,and/orarrangementofcartographicfeatures,suchasroads,lakes,orrivers,cities,orpoliticalorgeographicboundaries.Buttobecopyrightable,theworkasawholemustbecreativeanditmustnotbeintrinsicallyutilitarian..Inmakingthisdetermination,theOfficewillnotconsidertheamountofeffortrequiredtocreatethework,suchassurveyingorcartographicfieldwork.

918919.2 Derivative Maps

Mapsareoftenbasedononeormorepreexistingworks.Aderivativemapmaybeeligibleforregistrationiftheauthoraddedasufficientamountofnewauthorshiptothepreexistingmaterial,suchascreativedepictionsofnewroads,historicallandmarks,orzoningboundaries.

Ifthemapcontainsanappreciableamountofmaterialthathasbeenpreviouslypublished,previouslyregistered,materialthatisinthepublicdomain,ormaterialthatisownedbyathirdparty,theapplicantshouldexcludethatmaterialfromtheclaimand




shouldlimittheclaimtothenewcopyrightableauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothederivativemap.Forguidanceincompletingthisportionoftheapplication,seeChapter600,Section621.8.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillrefusetoregisteraderivativemapiftheworkdoesnotcontainasufficientamountofnewauthorship.Forinstance,“[a]dditionsto…preexistingmapssuchascolor,shading,andlabelsusingstandardfontsandshapesfallwithinthenarrowcategoryofworksthatlackevenaminimumlevelofcreativity”requiredforregistration.Dardenv.Peters,488F.3d277,287(4thCir.2007).Reprintsofpublicdomainmapsorpreviouslypublishedmaterialsarenotregistrable.Similarly,mapsthatconsistsolelyofpublicdomainelements,commonelements,orelementsthatcontainnooriginalcompilationauthorshiparenotregistrable,suchasanoutlinemapoftheUnitedStatescontainingnothingmorethanthenamesofthestatecapitals.

919 Models, Including Three-Dimensional Reproductions and Scientific Models

Forpurposesofcopyrightregistration,amodelisathree-dimensionalreplicaordepictionofanobjectordesign,suchasamodelcaroramodelofanarchitecturaldesign.ModelsaretypicallyprotectedunderU.S.copyrightlawassculpturalworks,althoughtheyalsomayincludepictorialorgraphicelements.ThisSectiondiscussescertainissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.

919.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Models

Modelsmayberenditionsofeitherartisticorutilitarianobjects.Somemodelsareexactorsubstantiallysimilarcopiesoftheitemtheydepict,whileothersaremerelyinterpretativecopies.

Amodelofausefularticleoramodelofanarchitecturalworkgenerallyisprotectableifitincludesasufficientamountoforiginalauthorshipandifitcontainssomeoriginaldifferencesfromtheobjectdepicted.Thecopyrightlawprotectsmodelsiftherearedistinguishable,creativedifferencesinshape,line,perspective,ordetailsbetweenthemodelandthedepictedobject.Theamountofeffort,time,monetaryexpense,technicalskill,orcraftthattheauthorcontributedtothemodelisirrelevanttothisdetermination.Thecomplexityofthedepictedobjectisalsoirrelevant.Amodelofarelativelysimpleobjectmaybecopyrightableiftheauthorexercisedsufficientcreativityinrenderingthatobjectasamodel.However,theOfficewillnotregisteramodelsimplybecauseitdepictsanobjectthatisextremelycomplex.

Thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectmodelsthatareexactcopiesofthesourcework,regardlessofhowmuchskillorlaborwasinvolvedincreatingthereplica.Merelyreducingorenlargingthesizeofthesourceworkorproducingthesourceworkinanewmediumisnotsufficienttowarrantcopyrightprotection.Likewise,thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectmodelsifthedifferencesbetweenthemodelandthesourceworkweredictatedbymanufacturingormaterialrequirements.

919.2 Application Tips for Models

Toregisterathree-dimensionalmodeloramodelcontainingacombinationoftwo-andthree-dimensionalauthorship,theapplicantshoulddescribetheworkasa“sculpture”




intheAuthorCreatedfield(whencompletinganonlineapplication)orintheNatureofAuthorshipspace(whencompletingapaperapplicationusingFormVA).

Applicantsmayusetheterm“reproductionofworkofart”todescribeamodelthatisathree-dimensionalinterpretationofapreexistingworkofart,suchasathree-dimensionalmodeloftheMonaLisa.Ifthemodelisanoriginal,sculpturalinterpretationofanuncopyrightableobjectthatisnotaworkofart,suchasatruck,atrain,ortheletter“G,”applicantsshouldusetheterm“sculpture”ratherthantheterm“reproductionofworkofart.”

Inaddition,applicantsarestronglyencouragedtoprovideacleardescriptionofthecreativeauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothemodelusingspecifictermsthatdistinguishthemodelfromtheobjectdepicted.ThisinformationmaybeprovidedintheNotetoCopyrightOfficefieldorinacoverletter.Doingsomayavoidtheneedforcorrespondencethatcoulddelaytheexaminationoftheapplication.

Iftheworkdescribedintheapplicationisamodelofaworkthatisprotectedbycopyright,theapplicantshoulddescribethenewmaterialthattheauthorcontributedtothemodelandshouldexcludethepreexistingmaterialfromtheclaimintheappropriatefieldsorspacesoftheapplication.Forguidanceincompletingthisportionoftheapplication,seeChapter600,Section621.8.Suchstatementsareencouraged,butnotrequired,iftheworkdescribedintheapplicationisamodelofanuncopyrightableobject.

920 Patterns, Stencils, and How-To Books

Patternbookscontainspecificinstructionsonhowtomakevariousitems,suchasknitwearandtoys,whilehow-tobookstypicallycontaininstructionsonhowtoperformvarioustechniques.Stencilsprovideoutlinesandshapesthatmaybeusedforotherpurposes,suchasastencilofleavesthatmaybeusedforpaintingaborderonawall.ThisSectiondiscussescertainissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.

920.1 Patterns for Making Articles

Thedrawingsandtextinapatternbookmaybecopyrightable,iftheyaresufficientlyoriginal.Thismayincludetextualinstructions,technicaldiagramsthatdemonstratecutting,stitching,weaving,orothertechniquesrequiredbythepattern,aswellasillustrationsofthecompleteditems.

AregistrationforapatternbookgenerallyPatternbooksarenotconsideredusefularticlesforpurposesofregistration,becausetheytypicallyconveyinformation.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”).Butasageneralrule,aregistrationforapatternbookdoesnotextendtoindividualpatternpiecesthatmaybeusedtocreateausefularticle,suchasshapesthatmaybetracedandusedtomakeasleeveforadress,becausetheyhaveanintrinsicutilitarianfunction.thepiecesthemselvesarealsousefularticlesthatrarelycontainanyseparable,copyrightableauthorship.See17U.S.C.§113(b).NordoesForsimilarreasons,theregistrationdoesnotextendtoanyusefularticlethatmaybecreatedwiththepattern,suchasanitemofclothing.Forageneraldiscussionofusefularticles,seeSection924.




920.2 Stencils and Templates

Stencilsandtemplatesarepatternsfortracing,trimming,orcuttingdesignsorotheritemsdepictedbythestencilortemplate.TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisterstencilsortemplatesthatcontainasufficientamountoforiginalpictorialorgraphicartworkororiginalcompilationsofsuchartwork,suchasastencilbookthatcontainsoriginal,artisticimagesofanimals,trees,andautomobiles.However,theOfficewillrefusetoregisterstencilsconsistingofcommonfigures,symbols,orotheruncopyrightablematerial,includinganystandardarrangementsthereof.

920.3 How-To Books, Project Books, and Crafts-Making Books

Ahow-tobookexplainshowtoperformcertainskillsandtechniques.Thesetypesofworksgenerallydonotcontainpatternpiecesorparts,becausetheyareintendedtoteachacraftortechniqueratherthanprovideinstructionsonmakingaspecificitem.

How-tobookstypicallycontaintext,photographs,andtechnicaldiagrams,whichmaybeprotectedbycopyrightlawiftheyaresufficientlycreative.However,the“project”or“craft”asawhole—evenifitisoriginal—ismerelyanideathatisnotcopyrightable.17U.S.C.§102(b).TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillrejectnonspecificclaimsinprojectideasorprojectdesign.

920.4 Application Tips for Patterns, Stencils, and How-To Books

Toregisterapattern,stencil,orhow-tobook,theapplicantshoulddescribethecopyrightablecontentinthedepositusingtermssuchas“text,“2-Dartwork,”“photograph,”or“technicaldrawing,”asapplicable.Applicantsshouldnotassertaclaimin“pattern,”“project,”“activity,”or“craft.”

Ifthedepositcopy(ies)identifytheauthorordesigneroftheprojects,crafts,ordesignsandifthatauthorisnotnamedintheapplication,theapplicantshouldexplainhowtheclaimantacquiredownershipofthecopyrightbycheckingtheworkmadeforhirebox“yes”(iftheworkqualifiesasaworkmadeforhire)orbyincludinganappropriatetransferstatement.Forguidanceincompletingtheseportionsoftheapplication,seeChapter600,Sections614and620.

Innocasewillaregistrationfortwo-dimensionalartwork,three-dimensionalsculpture,ortechnicaldrawingcoveranuncopyrightableitemthatresultsfromthedepositcopy(ies)orthepatternpiecesthatmaybeusedtomakethatitem.

921 Graphs, Charts, Tables, and Figures

Thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectblankgraphs,charts,tables,andfiguresthataredesignedforrecordinginformationanddonotinthemselvesconveyinformation.Thesetypesofworksarenotcopyrightable,becausetheyrarelycontainmorethanademinimisamountofauthorshipotherthanthatnecessarytoimplementtheunderlyingmethod,technique,oridea.Forthesamereasons,theideasforgraphs,charts,tables,andfiguresortheoveralldesignofagraphing,charting,ortablingmethodortemplatearenotcopyrightable.See37C.F.R.§202.1(c).




TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterablankgraph,chart,table,orfigureiftheclaimisbasedsolelyonstandardcolorvariations,suchasthemereadditionofonlyafewstandardcolors.Seeid.§202.1(a).However,theOfficewillregisteranycopyrightableexpressionpresentedinagraph,chart,table,orfigure,suchasacopyrightablecompilationofdata,facts,orinformation.Additionally,theOfficewillregistersufficientlyexpressivetextthatdescribes,explains,and/orinterpretsaparticulargraphing,charting,ortablingmethod.

Examples:

• GaryGrantcreatesapiechartthatpresentsdemographicinformationonfivegenerationsofaselectedfamily.Garyfilesanapplicationassertingaclaimin“two-dimensionalartwork,text,andchart.”Thepiechart,inandofitself,isnotcopyrightableandcannotberegistered.Theregistrationspecialistwillcommunicatewiththeapplicantandaskhimtolimittheclaimtoanyregistrabletextualorcompilationauthorship.

• GayleGilescreatesacolumnartablethatrecordsinformationaboutherson’sphysicalandintellectualgrowthintenselectedcategories.Gayleincludestextandphotographsthroughoutthetable.Gaylefilesanapplicationassertingaclaimin“design,text,photographs,andtwo-dimensionalartwork.”Theregistrationspecialistwillasktheapplicanttolimittheclaimtothetext,photographs,andthecompilationofdatatotheextentthattheselectionandarrangementareoriginal.

SeegenerallyRegistrationofClaimstoCopyright:NoticeofTerminationofInquiryRegardingBlankForms,45Fed.Reg.63,297(Sept.24,1980).

922 Technical and Scientific Drawings

Technicalandscientificdrawingsincludemechanicaldrawings,engineeringdiagrams,andsimilarworks.TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregisterthesetypesofworksiftheycontainasufficientamountoforiginalpictorialorgraphicmaterial.

Technicaldrawingsarenotconsideredusefularticlesforpurposesofregistration,becausetheyconveyinformationormerelyportraytheappearanceoftheobjectdepictedinthedrawing.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”).Assuch,theyarenotsubjecttotheseparabilitytestdescribedinSection924.3.

WhentheOfficeregistersatechnicalorscientificdrawing,theregistrationcoversonlythedrawingitselfanddoesnot“extendtoanyidea,procedure,process,system,methodofoperation,concept,principle,ordiscovery,regardlessoftheforminwhichitisdescribed,explained,illustrated,orembodiedinsuchwork.”17U.S.C.§102(b).Likewise,aregistrationforatechnicaldrawingdoesnotprovidecopyrightprotectionforthedesignandmanufactureoftheitemanyusefularticledepictedinthedrawing.See17U.S.C.§113(b).




Examples:

• TerenceTowncreatesfivedrawingsthatshowthesamescrewfromdifferentperspectives(e.g.,top-down,bottom-up,leftelevation,rightelevation,andaclose-upofthescrew’sgrooves).Terencefilesanapplicationthatassertsaclaimin“technicaldrawing.”Thedrawingsdonotprovideinformationconcerningthemeasurements,specifications,orotherinformationconcerningthesize,design,ormaterialcompositionofthescrewdepictedtherein.Theregistrationspecialistmayregistertheclaim.Theregistrationcoversthedrawings,butnotthescrewitself.

• TeresaTodorovsubmitsseveraldrawingsthatcontainspecificationsandinformationconcerningthefastenerdepictedtherein.Theapplicantassertsaclaimina“technicaldrawingandtext”aswellas“technicaldrawingandcompilation.”Theregistrationspecialistmayasktheapplicanttolimittheclaimto“technicaldrawing,”becausethistermadequatelydescribestheauthorshipinthedrawingstogetherwiththecompilationofinformationanddataconcerningthedepictedobject.Thespecialistwouldacceptaclaimin“text”onlyifthedrawingcontainedadequatedescriptiveorinformationaltextualmatterotherthanmerenumbers,measurements,descriptivewordsandphrases,orthelike.

923 Models

Forpurposesofcopyrightregistration,amodelisathree-dimensionalreplicaordepictionofanobjectordesign,suchasareplicaofacaroramodelofanarchitecturaldesign.ModelsaretypicallyprotectedunderU.S.copyrightlawassculpturalworks,althoughtheyalsomayincludepictorialorgraphicelements.ThisSectiondiscussescertainissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.

923.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Models

Modelsmaybereplicasordepictionsofeitherartisticorutilitarianobjects.Modelsthemselves,however,arenotconsideredusefularticlesforpurposesofregistration,becausetheyconveyinformationormerelyportraytheappearanceoftheobjectdepictedinthemodel.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”).Similarly,children’stoys–suchasmodelairplanes–arenotthemselvestypicallyconsideredusefularticles,becausetheymerelyportraytheitemthatthetoyrepresents.SeeGayToys,Inc.v.BuddyL.Corp.,703F.2d970,973(6thCir.1983).Becausetheyarenotusefularticles,modelsandtoysarenotsubjecttotheseparabilitytestdescribedinSection924.3.

Areplicaofanexistingusefularticleoramodelofanexistingarchitecturalworkmaybeprotectableifitincludesasufficientamountoforiginalauthorshipandifitcontainssomeoriginaldifferencesfromtheobjectdepicted.StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1010(acknowledgingthat“areplica[ofausefularticle]coulditselfbecopyrightable”).Specifically,thecopyrightlawprotectsmodelsiftherearedistinguishable,creativedifferencesinshape,line,perspective,ordetailsbetweenthemodelandthedepicted




object.Theamountofeffort,time,monetaryexpense,technicalskill,orcraftthattheauthorcontributedtothemodelisirrelevanttothisdetermination.Thecomplexityofthedepictedobjectisalsoirrelevant.Amodelofarelativelysimpleobjectmaybecopyrightableiftheauthorexercisedsufficientcreativityinrenderingthatobjectasamodel.However,theOfficewillnotregisteramodelsimplybecauseitdepictsanobjectthatisextremelycomplex.SeeMeshwerks,Inc.v.ToyotaMotorSalesU.S.A.,Inc.,528F.3d1258,1265(10thCir.2008)(Gorsuch,J.)(decliningtoextendcopyrightprotectiontodigitalwireframemodelsthatdepicted“nothingmorethanunadornedToyotavehicles–thecarascar”).

Thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectmodelsthatareexactreplicasofthesourcework,regardlessofhowmuchskillorlaborwasinvolvedincreatingthework.Merelyreducingorenlargingthesizeofthesourceworkorproducingthesourceworkinanewmediumisnotsufficienttowarrantcopyrightprotection.Likewise,thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectmodelsifthedifferencesbetweenthemodelandthesourceworkweredictatedbymanufacturingormaterialrequirements.Seeid.at1270(“Ifthebasicdesignreflectedinaworkofartdoesnotoweitsorigintotheputativecopyrightholder,thenthatpersonmustaddsomethingoriginaltothatdesign,andthenonlytheoriginaladditionmaybecopyrighted.”);seealsoATCDistributionGroup,Inc.v.WhateverItTakesTransmissions&Parts,Inc.,402F.3d700,712(6thCir.2005)(finding“hand-drawnsketchesoftransmissionparts,copiedfromphotographs”notcopyrightablebecause“theillustrationswereintendedtobeasaccurateaspossibleinreproducingpartsshowninthephotographs...aformofslavishcopyingthatistheantithesisoforiginality”).

Althoughareplicaofausefularticle“coulditselfbecopyrightable,”thecopyrightinthatmodeldoesnot“giverisetoanyrightsintheusefularticlethatinspiredit.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1010.Inotherwords,onecannot“claimacopyrightinausefularticlemerelybycreatingareplicaofthatarticleinsomeothermedium,”suchas“acardboardmodelofacar.”Id.Andthecopyrightinamodelthatportraysausefularticledoesnotextendtothemanufacture,distribution,ordisplayoftheusefularticleitself.See17U.S.C.§113(b);H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at105(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.Nat5720.

923.2 Application Tips for Models

Toregisterathree-dimensionalmodeloramodelcontainingacombinationoftwo-andthree-dimensionalauthorship,theapplicantshoulddescribetheworkasa“sculpture”intheAuthorCreatedfield(whencompletinganonlineapplication)orintheNatureofAuthorshipspace(whencompletingapaperapplicationusingFormVA).

Applicantsmayusetheterm“reproductionofworkofart”todescribeamodelthatisathree-dimensionalinterpretationofapreexistingworkofart,suchasathree-dimensionalmodeloftheMonaLisa.Ifthemodelisanoriginal,sculpturalinterpretationofanuncopyrightableobjectthatisnotaworkofart,suchasatruck,atrain,ortheletter“G,”applicantsshouldusetheterm“sculpture”ratherthantheterm“reproductionofworkofart.”




Inaddition,applicantsarestronglyencouragedtoprovideacleardescriptionofthecreativeauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothemodelusingspecifictermsthatdistinguishthemodelfromtheobjectdepicted.ThisinformationmaybeprovidedintheNotetoCopyrightOfficefieldorinacoverletter.Doingsomayavoidtheneedforcorrespondencethatcoulddelaytheexaminationoftheapplication.

Iftheworkdescribedintheapplicationisamodelofaworkthatisprotectedbycopyright,theapplicantshoulddescribethenewmaterialthattheauthorcontributedtothemodelandshouldexcludethepreexistingmaterialfromtheclaimintheappropriatefieldsorspacesoftheapplication.Forguidanceincompletingthisportionoftheapplication,seeChapter600,Section621.8.Suchstatementsareencouraged,butnotrequired,iftheworkdescribedintheapplicationisareplicaofausefularticleoranuncopyrightableobject.

924 Copyright Law Protects the Design Aspects of a Useful Article

“Thestatutedoesnotprotectusefularticlesassuch.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1008.Butthepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesofthedesignofausefularticlemaybeeligibleforcopyrightprotectionifthosefeaturescanbeidentifiedseparatelyfrom,andarecapableofexistingindependentlyof,theutilitarianaspectsofthearticle.Seeid.at1007.

Congress,theSupremeCourt,andtheU.S.CopyrightOfficeinterchangeablyreferto“usefularticles”as“usefulobjects,”“industrialarticles,”“industrialproducts,”or“industrialdesigns.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1007;Mazer,347U.S.at218-19;H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5668;REPORTOFTHEREGISTEROFCOPYRIGHTSONTHEGENERALREVISIONOFTHEU.S.COPYRIGHTLAWat12(1961).

“Thelinebetweenartandindustrialdesign...isoftendifficulttodraw.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1007.TheCopyrightActprotects“appliedart,”whichisdefinedas“artemployedinthedecoration,design,orexecutionofusefulobjects,orthoseartsorcraftsthathaveaprimarilyutilitarianfunction,orthedesignsanddecorationsusedinthesearts.”Id.at1014(quotationsandcitationsomitted);H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at54(notingthat“worksof‘appliedart’encompassalloriginal,pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworksthatareintendedtobeorhavebeenembodiedinusefularticles”),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.Nat5667.

Butthestatutedrawsacleardistinction“betweencopyrightableworksofappliedartanduncopyrightedworksofindustrialdesign.”H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55,reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5668.Specifically,the“designofausefularticleshallbeconsideredapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkonlyif,andonlytotheextentthat,suchdesignincorporatespictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthatcanbeidentifiedseparatelyfrom,andarecapableofexistingindependentlyof,theutilitarianaspectsofthearticle.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”).

NOTE:AsmentionedinSection906.10,thecopyrightlawalsolimitsthescopeofprotectionforworksofartisticcraftsmanship.Specifically,thelawprotectsthe“form”ofaworkofartisticcraftsmanship,butitdoesnotprotect“themechanicalorutilitarianaspects”ofsuchworks.Id.“Worksofartisticcraftsmanship”areconsideredaseparate




anddistinctcategoryofauthorshipforpurposesofregistration.Forfurtherdiscussionoftheseworks,seeSection925.

ThisSectionprovidesadefinitionanddiscussionoftheterms“usefularticle”andthe“designofausefularticle.”Itdescribesthe“separabilitytest,”whichisa“specialruleforcopyrightingapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork[thathasbeen]incorporatedintoa‘usefularticle.’”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1008,1011.Italsodiscussesissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.

924.1 What Is a Useful Article?

TheCopyrightActdefinesausefularticleas“anarticlehavinganintrinsicutilitarianfunctionthatisnotmerelytoportraytheappearanceofthearticleortoconveyinformation.”17U.S.C.§101.Commonexamplesofusefularticlesinclude:

• Machinery,suchasgenerators,lathes,andcementmixers.

• Toolsandimplements,suchashammers,shovels,andsaws.

• Instruments,suchashypodermicneedles,scalpels,calipers,andhairclippers.

• Measuringandcomputingdevices,suchastapemeasuresandrulers.

• Vehicles,suchasautomobiles,airplanes,andboats.

• Householdappliances,suchasrefrigerators,stoves,toasters,foodprocessors,vacuumcleaners,washingmachines,airconditioners,clocks,andtelevisionsets.

• Householdfixtures,suchasbathtubsandsinks.

• Furniture,carpets,andcurtains.

• Lampsandlightingfixtures.

• Tablewareandglassware.

• Kitchenutensils,suchaspotsandpans.

• Bottlesandcontainers.

• Textilefabrics.

• Articlesofclothing.

Thestatutealsoprovidesthat“[a]narticlethatisnormallypartofausefularticleisconsidereda‘usefularticle.’”Id.Forexample,thebezelonawristwatchoraknobonastoveareusefularticles,becausetheyareinherentlyusefulandtheyareintendedtobeusedaspartofalargerusefularticle.




Bydefinition,ausefularticlemusthavean“intrinsicutilitarianfunction.”Id.Forinstance,lampsareinherentlyusefulbecausetheyprovideillumination,andthe“shape,cut,anddimensions”ofanarticleofclothingisinherentlyusefulbecauseitcoversthebody.StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1015-16.

Notallitemsthatmaybedescribedas“useful”are“usefularticles”undertheCopyrightAct:

• Anitemthatmerelyconveysinformationisnotconsideredausefularticle,evenifthatinformationisinherentlyuseful.See17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”).Thisincludesmaps,charts,graphs,x-rays,andworksofasimilarnature.

• Anitemisnotconsideredausefularticleifitmerelyportraystheappearanceofausefularticle.Seeid.Thisincludesmodels,technicaldrawings,andotherworksthatdepictausefularticleintwoorthreedimensions.

• Apictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkthatdoesnothaveanintrinsicutilitarianpurposeisnotconsideredausefularticle,evenifitcouldpotentiallybeusedinafunctionalmanner.Forexample,asculpturedoesnotbecomeausefularticlesimplybecauseitcouldpotentiallybeusedasadoorstoporacoatrack.

• Literaryworks,motionpictures,audiovisualworks,architecturalworks,musicalworks,dramaticworks,pantomimes,andchoreographicworksarenotconsideredusefularticlesforpurposesofregistration,nomatterhowusefulorfunctionaltheymaybe.

Indeterminingwhetheranarticledoes–ordoesnot–haveanintrinsicallyutilitarianfunction,theU.S.CopyrightOfficefocusessolelyontheworkitself.SeeBrandirInternational,Inc.v.CascadePacificLumberCo.,834F.2d1142,1145(2dCir.1987)(“Theworkitselfwillcontinuetogive‘mutetestimony’ofitsorigins.”);CarolBarnhart,Inc.v.EconomyCoverCorp.,773F.2d411,414(2dCir.1985)(“[T]he‘mutetestimony’”ofausefularticleputsacourt“inasgoodapositionastheCopyrightOfficetodecidetheissue”).

Aswithanyotherpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,theOfficewillnotconsidertheprocessormaterialsusedtocreatethework,orthenumberofcopiesthathavebeenmade.37C.F.R.§202.10(a).TheOfficewillnotconsidertheauthor’sstateofmindconcerningtheintendeduseofthework.Id.NorwilltheOfficeconsiderthemarketabilityorcommercialvalueofthework.SeeH.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at54(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5667.

924.2 What Is the Design of a Useful Article?

The“design”ofausefularticlerefers“tothecombinationofdetailsorfeaturesthat...makeuptheusefularticle.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1009.




AsdiscussedinSection924,thedesignofausefularticlemaybe“consideredapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkonlyif,andonlytotheextentthat,suchdesignincorporatespictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthatcanbeidentifiedseparatelyfrom,andarecapableofexistingindependentlyof,theutilitarianaspectsofthearticle.”17U.S.C.§101).

Inmakingthisdetermination,theU.S.CopyrightOfficeappliestheseparabilitytestsetforthinStarAthletica,LLC,v.VarsityBrands,Inc.,137S.Ct.1002(2017),whichisdescribedinmoredetailinSection924.3.

CongressandtheSupremeCourtmadeclearthattheCopyrightActdoesnotprovideprotectionforusefularticlesinandofthemselves,nomatterhowaestheticallypleasingtheymaybe.Thus,ifausefularticledoesnotcontainanyfeaturesthatcanbeseparatedfromtheutilitarianaspectsofthearticle,theOfficewillrefusetoregistertheclaim.Seeid.at1007;H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5668(“[A]lthoughtheshapeofanindustrialproductmaybeaestheticallysatisfyingandvaluable,theCommittee’sintentionisnottoofferitcopyrightprotectionunderthebill.”).

924.3 The Separability Test

Todeterminewhetherthedesignofausefularticlemaybeeligibleforcopyrightprotection,theU.S.CopyrightOfficeappliesatwo-steptest.

First,theOfficewillexaminetheitemforanyfeaturesthat“canbeperceivedasatwo-orthree-dimensionalworkofartseparatefromtheusefularticle.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1007.Thisisknownasthe“separate-identification”requirement.Id.

Second,theOfficewilldetermineifthatfeature“wouldqualifyasaprotectablepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork–eitheronitsownorfixedinsomeothertangiblemediumofexpression–ifitwereimaginedseparatelyfromtheusefularticleintowhichitisincorporated.”Id.Thisisknownasthe“independent-existence”requirement.Id.

TheserequirementsarediscussedinmoredetailinSections924.3(A)and924.3(B).

924.3(A) The Separate-Identification Requirement

Thefirstpartoftheseparabilitytest“isnotonerous.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1010.

Asapreliminarymatter,theregistrationspecialistwillreviewtheitemdepictedintheidentifyingmaterialtodetermineifitisausefularticle.Inaddition,thespecialistwilldetermineifanypartofthearticlehasanintrinsicallyutilitarianfunction,andassuch,shouldalsobeconsideredausefularticle.See17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”).ThecriteriausedinmakingthesedeterminationsaresummarizedinSection924.1.

“Thestatuterequiresseparabilityanalysisforany‘pictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeatures’incorporatedintothe‘designofausefularticle.’”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1009(emphasisadded).ThatnecessarilymeansthattheOfficemustapplytheseparabilitytestinallcases,evenifthedesignonlyappearsonpartofausefularticle.




Iftheitemorpartoftheitemappearstobeausefularticle,thespecialistwilllookatthearticletodetermineifheorshecan“spotsometwo-orthree-dimensionalelementthatappearstohavepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalqualities.”Id.at1010.

Inthiscontext,“pictorial”and“graphic”qualitiesmayincludepictures,drawings,illustrations,orothertwo-dimensionalartwork.Id.at1009.Sculpturalqualitiesmayincludecarvings,engravings,moldings,orotherthree-dimensionalartwork.

Iftheusefularticleappearstohavesomepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalqualities,thespecialistwillproceedtothesecondpartoftheseparabilitytest,whichisdescribedinSection924.3(B).Ifthespecialistisunabletoidentifyanyfeaturesthathaveapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalquality,heorshewillrefusetoregistertheclaim.

Thefollowingarerepresentativeexamplesoftwo-andthree-dimensionalfeaturesthattypicallysatisfytheseparate-identificationrequirement:

• Apaintingonadinnerplate.

• Aportraitpaintedonacigarbox.

• Anartisticprintonwrappingpaperorapaperbag.

• Anartisticpatternwovenintoarug.

• Acarvingonthebackofachair.

• Adecorativehoodornamentonanautomobile.

• Artisticscrollworkframedasafireplacescreen.

ForadditionalexamplesthathelpillustratehowtheOfficeappliestheseparate-identificationrequirement,seeSections924.3(C)through924.3(F).

924.3(B) The Independent-Existence Requirement

Thesecondpartoftheseparabilitytestis“moredifficulttosatisfy.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1010.

Theregistrationspecialistmustdetermineif“theseparatelyidentifiedfeaturehasthecapacitytoexistapartfromtheutilitarianaspectsofthearticle.”Id.“Inotherwords,thefeaturemustbeabletoexist”asapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork–“eitheronitsownorwhenfixedinsomeothertangiblemedium[ofexpression]”–onceithasbeen“identifiedandimaginedapartfromtheusefularticle.”Id.at1010,1012.“Ifthefeatureisnotcapableofexistingasapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkonce[ithasbeenconceptually]separatedfromtheusefularticle,”thenitissimplyoneofthe“utilitarianaspects”oftheusefularticlethatisnoteligibleforcopyrightprotection.Id.at1010.

TheSupremeCourtmadeitclearthat“theseparatedfeature[must]qualifyasanonusefulpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkonitsown.”Id.at1013.Thefeature




cannot“beausefularticle”inandofitself.Id.at1010.Norcanitbe“[a]narticlethatisnormallyapartofausefularticle.”Id.(quoting17U.S.C.§101,definitionof“usefularticle”).Andwhenthefeatureisconceptuallyremovedfromtheusefularticleandimaginedinanothermedium,itcannotbeareplicaofthearticleitself.Seeid.at1010,1012.

Thefollowingarerepresentativeexamplesoftwo-andthree-dimensionalfeaturesthattypicallysatisfytheseparateidentificationrequirement:

• Aworkofartprintedonat-shirt.

• Anetchingonatray.

• Anartisticpatternprintedondrapery.

• Astatuetteusedasalampbase.

• Afloralreliefdesignonsilverflatware.

• Asculptedfigureusedasthehandleofaletteropener.

ForadditionalexamplesthathelpillustratehowtheOfficeappliestheindependent-existencerequirement,seeSections924.3(C)through924.3(F).

924.3(C) Separable Features May Enhance the Functionality of the Useful Article

AsdiscussedinSection924.3(B),anartisticfeaturecannotbeausefularticleinandofitself,anditcannotbe“[a]narticlethatisnormallyapartofausefularticle.”Id.at1010.ButtheSupremeCourtmadeitclearthataseparableartisticfeaturemaybecopyrightable“evenifitmakesthat[useful]articlemoreuseful.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1014.

Tobeeligibleforcopyrightprotection,anartisticfeaturemust“qualifyasanonusefulpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork”oncethatfeature“hasbeenimaginativelyseparatedfromthearticle”andconsideredentirely“onitsown.”Id.at1013,1014.Ifthatisthecase,thefeaturewillsatisfytheseparabilitytest,evenifitservesausefulpurposewhenitisincorporatedintoausefularticle.

Forexample,inMazerv.Stein,therespondentregisteredapairofstatuettes,whichwereintendedtobeusedastablelamps“withelectricwiring,socketsandlampshadesattached.”347U.S.at202.Picturesofoneoftheseitemsareshownbelow.

[INSERTIMAGESFROMTHEMAZERBRIEFSHOWINGTHESTATUETTEANDTHEADVERTISEMENTFEATURINGTHELAMPANDSHADE]

Alampisausefularticle,becauseitprovidesillumination.Thelampbasewouldalsobeconsideredausefularticle,becauseitisnormallyapartofalamp,andithasanintrinsicallyusefulpurpose:Itsupportsthebulb,socket,andlampshade.Applyingtheseparabilitytesttothiselementisstraightforward.Thebaseisastatuette,andifitwas




imaginedapartfromthelampitwouldbeconsideredasculpturalwork.Thestatuettewouldnotbeintrinsicallyusefulifitwasconceptuallyremovedfromthelampandconsideredonitsown.Moreover,thisistrueeventhoughthestatuettecouldpotentiallybeusedinafunctionalmannerwhenfittedwithashade,bulb,andwires.

924.3(D) Separable Features May Cover the Entire Surface of a Useful Article

Anartisticfeaturemaybeeligibleforcopyrightprotection,evenifitcoverstheentiresurfaceofausefularticle.Likewise,afeaturemaybeprotectedevenifitwouldretaintheoverallshapeofausefularticleifthatfeaturewasimaginativelyremovedfromthesurfaceofthatarticle.

“Justastwo-dimensionalfineartcorrespondstotheshapeofthecanvasonwhichitispainted,two-dimensionalappliedartcorrelatestothecontoursofthearticletowhichitisapplied.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1012.Anartisticfeaturemaybeprotectableifitcanbeidentifiedandimaginedapartfromausefularticle.Oncethefeaturehasbeenconceptuallyseparatedfromthearticle,thekeyquestioniswhetheritqualifiesasanonusefulpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,orwhetheritismerelyareplicaofthearticleitself.

AstheSupremeCourtnoted,adesignetchedorpaintedontothesurfaceofaguitarmayhavepictorialorgraphicqualities.“Ifthatentiredesignisimaginativelyremovedfromtheguitar’ssurfaceandplacedonanalbumcover,itwouldstillresembletheshapeofaguitar.Buttheimageonthecoverdoesnot‘replicate’theguitarasausefularticle.”Id.Instead,thedesigncouldbeconsideredatwo-dimensionalworkofartthatsimply“correspondstotheshapeoftheusefularticletowhichitwasapplied.”Id.Andifthatdesignissufficientlycreativeitcouldbeprotectedasappliedart.

924.3(E) Separating the Design Feature from the Useful Article

Tosatisfytheseparabilitytest,anartisticfeaturemust“qualifyasanonusefulpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkonitsown.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1013.“Inotherwords,thefeaturemustbeabletoexistasitsownpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork...onceitisimaginedapartfromtheusefularticle.”Id.at1010.

Whenapplyingthistest,theU.S.CopyrightOfficefocuses“ontheextractedfeatureandnotonanyaspectsoftheusefularticlethatremainaftertheimaginaryextraction.”Id.at1013.Thismeansthat“someaspectsoftheusefularticle”mustbe“leftbehind”oncetheartisticfeaturehasbeen“conceptuallyremoved”fromthatitemforcopyrightprotectiontoapply.Id.at1014(internalquotationmarksomitted).

Tobeclear,the“imaginedremainder”doesnotneedto“beafullyfunctioningusefularticle”oran“equallyuseful”article.Id.Inotherwords,theOfficedoesnotneedtoimagineafullyfunctioningusefularticle“withouttheartisticfeature.”Id.at1013.Nordoesitneedto“imagineanonartisticreplacementfortheremovedfeature”todetermineifthatfeatureiscapableofexistingapartfromthearticle.Id.at1014.Buttosatisfytheseparabilitytest,atleastsomeportionoftheusefularticlemustremainafterthefeaturehasbeenimaginativelyremoved.




Forexample,adecorativecarvingonthebackofachaircanbeimaginedapartfromtheutilitarianaspectsofthechairitself,becauseatleastsomeportionoftheusefularticlewouldbeleftbehind,namely,theback,seat,arms,andlegs.Bycontrast,theoverallshapeofthechaircannotbeimaginedapartfromtheitemitself,becauseit“doesnothavethecapacitytoexistapartfromtheutilitarianaspects”ofthatitem.Id.Nordoesithavethecapacitytoexist“onitsown”asasculpturalwork.Id.at1013.

SeegenerallyH.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55(citingacarvingonthebackofachairasanexampleofaseparablefeatureofausefularticle),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5668;TranscriptofOralArgumentat72-73,Mazerv.Stein,347U.S.201(1954)(No.228)(distinguishingbetweenapieceoffurnitureandanornatecarvingonfurniture).

924.3(F) The Overall Shape of a Useful Article Is Not Protectable

Congressprovided“limitedcopyrightprotectionforcertainfeaturesofindustrialdesigns.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1007.Specifically,thecopyrightlawonlyprotectsseparable“pictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeatures”thatare“incorporate[d]”intothedesignofausefularticle.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”;emphasisadded).

Asdiscussedabove,thecopyrightlawmayprotecttheshapeofaparticularfeaturethathasbeenincorporatedintothedesignofausefularticleifitisseparable–meaningthatitcanbeimaginedapartfromtheutilitarianaspectsofthatarticle.Butthecopyrightlawdoesnotprotecttheoverallform,shape,orconfigurationoftheusefularticleitself,nomatterhowpleasingorattractiveitmaybe.SeeStarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1010(recognizingthatadesignfeaturecannot“beausefularticle”inandofitselfor“[a]narticlethatisnormallypartofausefularticle”);H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55(notingthatcopyrightprotectiondoes“notcovertheover-allconfigurationoftheutilitarianarticleassuch”),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5668.

Forexample,inEsquire,Inc.v.Ringer,theappellantattemptedtoregister“theoverallshapeofcertainoutdoorlightingfixtures.”591F.2d796,798(D.C.Cir.1978).The“[p]hotographsaccompanyingtheapplicationsshowedstationaryoutdoorluminariesorfloodlights,ofcontemporarydesign,withroundedorelliptically-shapedhousings.”Id.Theseitemscouldnotberegistered,becausetheydidnotcontainany“elements,eitheraloneorincombination,whicharecapableofindependentexistenceasacopyrightablepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork.”Id.at798-99.

Thefixturescontainedfiveelements:Anellipticaloroblate-shapedhousing,abase,anelectricalsocket,wires,andalightbulb.Seeid.at798n.2,806.Whiletheseelements–particularlythehousingandthebase–caneachbeimaginedinisolation,thatisnottheendoftheinquiry.Theseelementsarestillconsideredusefularticlesforpurposesofregistration,becausetheyhavean“intrinsicutilitarianpurpose”andeachitemis“[a]narticlethatisnormallyapartofausefularticle.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionofusefularticle).

Thereisarguablysome–albeitminimal–sculpturalqualityintheoverallshapeofthehousingandbase.Butthatshapecannotexistasastandalonesculpturalwork.Ifthatshapewasrecastinanothermedium,itwouldmerelybeanexactreplicaofauseful




article,andunprotectableasastand-alonesculpturalwork.SeeChapter300,§313.4(A).Thusforpurposesofregistration,theoverallshapeofthebaseandhousingdoesnotcontainanyfeaturesthatcanbeidentifiedseparatelyfrom,oranyfeaturesthatarecapableofexistingindependentlyof,theutilitarianaspectsofthisusefularticle.

NOTE:AlthoughtheCopyrightOfficewouldrefusetoregisterausefularticlewithnoseparablefeatures,itmayregistertheoverallshape,form,andconfigurationofaworkofartisticcraftsmanshipifthatworkissufficientlycreative.Foradetaileddiscussionofthedifferencesbetweenausefularticleandaworkofartisticcraftsmanship,seeSection925.3.

924.4 The Originality Test

Iftheseparabilitytesthasbeensatisfied,theU.S.CopyrightOfficestillmustdetermineifthedesignissufficientlyoriginaltowarrantregistration.SeeStarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1012&n.1(concludingthattherespondent’ssurfacedecorationswereseparable,but“express[ing]noopiniononwhethertheseworksaresufficientlyoriginaltoqualifyforcopyrightprotection”or“whetheranyotherprerequisiteofavalidcopyrighthasbeensatisfied”).

Toberegistered,theseparablefeaturesofausefularticlemustconstitute“copyrightablesubjectmatter.”Id.at1008.Thestatutedefines“copyrightablesubjectmatteras‘originalworksofauthorshipfixedinanytangiblemediumofexpression.’”Id.at1008(quoting17U.S.C.§102(a)).AsdiscussedinChapter300,Section308,theterm“original”meansthatthedesignmustbe“independentlycreatedbytheauthor”andmustpossess“atleastsomeminimaldegreeofcreativity.”FeistPublications,Inc.v.RuralTelephoneServiceCo.,Inc.,499U.S.340,345(1991).

AsdiscussedinSection924.3(E),aseparablefeaturemustbecapableofexistingasapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkentirely“onitsown.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1013.“Inotherwords,thefeaturemustbeabletoexistasitsownpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork...onceitisimaginedapartfromtheusefularticle.”Id.at1010(emphasisadded).

Thatis,theOfficeimagineshowthosefeatureswouldappeariftheywereconceptuallyremovedfromtheusefularticle,andthendeterminesifthat“standalone”designcontainsasufficientamountofcreativeexpressiontowarrantregistration.Id.at1011.

924.5 Guidelines for Applying the Separability and Originality Tests

Whenevaluatingthedesignofausefularticle,theU.S.CopyrightOfficefocusessolelyontheappearanceoftheartisticfeaturesthathavebeensubmittedforregistration.Inotherwords,theOfficeimagineshowthosefeatureswouldappeariftheywereconceptuallyseparatedfromthearticle,andthendeterminesifthatspecificdesignqualifiesasanoriginalandnonusefulpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork.

Iftheregistrationspecialistdeterminesthattheusefularticlecontainsasufficientamountofseparable,copyrightableauthorship,heorshewillregistertheclaim.Inaddition,thespecialistwilladdanannotationtothecertificateidentifyingtheseparable,copyrightablefeaturesofthedesign,suchas:“Basisforregistration:[Pictorial/graphic




/sculptural]featuresidentifiedseparatelyfromandcapableofexistingindependentlyoftheutilitarianaspectsofausefularticle.”

Aswithanyotherpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,theOfficedoesnotconsiderthematerialsusedtocreatethedesignorthenumberofcopiesthathavebeenmade.37C.F.R.§202.10(a);H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at54,reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5667.

TheOfficedoesnotconsidertheauthor’sintention,artisticreputation,skill,experience,orexpertise.StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1015(decliningtoconsider“thedesigner’sartisticjudgment”becauseitisnot“groundedinthetextofthestatute”).

TheOfficewillnotconsideranyalternativefeaturesordesignsthattheauthormayhavecreated,oranyotherdesignsthatmayhavebeencreatedbythirdparties.Nordoesitconsider“theintendeduse”ofthearticleoritsactualuse“inindustry.”Mazer,347U.S.at219.

EvaluatingthesefactorswouldrequiretheOffice“toconsiderevidenceofthecreator’sdesignmethods,purposes,andreasons.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1015.TheSupremeCourtmadeitclearthatcopyrightabilitymustbebasedon“howthearticleandfeatureareperceived,nothoworwhytheyweredesigned.”Id.at1015.

Forsimilarreasons,theOfficedoesnotconsiderthemarketabilityorcommercialappealofthedesign.SeeH.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at54,reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5667.“Nothinginthestatutesuggeststhatcopyrightabilitydependsonmarketsurveys.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1015.Evaluatingthecommercialexploitationofadesignwouldmakecopyrightprotectionturnupontheapplicant’ssubjectiveintentatthetimewhentheclaimwassubmitted.“Moreover,askingwhethersomesegmentofthemarketwouldbeinterestedinagivenworkthreatenstoprizepopularartoverotherforms,ortosubstitutejudicial[oradministrative]aestheticpreferencesforthepolicychoicesembodiedintheCopyrightAct.”Id.

Finally,thefactthatanarticleordesignmaybeeligibleforprotectionbyautilityordesignpatentisirrelevanttotheissueofcopyrightability.Id.at1015;Mazer,347U.S.at217;37C.F.R.§202.10(a);H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at54,reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5667.

924.6 Application Tips for Registering the Design of a Useful Article

924.6(A) One Application Per Article

Forpurposesofregistration,theseparablefeaturesofausefularticleareconsideredonedesign,andtheoveralldesignisconsideredonepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork.17U.S.C.§101(“thedesign[singular]ofausefularticle...shallbeconsideredapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork[singular]”);StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1009(explainingthatthe“design”[singular]ofausefularticlerefers“tothecombinationofdetailsorfeatures[plural]that...makeuptheusefularticle”).

Asageneralrule,anapplicantmayregisteralloftheseparablefeaturesofausefularticlewithoneapplication,deposit,andfilingfee.Iftheexactsamefeatureshavebeen




incorporatedintoseveralusefularticles–suchasabed,anarmoire,andanightstand–theapplicantshouldselectoneofthoseitemsandsubmitidentifyingmaterialshowingthefeaturesastheyappearonthatitem.

Bycontrast,whendifferentsetsoffeatureshavebeenincorporatedintomultipleusefularticles,theapplicantmustsubmitaseparateapplication,deposit,andfilingfeeforeacharticle,evenifthoseitemsaresoldtogetheroraspartofthesameset.

924.6(B) Completing the Application

Whencompletingtheapplication,applicantsareencouragedtoidentifythespecificartisticfeaturesthatarebeingsubmittedforregistration.Forexample,theU.S.CopyrightOfficemayacceptaclaimin“pictorialdesignappliedtosurfaceofsilverware”or“sculpturaldesignincorporatedintothebackofachair.”

Iftheapplicationmerelyassertsaclaimintheoverall“design”oftheusefularticle,theregistrationspecialistmaycommunicatewiththeapplicantifthescopeoftheclaimisunclear.Iftheapplicantappearstobeassertingaclaimintheoverallshapeoftheusefularticle,thespecialistmaysimplyrefuseregistration.

924.6(C) Preparing the Identifying Material

Toregisteradesignthathasbeenincorporatedintoausefularticle,theapplicantshouldsubmitadrawing,photograph,orotheridentifyingmaterialthatdepictsthedesignasitappearsontheusefularticle.See37C.F.R.§202.20(c)(2)(xi)(A)(2).

Applicantsareencouraged–butnotrequired–tomarkthedeposittoidentifythespecificfeaturesbeingsubmittedforregistration.Forexample,iftheapplicantintendstoregisterafloraldesignthathasbeenincorporatedintothehandleofaknife,theapplicantmaysubmitaphotographoftheknifetogetherwithaclose-upphotoofthedesign.Theapplicantmaysubmitaphotooftheknifeandcircleorhighlighttheportionoftheimagewherethedesignappears.Alternatively,theapplicantmaysubmitadrawingoftheknifewithsolidlinesshowingthedesign,andbrokenlinesusedtodepictallotheraspectsoftheusefularticle.

925 Works of Artistic Craftsmanship

A“workofartisticcraftsmanship”maybeprotectedasapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,dependingonwhetheritcontainstwo-orthree-dimensionalauthorship.ThisSectionprovidesadefinitionofthisterm,andadiscussionofissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.

AsmentionedinSection906.10,thecopyrightlawlimitsthescopeofprotectionforbothworksofartisticcraftsmanshipandthedesignofausefularticle.Thelawprotectsthe“form”ofaworkofartisticcraftsmanship,butitdoesnotprotect“themechanicalorutilitarianaspects”ofsuchworks.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”).Likewise,thelawprotects“thedesignofausefularticle,”butitdoesnotprotect“theutilitarianaspects”ofausefularticle.Id.




Worksofartisticcraftsmanshipandthedesignofausefularticleareconsideredseparateanddistinctcategoriesofauthorshipforpurposesofregistration.Foradetaileddiscussionofthedifferencesbetweenthesetypesofworks,seeSection925.3.

925.1 What Is a Work of Artistic Craftsmanship?

Aworkofartisticcraftsmanshipisa“workofart”thatprimarilyservesadecorativeorornamentalpurpose,but“mightalsoserveausefulpurpose.”SeeStarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1011(interpretingU.S.CopyrightOfficeregulation37C.F.R.§202.8(a)(1948)governing“worksofartisticcraftsmanship”);Mazer,347U.S.at212,214(same).

Commonexamplesofworksthatfitwithinthiscategoryinclude:

• Stainedglass.

• Tapestry.

• Wallpaper.

• Decorativebookends.

• Paperweights.

• Piggybanks.

Thesetypesofworksareconsidered“objectsofart,”eventhoughtheymayhavesome“incidentally...usefulpurpose.”UnitedStatesv.Perry,146U.S.71,75(1892).Ineachcase,theworkisessentiallyartistic,andanyincidentalmechanicalorutilitarianfeaturesaresimplyinherentintheobjectoftheartform.

Forinstance,stainedglass,tapestries,andwallpaperareprimarilyusedtodecorateinteriorspaces,buttheymayalsobeincidentallyusefulinfilteringsunlight,blockingcoldair,orreflectingambientlight.Sculptedbookendsorpaperweightsareprimarilydecorativeandincidentallyusefulinholdingbooksuprightorkeepingpapersinplace.Andmostpiggybanksareprimarilyornamental,butalsoincidentallyusefulforactuallystoringcoins.

925.2 Copyrightable Authorship in Works of Artistic Craftsmanship

Thecopyrightlawprotectsworksofartisticcraftsmanship“insofarastheirformbutnottheirmechanicalorutilitarianaspectsareconcerned.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”).

Aswithanyotherpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,aworkofartisticcraftsmanshipmayberegisteredifthe“delineationandform”oftheworkissufficientlycreative.See37C.F.R.§202.10(a).Inmakingthisdetermination,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillconsidertheoverallshapeandconfigurationofthework.37C.F.R.§202.10(a).ButtheOfficewillnotconsideranyofthemechanicalorutilitarianaspectsofthework,suchasthedowelhangeratthetopofatapestryorthepluginthebellyofapiggybank.




Inthisrespect,thetestforevaluatingaworkofartisticcraftsmanshipisthemirrorimageofthetestforevaluatingthedesignofausefularticle.Insteadofseparatinganartisticfeaturefromtheutilitarianaspectsofausefularticle,theOfficemustsegregatethemechanicalorutilitarianaspectsofaworkofart.LiketheseparabilitytestdescribedinSection924.3,thisisa“conceptualundertaking.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1014.

Iftheworksatisfiesthistest,theregistrationspecialistmayregistertheclaimwithanannotation,suchas:“Basisforregistration:workofartisticcraftsmanship.”

925.3 Works of Artistic Craftsmanship Distinguished from a Useful Article

Differencesbetweenaworkofartisticcraftsmanshipandthedesignofausefularticleaffectthetestusedtodetermineiftheworkiseligibleforcopyrightprotection,aswellasthescopeofprotectionforthework.

Byitsexpressterms,thestatutorydefinitionfor“[p]ictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”distinguishesbetween“worksofartisticcraftsmanship”ontheonehand,and“thedesignofausefularticle”ontheother.17U.S.C.§101.Thefirstpartofthedefinition“isclassiclanguage...drawnfromCopyrightOfficeregulationspromulgatedinthe1940’sandexpresslyendorsedbytheSupremeCourtintheMazercase.”H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at54-55(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.Nat5667-68(referencing37C.F.R.§202.8(a)(1948)).“Thesecondpart”ofthedefinition“isanadaptationoflanguageaddedtotheCopyrightOfficeregulationsinthemid-1950’sinanefforttoimplementtheSupremeCourt’sdecisionintheMazercase.”Id.(referencing37C.F.R.§202.10(c)(1960));StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1011-12(notingthat“Congressessentiallyliftedthelanguagegoverningprotectionforthedesignofausefularticledirectlyfromthepost-Mazerregulationsandplaceditinto§101ofthe1976Act”).

Worksofartisticcraftsmanshipareprotectable“insofarastheirformbutnottheirmechanicalorutilitarianaspectsareconcerned,”andtheyareconsideredworksoforiginalauthorshipunderSection102(a)(5)ofthecopyrightlaw.17U.S.C.§§101,102(a)(5).

Whenexaminingaworkofartisticcraftsmanship,theOfficeappliesthetestsetforthinSection925.2todetermineifthe“delineationandform”oftheworkissufficientlycreative,includingtheoverallshapeandconfigurationoftheworkasawhole.See37C.F.R.§202.10(a).Iftheworkisregistered,theregistrationcoverstheworkasawhole,butitdoesnotcoveranyofthemechanicalorutilitarianaspects,elements,orfeaturesofthatwork.

Bycontrast,usefularticlesarenotcopyrightableassuch,although“thedesignofausefularticle”maybeconsideredapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkunderSection102(a)(5)ofthecopyrightlaw.17U.S.C.§§101,102(a)(5).Specifically,thedesignofausefularticlemaybeprotected“onlyif,andonlytotheextentthat,suchdesignincorporatespictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthatcanbeidentifiedseparatelyfrom,andarecapableofexistingindependentlyof,theutilitarianaspectsofthearticle.”17U.S.C.§101.




Todetermineifaparticularfeaturesatisfiesthisrequirement,theOfficeappliestheseparabilitytestsetforthinSection924.3,andthendeterminesifthatfeaturecontainsasufficientamountofcreativeexpression.Unlikeaworkofartisticcraftsmanship,thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotecttheoverallform,shape,orconfigurationoftheusefularticleitself,nomatterhowpleasingorattractiveitmaybe.

Ausefularticlemusthave“anintrinsicutilitarianfunction.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”).Worksofartisticcraftsmanship,bycontrast,serve“primarilyanornamental,andincidentallyauseful,purpose.”Perry,146U.S.at75;StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1011(notingthattheMazerCourtapprovedtheCopyrightOffice’sregulationsextendingcopyrightprotectiontoworksofartthatmightalsoserveausefulpurpose);Mazer,347U.S.at212,214.

Indeterminingwhetheraworkdoes–ordoesnot–haveanintrinsicallyutilitarianfunction,theOfficefocusessolelyontheworkitself.Aswithanyotherpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,theOfficewillnotconsidertheprocessormaterialsusedtocreatethework,orthenumberofcopiesthathavebeenmade.37C.F.R.§202.10(a).TheOfficewillnotconsidertheauthor’sstateofmindconcerningtheintendeduseofthework.Id.NorwilltheOfficeconsiderthemarketabilityorcommercialvalueofthework.SeeH.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at54,reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5667.

Ifthereisanydoubtastowhetheranitemisintrinsicallyormerelyincidentallyuseful,theOfficewilltreatthatitemasausefularticleandapplytheseparabilitytestsetforthinSection924.3.

926 Architectural Works

TheCopyrightActprotects“architecturalworks.”17U.S.C.§102(a)(8).AsdiscussedinSection903.2,thestatutedefinesanarchitecturalworkas“thedesignofabuildingasembodiedinanytangiblemediumofexpression,includingabuilding,architecturalplans,ordrawings.”17U.S.C.§101.Anarchitecturalwork“includestheoverallformaswellasthearrangementandcompositionofspacesandelementsinthedesign,butdoesnotincludeindividualstandardfeatures.”Id.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregisteranarchitecturalworkifitissufficientlyoriginalandifithasbeenembodiedinatangiblemediumofexpression,suchasaconstructedbuildingorarchitecturalplansordrawings.37C.F.R.§202.11(c).

923926.1 Architectural Works Distinguished from Technical Drawings

Anarchitecturalwork(i.e.,thebuildingitself)andatechnicaldrawingforofanarchitecturalworkareseparateworks.H.R.REP.NO.101-735,at19(“Anindividualcreatinganarchitecturalworkbydepictingthatworkinplansordrawing[s]willhavetwoseparatecopyrights,oneinthearchitecturalwork...theotherintheplansordrawings.”).

Iftheapplicantintendstoassertaclaiminatechnicaldrawingandthearchitecturalworkdepictedtherein,theapplicantshouldfileanapplicationtoregisterthearchitecturalworkandaseparateapplicationtoregisterthetechnicaldrawingasapictorialwork,eventhoughthedepositcopy(ies)forbothapplicationsmaybethesame.




37C.F.R.§202.11(c)(4)(“Wheredualcopyrightclaimsexistintechnicaldrawingsandthearchitecturalworkdepictedinthedrawings,anyclaimswithrespecttothetechnicaldrawingsandthearchitecturalworkmustberegisteredseparately.”).

Aregistrationforatechnicaldrawingcoversthedrawingitself,butitdoesnotcoverthearchitecturalworkdepictedtherein.Althoughatechnicaldrawingmaybeprotectedbycopyright,thecopyrightownercannotpreventathirdpartyfromusingthatdrawingtoconstructanactualbuilding.Thisisduetothefactthatthecopyrightinapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkthatportraysausefularticle–suchasabuilding–doesnotgivetheownerofthatworktherighttocontrol“themaking,distribution,ordisplayoftheusefularticle.”17U.S.C.§113(b).Bycontrast,whenanarchitecturaldrawingorblueprintisregisteredasanarchitecturalwork,theregistrationcoversthearchitecturalworkdepictedinthosedrawings,andtheregistrationmaybeusedinaninfringementactioninvolvingtheunauthorizedreproductionofthatworkinanymaterialobject(includingtheconstructionofanactualbuilding).

Example:

• TinaThornsubmitsasetofdrawingsandassertsaclaimin“drawingsforabuilding.”Theregistrationspecialistwillcommunicatewiththeapplicant,becauseitisunclearwhetherTinaintendstoregisterthedrawingsorthearchitecturalworkdepictedtherein.

Forguidanceincompletinganapplicationtoregisteranarchitecturalworkoranarchitecturaldrawing,seeSection926.3.

923

926.2 Copyrightable Authorship in Architectural Works

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisteranarchitecturalworkifitisahabitablestructurethatisstationary,intendedtohavepermanence,andintendedforhumanoccupancy.37C.F.R.§202.11(b)(2).Examplesofworksthatsatisfythisrequirementincludehouses,officebuildings,churches,museums,gazebos,andpavilions.Bycontrast,theOfficewillrefusetoregisterbridges,cloverleaves,dams,walkways,tents,recreationalvehicles,orboats(althoughahouseboatthatispermanentlyaffixedtoadockmayberegistrableasanarchitecturalwork).Id.§202.11(d)(1).

TheCopyrightActprotects“theoverallform[ofanarchitecturalwork]aswellasthearrangementandcompositionofspacesandelementsinthedesign,”butitdoesnot.”17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“architecturalwork”).Thismayinclude“theoverallshapeofanarchitecturalwork.”H.R.REP.NO.101-735,at21.Itmayincludeinteriorarchitecture.Id.at18.Italsomayincludethe“selection,coordination,orarrangementofunprotectableelementsintoanoriginal,protectablewhole,”aswellas“new,protectibledesignelements[incorporated]intootherwisestandard,unprotectiblebuildingfeatures.”Id.




Copyrightdoesnotprotectindividualstandardfeatures,“suchascommonwindows,doors,andotherstaplebuildingcomponents.”Id.Nordoesitprotectinteriordesign,suchastheselectionandplacementoffurniture,lighting,paint,orsimilaritems.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“architecturalwork”).However,,althoughapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalrepresentationofaninteriordesignmayberegisteredifitissufficientlyoriginal.Finally,functionalelementswhosedesignorplacementisdictatedbyutilitarianconcernsarenotcopyrightable.

Examples:

• ArcherAnthonydesignsauniquebirdhouseandattemptstoregisterhiscreationasanarchitecturalwork.auniquebirdhouse.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheclaim,thisitemasanarchitecturalwork,becauseabirdhouseisnotdesignedforhumanoccupancy.

• ArchibaldArnolddesignsattemptstoregisteramoveable,fast-foodkioskforuseinshoppingmallsandattemptstoregisterthekioskasanarchitecturalwork..Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheclaimthisitemasanarchitecturalwork,becausethekioskisnotpermanentandstationary.

• ArlindaAtkinsdesignsacondominiumcomplexwithalarge,complexparkingstructureandintricatelandscapedesign.Sheattemptstoregistereachaspectofthisdesignasanarchitecturalwork.Theregistrationspecialistwillregisterthecondominiumdesignifitissufficientlyoriginal,butwillasktheapplicanttoremovethereferencetotheparkingstructureandlandscapedesign.

Whilebuildingsareintrinsicallyuseful,thestatutorylimitationsandrestrictionsonusefularticlesonlyapplytopictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks.Thedesignofabuildingmaybeconsideredan“architecturalwork”under§102(8)oftheCopyrightActifitissufficientlycreative,butthatdesignwouldnotbeconsideredapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork.Consequently,architecturalworksarenotsubjecttotheseparabilitytestdescribedinSection924.3.SeeH.R.REP.NO.101-735,at20.

WhenexamininganarchitecturalworkforcopyrightableauthorshiptheOfficeappliesatwo-steptest.Theregistrationspecialistwillexaminetheworktodetermine“whetherthereareoriginaldesignelementspresent,including[the]overallshapeandinteriorarchitecture.”Id.Ifso,thespecialistwill“examinewhetherthedesignelementsarefunctionallyrequired.”Id.at20-21.“Ifthedesignelementsarenotfunctionallyrequired,theworkisprotectable”andmayberegisteredasanarchitecturalwork.Id.at21.

Aswithanyotherworkofthevisualarts,thespecialistwillnotconsiderthenovelty,ingenuity,oraestheticmeritofthework.Id.

923




926.2(A) Standard Configurations

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterstandardconfigurationsofspaces,suchasasquarebathroomorone-roomcabin.Likewise,theOfficewillnotregisterclaimsintheindividualstandardfeaturesofanarchitecturalwork,suchaswindows,doors,andotherstaplebuildingcomponents.37C.F.R.§202.11(d).

Example:

• StaceyStonedesignsamotelcomprisedofacentralhallwithuniformlyshapedrectangularrooms.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisclaimbecauseitisastandardconfigurationofspace.

923926.2(B) Functional Features

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterpurelyfunctionalelementsofanarchitecturalwork,suchasinnovationsinarchitecturalengineeringorconstructiontechniques.

Example:

• FultonFowlerdesignedahousewithasolar-poweredhotwaterheaterandanearthquake-resistantbracingsystem.Hefiledanapplicationtoregistereachelementofhisdesign.Theregistrationspecialistmayregistertheoveralldesignasanarchitecturalworkifitissufficientlyoriginal,butthespecialistwillasktheapplicanttoremovethereferencestotheheaterandbracingsystem.

923926.2(C) Building Designs Created Before December 1, 1990

TheCopyrightActdoesnotprotectbuildingdesignspublishedorconstructedbeforeDecember1,1990.37C.F.R.§202.11(d)(3)(i).Likewise,thestatutedoesnotprotectdesignsforunconstructedbuildingsthatwereembodiedinunpublishedplansordrawingsonDecember1,1990ifthedesignremainedunconstructedasofDecember31,2002.37C.F.R.§202.11(d)(3)(ii).

TheOfficewillrefusetoregisterthesetypesofdesignsasanarchitecturalwork.Theplans,drawings,ormodelsforsuchworksmayberegisteredasapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,buttheregistrationforsuchworksdoesnotextendtoabuildingconstructedfromtheplan,drawing,ormodel.

923926.3 Application Tips for Architectural Works

Toregisteranarchitecturalworkusingtheonlineapplication,theapplicantshouldselect“WorkoftheVisualArts”inthefieldmarked“TypeofWork.”Toregisteranarchitecturalworkwithapaperapplication,theapplicantshoulduseFormVA.

ThetitleofthebuildingshouldbeprovidedintheTitlefield/spaceandthedateofconstructionforthebuilding,ifany,shouldbeprovidedintheYearofCompletionfields/spaces.Ifthebuildinghasnotbeenconstructed,theapplicantshouldstate“not




yetconstructed”intheTitlefield/spacefollowingthetitleofthework.37C.F.R.§202.11(c)(3).

Ifthearchitecturalworkhasbeenpublished,theapplicantshouldprovidethedateandnationoffirstpublicationinthePublicationfield/space.Anarchitecturalworkisdeemedpublished“whenunderlyingplansordrawingsofthebuildingorothercopiesofthebuildingdesignaredistributedormadeavailabletothegeneralpublicbysaleorothertransferofownership,orbyrental,lease,orlending.Constructionofabuildingdoesnotitselfconstitutepublicationforpurposesofregistration,unlessmultiplecopiesareconstructed.”37C.F.R.§202.11(c)(5).

TheapplicantIftheworkwasembodiedinunpublishedplansordrawingsonDecember1,1990,andifthearchitecturalworkwasconstructedbeforeJanuary1,2003,theapplicantshouldprovidethedatethatconstructionwascompleted.ThisinformationmaybeprovidedintheNotetoCopyrightOfficefieldwhencompletinganonlineapplication,orinacoverletterwhensubmittingFormVA.

Toregisteranarchitecturalwork,applicantsshouldchecktheboxmarked“architecturalwork”intheAuthorCreatedfieldwhencompletinganonlineapplicationorintheNatureofAuthorshipspacewhencompletingapaperapplication.Ifanapplicantsubmitsanarchitecturaldrawingorblueprintandcheckstheboxfor“technicaldrawing,”theregistrationwillcoverthediagrams,illustrations,andaccompanyingtextcontainedwithinthatdrawing,butitwillnotcoverthebuildingorotherstructuredepictedinthatdrawing.Foradditionalinformationconcerningthisissue,seeSection923.1.

Anapplicationmaycoveronlyonearchitecturalwork,regardlessofwhethertheworkispublishedorunpublished.TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregistermultiplearchitecturalworksasagroupofrelatedworksorasanunpublishedcollection.Iftheapplicantintendstoregistervariationsonasingleplan,suchasaplanfortracthousing,theapplicantmustsubmitaseparateapplicationforeachhousemodelwithallaccompanyingfloorplanoptions,elevations,andstylesthatareapplicabletothatparticularmodel.37C.F.R.§202.11(c)(2).

Forinformationconcerningthedepositrequirementsforarchitecturalworks,seeChapter1500,Section1509.3(D).

924 Registration Requirements for the Design of a Useful Article

TheCopyrightAct“establishesaspecialruleforcopyrightingapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkincorporatedintoa‘usefularticle,’whichisdefinedas‘anarticlehavinganintrinsicfunctionthatisnotmerelytoportraytheappearanceofthearticleortoconveyinformation.”StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1008(quoting17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“usefularticle”)).“Thestatutedoesnotprotectusefularticlesassuch.Rather‘thedesignofausefularticle’is‘consideredapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkonlyif,andonlytotheextentthat,suchdesignincorporatespictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthatcanbeidentifiedseparatelyfrom,andarecapableofexistingindependentlyof,theutilitarianaspectsofthearticle.”Id.(quoting17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”)).




TheSupremeCourthasheld“thatafeatureincorporatedintothedesignofausefularticleiseligibleforcopyrightprotectiononlyifthefeature(1)canbeperceivedasatwo-orthree-dimensionalworkofartseparatefromtheusefularticleand(2)wouldqualifyasaprotectablepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork–eitheronitsownorfixedinsomeothertangiblemediumofexpression–ifitwereimagedseparatelyfromtheusefularticleintowhichitisincorporated.”Id.at1007.

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficeisdevelopingupdatedguidanceontheregistrationofpictorial,graphic,andsculpturalfeaturesincorporatedintothedesignofusefularticles.TheCompendiumwillbeupdatedoncethisguidanceisfinalized.


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