COMPENDIUM Chapter 900 Visual Art Works · COMPENDIUM: Chapter 900 Visual Art Works 901 What This Chapter Covers This Chapter covers issues related to the examination and registration

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

VisualArtWorks Contents

901 WhatThisChapterCovers.................................................................................................................................................5

902 VisualArtsDivision...............................................................................................................................................................5

903 WhatIsaVisualArtWork?................................................................................................................................................5

903.1 Pictorial,Graphic,andSculpturalWorks....................................................................................................................6

903.2 ArchitecturalWorks.............................................................................................................................................................7

904 FixationofVisualArtWorks.............................................................................................................................................7

905 CopyrightableAuthorshipinVisualArtWorks........................................................................................................8

906 UncopyrightableMaterial..................................................................................................................................................9

906.1 CommonGeometricShapes..............................................................................................................................................9

906.2 FamiliarSymbolsandDesigns......................................................................................................................................11

906.3 Colors,Coloring,andColoration..................................................................................................................................11

906.4 Typeface,Typefont,Lettering,Calligraphy,andTypographicOrnamentation.......................................13

906.5 SpatialFormatandLayoutDesign..............................................................................................................................14

906.6 MechanicalProcessesandRandomSelection........................................................................................................15

906.7 NaturallyOccurringandDiscoveredMaterial.......................................................................................................15

906.8 FunctionalandUsefulElements...................................................................................................................................16

907 DerivativeVisualArtWorks..........................................................................................................................................16

907.1 CopyrightableAuthorshipinDerivativeWorks....................................................................................................16

907.2 PermissiontoUsePreexistingMaterial....................................................................................................................17

908 Jewelry.....................................................................................................................................................................................18

908.1 WhatIsJewelry?..................................................................................................................................................................18

908.2 CopyrightableAuthorshipinJewelry........................................................................................................................18

908.3 ApplicationTipsforJewelry..........................................................................................................................................19

909 PhotographicWorks..........................................................................................................................................................20

909.1 CopyrightableAuthorshipinPhotographs..............................................................................................................20

909.2 SubjectMatterofPhotographs.....................................................................................................................................20

909.3 PhotographicReproductions,DigitalCopying,andEditing.............................................................................21

This redline compares the Compendium (Third) released December 22, 2014, and the Compendium (Third) released September 29, 2017.

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

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910 Games.......................................................................................................................................................................................22

911 Characters..............................................................................................................................................................................23

912 Cartoons,ComicStrips,andComicBooks................................................................................................................24

913 Trademarks,Logos,andLabels....................................................................................................................................26

913.1 CopyrightableAuthorshipinTrademarks,Logos,andLabels........................................................................26

913.2 ApplicationTipsforTrademarks,Logos,andLabels..........................................................................................27

914 Catalogs...................................................................................................................................................................................27

915 RetrospectiveWorksBooksandExhibitionCatalogs..........................................................................................29

916 ArtPrintsandReproductions.......................................................................................................................................29

916.1 CopyrightableAuthorshipinArtPrintsandReproductions...........................................................................29

916.2 ApplicationTipsforArtPrintsandReproductions.............................................................................................30

916.2(A) DistinguishingArtPrintsandReproductionsfromtheSourceWorkandIdentifyingMaterial......30

916.2(B) AuthorshipUnclear............................................................................................................................................................31

917 InstallationArt.....................................................................................................................................................................31

918 Maps.........................................................................................................................................................................................31

918.1 CopyrightableAuthorshipinMaps.............................................................................................................................32

918.2 DerivativeMaps...................................................................................................................................................................32

919 Models,IncludingThree-DimensionalReproductionsandScientificModels..........................................32

919.1 CopyrightableAuthorshipinModels.........................................................................................................................33

919.2 ApplicationTipsforModels...........................................................................................................................................33

920 Patterns,Stencils,andHow-ToBooks.......................................................................................................................34

920.1 PatternsforMakingArticles..........................................................................................................................................34

920.2 StencilsandTemplates.....................................................................................................................................................34

920.3 How-ToBooks,ProjectBooks,andCrafts-MakingBooks.................................................................................34

920.4 ApplicationTipsforPatterns,Stencils,andHow-ToBooks.............................................................................35

921 Graphs,Charts,Tables,andFigures............................................................................................................................35

922 TechnicalandScientificDrawings..............................................................................................................................36

923 ArchitecturalWorks..........................................................................................................................................................37

923.1 ArchitecturalWorksDistinguishedfromTechnicalDrawings.......................................................................37

923.2 CopyrightableAuthorshipinArchitecturalWorks..............................................................................................37

923.2(A) StandardConfigurations..................................................................................................................................................38



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923.2(B) FunctionalFeatures...........................................................................................................................................................38

923.2(C) BuildingDesignsCreatedBeforeDecember1,1990..........................................................................................39

923.3 ApplicationTipsforArchitecturalWorks................................................................................................................39

924 RegistrationRequirementsfortheDesignofaUsefulArticleUsefulArticles.........................................40

924.1 WhatIsaUsefulArticle?..................................................................................................................................................40



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

VisualArtWorks 901 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.TheregistrationspecialistsinVAhaveexperiencereviewingavarietyofvisualartworksandspecializeintheseparticulartypesofwork.

903 What Is a Visual Art Work?

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



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903.1 Pictorial, Graphic, and Sculptural Works

Themostcommontypesofvisualartworksarepictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks.Thesetypesofworksinclude:

• Fineart(e.g.,paintingandsculpture).

• Graphicart.

• Appliedart(e.g.,artappliedtoanarticle).

• Photographs.

• Printsandartreproductions.

• Maps,globes,andothercartographicmaterials.

• ChartsandDiagrams.

• Models.

• Technicaldrawings,includingarchitecturalplans.

• Worksofartisticcraftsmanship(e.g.,textiles,jewelry,decorativeglassware,potterytableservicepatterns,wallplaques,toys,dolls,andstuffedtoyanimals,models,andtheseparableartisticfeaturesoftwodimensionalandthreedimensionalusefularticles).

• Theseparablefeaturesoftwo-dimensionalandthree-dimensionalusefularticles.

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

Congressmadeitclearthatpictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworksaresubjecttoanimportantlimitation,namelythatusefularticlesandfunctionalelementsofpictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworksarenotcopyrightable

AsdiscussedinSection924,“anartisticfeatureofthedesignofausefularticle”“iseligibleforcopyrightprotectiononlyifthefeature(1)canbeperceivedasatwo-dimensionalorthree-dimensionalworkofartseparatefromtheusefularticleand(2)wouldqualifyasaprotectablepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork–eitheronitsownorfixedinsomeothertangiblemediumofexpression–ifitwereimaginedseparatelyfromtheusefularticleintowhichitisincorporated.”StarAthletica,LLC,unlesstheyarephysicallyorconceptuallyseparablefromthefunctionalorusefulelementsofthework.Foradefinitionanddiscussionof“usefularticles,”seeSection924.

v.VarsityBrands,Inc.,137S.Ct.1002,1007(2017).



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903.2 Architectural Works

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

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.CopyrightOfficewillregistervisualartworksthatareembodiedinawidevarietyofforms,including:

• Canvas.

• Paper.

• Clay.

• Stone.

• Metal.

• Prints.

• Collages.

• Photographicfilm.

• Digitalfiles.

• Hologramsandindividualslides.

• Artreproductions.

• Diagrams,patterns,andmodels.

• Constructedbuildingsormodelsdepictinganarchitecturalwork.

ThisisnotanexhaustivelistandtheOfficewillconsiderotherformsofembodimentonacase-by-casebasis.Inparticular,architecturalworksdonothavetobeconstructedtobeeligibleforcopyrightprotection.



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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,applicantsshoulddeterminewhethertheworkissubjecttoconsultthebesteditionrequirement.Asageneralrule,anapplicantshouldsubmitthe“bestedition”iftheworkwaspublishedintheUnitedStatesonorafterJanuary1,1978.Thecriteriausedtoidentifythebesteditionofaparticularworkrequirements,whicharelistedinthe“BestEditionStatement,”whichis”setforthinAppendixBtoPart202oftheOffice’sregulations.ItTheBestEditionStatementisalsopostedontheOffice’swebsiteinCircular7B:BestEditionofPublishedCopyrightedWorksfortheCollectionsoftheLibraryofCongress(www.copyright.gov/circs/circ07b.pdf).Forspecificdepositrequirementsfordifferenttypesofvisualartworks,seeChapter1500,Section1509.3.

905 Copyrightable Authorship in Visual Art Works

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisteravisualartwork(i)ifitistheproductofhumanauthorship,(ii)ifitwasindependentlycreated(meaningthattheworkwasnotmerelycopiedfromanothersource),and(iii)ifitcontainsasufficientamountoforiginalpictorial,graphic,sculptural,orarchitecturalauthorship.TheOfficereviewsvisualartworksconsistentwiththegeneralprinciplessetforthinChapter300(CopyrightableAuthorship:WhatCanBeRegistered),aswellastheguidelinesdescribedinthisChapter.



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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,plan,process,orsystem.Ineachcase,theauthor’screativeexpressionmuststandaloneasanindependentworkapartfromtheideawhichinformsit.17U.S.C.§102(b).

Formoreinformationoncopyrightableauthorship,seeChapter300(CopyrightableAuthorship:WhatCanbeRegistered).

906 Uncopyrightable Material

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

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregisteravisualartworkthatincludesuncopyrightablematerialiftheworkasawholeissufficientlycreativeandoriginal.SomeoftheuncopyrightableelementsthatarecommonlyfoundinvisualartworksarediscussedinSections906.1through906.8below.Forageneraldiscussionofuncopyrightablematerial,seeChapter300,Section313.

906.1 Common Geometric Shapes

TheCopyrightActdoesnotprotectcommongeometricshapes,eitherintwo-dimensionalorthree-dimensionalform.Therearenumerouscommongeometricshapes,including,withoutlimitation,straightorcurvedlines,circles,ovals,spheres,



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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:



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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,theOfficewillnotregisteravisualartworkiftheauthormerelyaddedrelativelyfewcolorstoapreexistingdesignorsimplycreatedmultiplecolorized



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versionsofthesamebasicdesign.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“changedpublicdomainMonaLisatogreenandpinkstreakedhair;purplenailpolish;prisoner-stripedblack-whiteclothing;anddarkenedrougeoncheeks.”Theregistrationspecialistwillregistertheworkbecausethechangesincoloraresufficienttoconstituteanewworkofauthorship.

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

• ChrisCrisppurchasedacoloringbookandcoloredtheimageswithwatercolors.HesubmittedanapplicationtoregistertheworkanddescribedhisauthorshipintheAuthorCreatedandNewMaterialIncludedfieldsas“addedselectedcolorstopicturesinsomeoneelse’scoloringbook.”Theregistrationspecialistmayrefuseto



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registertheworkifthechangesweredictatedbythecoloringbookandtheadditionofcolorwasnotsufficientlycreative.

• 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.Atypefacecharactercannotbeanalogizedtoaworkofart,becausethecreativeaspectsofthecharacter(ifany)cannotbeseparatedfromtheutilitariannatureofthatcharacter.

Examples:

• FeliciaFrostcreatesafontcalled“PioneerLiving”withembellishmentsthatevokesevokehistorical“Wanted:DeadorAlive”posters.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisfontbecauseitisabuildingblockutilitarianmethodofwriting.withoutanyseparableelementsthatarecopyrightable.

• CalliopeCashcreatesatextilefabricconsistingofblueandwhiteverticallyhorizontallystripedgrassclothandwithatraditionalChineseproverb.Eachcharacterispalebluebackgroundandcharacterspaintedonaseparatestripeinstandard,unembellishedChinesecalligraphy.TheregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisfabricdesignbecausethecalligraphyconsistsofstandardChinesecharacters,andthesimplearrangementmereadditionofcharactersonverticalhorizontalstripesandorthechoiceofgrassclothdoesnotaddsufficientcreativitytowarrantregistration.

TherearesomeverylimitedcaseswheretheOfficemayregistersometypesoftypeface,typefont,lettering,orcalligraphy,suchasthefollowing:



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• Pictorialorgraphicelementsthatareincorporatedintousedtodecorateuncopyrightablecharactersorusedtorepresentanentireletterornumbermayberegistrable,providedthattheelementsareseparablefromtheutilitarianformofthecharacters.Examplesincludeoriginalpictorialartthatformstheentirebodyorshapeofthetypefacecharacters,suchasarepresentationofanoaktree,arose,oragiraffethatisdepictedintheshapeofaparticularletter.Inthesecases,therepresentationalartmaybeconceptuallyseparablefromtheusefulfunctionofthetypeface.

• Typefaceornamentationthatisseparablefromthetypefacecharactersisalmostalwaysanadd-ontothebeginningand/orendingofthecharacters.Totheextentthatsuchflourishes,swirls,vectorornaments,scrollwork,bordersandframes,wreaths,andthelikerepresentworksofpictorialauthorshipineithertheirindividualdesignsorpatternedrepetitions,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.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisclaimbecausethe



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layoutofthesebooksdoesnotcontainasufficientamountoforiginalitytobeprotectedbycopyrightlaw.

• 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.

906.7 Naturally Occurring and Discovered Material

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

Examples:

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



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

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

906.8 Functional and Useful Elements

Thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotect“usefularticles”assuch,utilitariandesigns,orthe“mechanicalorusefulaspects”ofworksofartisticcraftsmanship.”anyfunctionalportionofa17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andorsculpturalworks”).work.However,copyrightdoesprotectthecreativeformofaworkofartisticcraftsmanship,suchasacreatively-shapednecklaceorthedecorativevase.Copyrightalsoprotectstwo-orthree-dimensionalartisticfeaturesincorporatedintothedesignofornamentationonausefularticle,mayberegistrableifthosefeaturesareitisseparablefromtheusefulfunctionalaspectsofthatarticle.

Forexample,alampisaconsideredausefularticle,becauseithasanintrinsicutilitarianfunction,namely,toprovidelighting.Bycontrast,athree-dimensionalfloraldesignaffixedtothebaseofalamporatwo-dimensionalgardendesignpaintedonalampshadedoesnothaveanintrinsicutilitarianfunction.Therefore,ausefulpurpose.TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisterthosedesignfeatureselementsiftheyareseparablefromthefunctionalaspectsofthelampandiftheyaresufficientlyoriginalandcreative.Fabrica,Inc.v.SeeStarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1007,1011-12.ElDoradoCorp.,697F.2d890,893(9thCir.1983)(“ifanarticlehasanyintrinsicutilitarianfunction,itcanbedeniedcopyrightprotectionexcepttotheextentthatitsartisticfeaturescanbeidentifiedseparatelyandarecapableofexistingindependentlyasaworkofart”).

Forageneraldiscussionofthelegalstandardforevaluatingusefularticles,seeSection924.

907 Derivative Visual Art Works

907.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Derivative Works

Aderivativevisualartworkisaworkbasedonorderivedfromoneormorepreexistingworks.Aderivativeworkmayberegisterediftheauthorofthatworkcontributeda



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sufficientamountofnewauthorshiptocreateanoriginalworkofauthorship.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.Shefilesanapplication



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

Formoreinformationonderivativeworksincorporatingthirdpartycontent,seeChapter300,Section313.6(B).

908 Jewelry

JewelrydesignsaretypicallyprotectedundertheU.S.copyrightlawassculpturalworks,althoughinrarecasestheymaybeprotectedaspictorialworks.ThisSectiondiscussescertainissuesthatcommonlyariseinconnectionwithsuchworks.

908.1 What Is Jewelry?

Forpurposesofcopyrightregistration,jewelrydesignsareconsidered“worksofartisticcraftsmanship,”whichareprotected“insofarastheirformbutnottheirmechanicalorutilitarianaspectsareconcerned.”(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”).Forpurposesofcopyrightregistration,jewelryincludesanydecorativearticlethatisintendedtobewornasapersonaladornment,regardlessofwhetheritishung,pinned,orclippedontothebody(suchasnecklaces,bangles,orearrings)orpinned,clipped,orsewnontoclothing(suchasbrooches,pins,orbeadedmotifs).

Jewelryalsoincludesjeweledandbeadeddesignsthatareappliedtogarmentsandaccessories(suchashatpins,hairpins,haircombs,andtiepins).However,whenthesetypesofworksarefixedontoclothingand/oraccessories,theymayberegisteredonlyiftheyarephysicallyorconceptuallyseparablefromtheclothingand/oraccessories.Foradiscussionofthisissue,seeSection924.3(A).

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.



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Examples:

• JanineJacksoncreatesabroochconsistingofthreeparallelrowsofsapphires.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefuseregistrationbecausethedesigniscommonandthereisonlyademinimisamountofauthorshipinthearrangementofstones.

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

908.3 Application Tips for Jewelry

Whenpreparingtheidentifyingmaterialforajewelrydesign(whichmayconsistofphotographsordrawings)theapplicantshouldincludeallofthecopyrightableelementsthattheapplicantintendstoregister.Thisisimportantbecausetheregistrationspecialistcanexamineonlythedesignsthatareactuallydepictedintheidentifyingmaterial.Iftheapplicantwantstheregistrationtocovermorethanjustthefaceofajewelrydesign,theidentifyingmaterialshoulddepictthedesignfromdifferentangles.Additionally,iftheapplicantwantstheregistrationtocoverpartofthedesignordetailsthatarerelativelysmall,theapplicantshouldmakesurethatthoseportionsareclearlyvisibleintheidentifyingmaterial.

Whenevaluatingajewelrydesignforcopyrightableauthorship,theregistrationspecialistwillconsiderthedesignasawhole,ratherthanthecomponentelementsofthedesign.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.



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Asageneralrule,iftheshapeordecorationofaparticularelementcontainsenoughauthorshiptosupportaregistration,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,andthetimingoftheimagepicture.

Example:

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

909.2 Subject Matter of Photographs

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



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Example:

• PhoebePooltakesaphotographpictureofamountainrange,selectingtheangle,distance,andlightingfortheimagepicture.Theregistrationspecialistwillregistertheworkeventhoughthemountainrangeitselfisnotcopyrightable.

909.3 Photographic Reproductions, Digital Copying, and Editing

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

Example:

• PamelaPattersontakesahighresolutionphotographpictureofLeonardodaVinci’sMonaLisa.Sheintendstocreateanexactreplicaofthepainting,andthephotographisvirtuallyidenticaltothepainting.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”todescribethistype



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ofauthorship,andshouldavoidusingtermssuchas“digitalediting,”“touchup,”“scanned,”“digitized,”or“restored.”

Examples:

• SarahSmithdiscoversaboxofoldfamilyphotographsinhergreat-grandmother’sattic.Shescansthemintohercomputerandusessoftwarethatautomaticallysmoothensthecreasesintheimages.Sarahfilesanapplicationtoregisterthealteredphotographs.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheseworks,becausetheuseofautomatedsoftwaretosmoothpreexistingphotographswasdeminimis.

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

910 Games

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

Whencompletinganapplicationforthistypeofwork,applicantsshoulddescribethespecificelementsofthegamethattheapplicantintendstoregister,suchasthetext,theartworkonaplayingboard,and/ortheoriginalsculpturalelementsofgamepieces.Applicantsshouldnotassertaclaimin“game”or“gamedesign,”becauseitisgenerallyunderstoodthatthegameasawholeencompassestheideasunderlyingthegame.Forthesamereason,applicantsshouldnotassertaclaiminthemethodsforplayingthegame.

Examples:

• GloriaGlamfilesanapplicationtoregisteranewboardgame.Inherapplicationsheassertsaclaimin“textandboardartwork.”Thegameboardcontainsintricatedesignsandtheinstructionsconsist



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oftwopagesoftext.Theregistrationspecialistwillregistertheclaim.

• GarfieldGrantfilesanapplicationforanewtypeofsoccerplayingfield.Thedepositmaterialcontainstextandasetoftechnicaldrawings.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheplayingfielditself,butwillregisterthedrawingsandtextthatdescribethefield.Theregistrationwillextendonlytotheactualdescriptivetextanddrawingsandnottothedesignforthefielditself.

• GlennGarnerfilesanapplicationtoregistera“newgameofchess,consistingofanewwaytoplaythegame,newplayingpieces,andanewboardwiththreelevels.”Theregistrationspecialistmayregisteranydescriptivetextandthedesignoftheplayingpiecesiftheycontainasufficientamountofcreativeexpression.However,thespecialistwillrefusetoregistertheideaforandmethodofplayingthenewgame,aswellastheideaofplayingthegameonaboardsplitintothreelevels.

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,”or“text.”Applicantsshouldnotrefertoorassertclaimsin“character,”“characterconcept,idea,orstyle,”oracharacter’sgeneralizedpersonality,conduct,temperament,orcostume.Iftheapplicantusestheseterms,theregistrationspecialistmayasktheapplicanttoremovethemfromtheclaim.Likewise,ifthedepositmaterialcontainsawell-knownorrecognizablecharacter,thespecialistmayasktheapplicanttoexcludethatpreexistingmaterialfromtheclaimiftheapplicantfailstocompletetheLimitationofClaimportionoftheapplication.



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Examples:

• CharlesCrestcreatesasketchofafieldmousewithastrawhatandamischievousgrin.Heintendstousethesketchinananimatedfilm.Hefilesanapplicationthatassertsaclaimin“two-dimensionalartwork”and“character.”TheregistrationspecialistmayaskCharlestolimittheclaimtotheartworkandtoremovetheterm“character”fromtheapplication.

• 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,seeSection

Insomecasesitmaybepossibletoregisteranumberofcartoons,comicstrips,orcomicbookswithoneapplicationandonefilingfee.Ifalltheworksareunpublisheditmaybepossibletoregisterthemasanunpublishedcollection.Ifalltheworkswerephysicallybundledtogetherbytheclaimantfordistributiontothepublicasasingle,integrated



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unit,andifalltheworkswerefirstpublishedinthatintegratedunititmaybepossibletoregisterthemusingtheunitofpublicationoption.However,theworkscannotbeaggregatedsimplyforthepurposeofregistration;insteadtheymusthavebeenfirstdistributedtothepublicinthepackagedunit.Ifalloftheworkswerefirstpublishedasacontributiontoaperiodical,suchasanewspaperormagazine,itmaybepossibletoregisterthecontributionsasagroup.Fordetailedinformationconcerningunpublishedcollections,theunitofpublicationoption,andthegroupregistrationoptionforcontributionstoperiodicals,seeChapter1100,Sections1106,1107,and1115.

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,unlesstheauthorcontributednewcopyrightableauthorshipinadaptingorchangingthepreexistingcontent.



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913 Trademarks, Logos, and Labels

913.1 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.



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Example:

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

913.2 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.”

914 Catalogs

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

Thephotographswithinacatalogmayberegisteredtogetherwiththecatalogasawhole(i)ifthephotographsandthecatalogwerecreatedbythesameauthor,or(ii)ifthecopyrightclaimantownsalloftherightsinthephotographicauthorshipandcompilationauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothecatalog.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.



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Bycontrast,iftheapplicantsubmitsphotographsorpictorialillustrationsofatwo-orthree-dimensionalwork(asopposedtoacatalogdepictingatwo-orthree-dimensionalwork),theregistrationmaycoverthepictorialorsculpturalauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothatworkifitisclearthatthephotographsorillustrationsarebeingusedasidentifyingmaterialfortheworkdepictedthereinandthattheapplicantisnotattemptingtoregistertheauthorshipinvolvedincreatingthoseimages.

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

• Iftheworksareunpublisheditmaybepossibletoregisterthemasanunpublishedcollection.Photographsorillustrationsofthetwo-orthree-dimensionalworksmaybeusedasidentifyingmaterialinthissituation,providedthattheapplicantassertsaclaimintheworksdepictedinthoseimagesratherthantheauthorshipinvolvedincreatingtheimagesthemselves.

• Iftheworkswerephysicallybundledtogetherfordistributiontothepublicasasingle,integratedunitandifalltheworkswerefirstpublishedinthatintegratedunit,itmaybepossibletoregisterthemusingtheunitofpublicationoption.

Whenagroupofphotographsarepublishedinacatalogtheworksdepictedthereinareconsideredpublished,regardlessofwhethertheyaretwo-orthree-dimensional.However,thefactthatagroupofworkswerepublishedinthesamecatalogdoesnotnecessarilymeanthatthecatalogconstitutesaunitofpublicationorthattheworksmayberegisteredtogetherwiththeunitofpublicationoption.

Aunitofpublicationisapackageofseparatelyfixedelementsandworksthatarephysicallybundledtogetherbytheclaimantfordistributiontothepublicasasingle,integratedunit.Theunitmustcontainanactualcopyoftheworksandtheworksmustbedistributedtothepublicasanintegralpartoftheunit.Aunitthatmerelycontainsarepresentationoftheworks,ormerelyoffersthoseworkstothepublic(withoutactuallydistributingthem)doesnotsatisfythisrequirement.Forexample,aboxedsetoffiftydifferentgreetingcardssoldasapackagetoretailpurchaserswouldqualifyasaunitofpublication.Bycontrast,acatalogofferingfiftydifferentgreetingcardsforindividualpurchasewouldnotbeconsideredaunitofpublication,evenifallofthecardsmaybeorderedfromthecatalogforasingleprice.Althoughacatalogmayoffermultipleitemsforsaletothepublic,thecatalogitselfdoesnotqualifyasaunitofpublication,becausetheitemsthemselvesarenotpackagedtogetherinthecatalogforactualdistributiontothepublic.

Forageneraldiscussionofcompilationsandcollectiveworks,seeChapter500,Sections508and509.Fordetailedinformationconcerningunpublishedcollectionsandtheunitofpublicationoption,seeChapter1100,Sections1106and1107.



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915 Retrospective WorksBooks and Exhibition Catalogs

Retrospectiveworksbooksarepublishedbooks,websites,orotherworksthatrevieworlookbackonthecareerofavisualartist.Exhibitioncatalogsarecatalogs,brochures,orotherworksthatcontaincopiesofworksfeaturedinaparticularexhibitionorotherworksbythesamevisualartist(s).BothretrospectiveworksandexhibitioncatalogsTheytypicallycontainbothnewandpreexistingauthorship.

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

Asforthevisualartist’sworks,retrospectiveworksandexhibitioncatalogsbooksusuallycontain(i)worksthatwerepublishedbeforetheyappearedinthenewworkbook,and(ii)otherworksthathaveneverbeensoldorotherwisepublishedorpubliclyexhibitedbeforetheyappearedinthenewworkbook.

Whenapreviouslyunpublishedworkisfirstpublishedinaretrospectiveworkbookorexhibitioncatalog,thefactthattheworkhasbeenpublishedwillaffectthesubsequentregistrationoptionsforthatwork.Forthisreason,artistsmaywanttoconsiderregisteringtheirpictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkspriortoauthorizingtheirdepictioninaretrospectiveworkbookorexhibitioncatalog.

Toregisteraretrospectiveworkorexhibitioncatalogbook,theapplicantshouldlimittheclaimtothenewcontentthatwaspreparedspecificallyforthatworkthebook,suchasnewartwork,essays,photographs,indexes,chronologies,bibliographies,orthelike.Anyartworkthatwaspreviouslyregistered,published,orinthepublicdomainshouldbeexcludedfromtheclaimusingtheproceduresdescribedinChapter600,Section621.8.

Inallcases,theapplicantshouldanticipatethattheregistrationspecialistwillraisequestionsabouttheownershipandfirstpublicationprovenanceofartworkdepictedinaretrospectiveworkorexhibitioncatalog.book.Therefore,whencompletingtheapplication,theapplicantshouldprovideasmuchinformationaboutthoseworksaspossible.

916 Art Prints and Reproductions

916.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Art Prints and Reproductions

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

Makinganexactcopyofasourceworkisnoteligibleforcopyrightprotection,becauseitisakintoapurelymechanicalcopyandincludesnonewauthorship,regardlessoftheprocessusedtocreatethecopyortheskill,craft,orinvestmentneededtorenderthe



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copies.Forthesamereason,aprintorreproductioncannotbeprotectedbasedsolelyonthecomplexnatureofthesourcework,theapparentnumberoftechnicaldecisionsneededtoproduceanear-exactreproduction,orthefactthatthesourceworkhasbeenrenderedinadifferentmedium.Forexample,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterthefollowingtypesofprintsandreproductions:

• Reproductionsofpurelytextualworks.

• Reproductionsinwhichtheonlychangesaretothesizeorfontstyleofthetextinanunderlyingwork.

• Merescansordigitizationsoftextsorworksofart.

• Reproductionsinwhichtheonlychangefromtheoriginalworkisachangeintheprintingormanufacturingtype,paperstock,orotherreproductionmaterials.

• Preservationandrestorationefforts.

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

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

916.2 Application Tips for Art Prints and Reproductions

916.2(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,theapplicantshouldnotrefertothetypeofidentifyingmaterialthattheapplicantintends



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tosubmittotheOffice.Forexample,iftheapplicantintendstoregisteralithographicreproductionofapreexistingpainting,theapplicantshouldclearlydescribethenewartworkthattheauthorcontributedtothatreproduction.Theauthorshouldnotrefertothepreexistingpaintingthatisdepictedinthelithograph.Iftheapplicantintendstosubmitaphotographofthelithographastheidentifyingmaterialfortheclaim,theapplicantshouldnotrefertothereproductionasa“photograph.”Iftheapplicantstates“photograph”theregistrationspecialistmayassumethattheapplicantintendstoregistertheauthorshipinvolvedintakingthephotographofthelithograph,ratherthantheauthorshipinvolvedincreatingthereproductionofthepreexistingpainting.

916.2(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.

917 Installation Art

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficegenerallydiscouragesapplicantsfromusingtheterm“installationart”inapplicationstoregistervisualartworks.Applicantsusethistermforawidevarietyofartisticendeavorsandithasmanybroad,ambiguousmeanings.Becausethistermisunclear,theregistrationspecialistwillcommunicatewithapplicantsiftheydescribeapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkas“installationart.”

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

918 Maps

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



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918.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Maps

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

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregistermaps,globes,andothercartographicworksiftheydisplayasufficientamountoforiginalpictorialorsculpturalauthorship.

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

918.2 Derivative Maps

Mapsareoftenbasedononeormorepreexistingworks.Aderivativemapmaybeeligibleforregistrationiftheauthoraddedasufficientamountofnewauthorshiptothepreexistingmaterial,suchasdepictionsofnewroads,historicallandmarks,orzoningboundaries.

Ifthemapcontainsanappreciableamountofmaterialthathasbeenpreviouslypublished,previouslyregistered,materialthatisinthepublicdomain,ormaterialthatisownedbyathirdparty,theapplicantshouldexcludethatmaterialfromtheclaimandshouldlimittheclaimtothenewcopyrightableauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothederivativemap.Forguidanceincompletingthisportionoftheapplication,seeChapter600,Section621.8.

TheOfficewillrefusetoregisteraderivativemapiftheworkdoesnotcontainasufficientamountofnewauthorship.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.



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919.1 Copyrightable Authorship in Models

Modelsmayberenditionsofeitherartisticorutilitarianobjects.Somemodelsareexactorsubstantiallysimilarcopiesoftheitemtheydepict,whileothersaremerelyinterpretativecopies.

Amodelofausefularticleoramodelofanarchitecturalworkgenerallyisprotectableifitincludesasufficientsubstantialamountoforiginalauthorshipandifitcontainssomeoriginaldifferencesfromtheobjectdepicted.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,butnot



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required,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.

Aregistrationforapatternbookgenerallydoesnotextendtoindividualpatternpiecesthatmaybeusedtocreateausefularticle,suchasshapesthatmaybetracedandusedtomakeasleeveforadress,becausetheyhaveanintrinsicutilitarianfunction.See.Nordoestheregistrationextendtoanyusefularticlethatmaybecreatedwiththepattern,suchasanitemofclothing.Forageneraldiscussionofusefularticles,seeSection924.

920.2 Stencils and Templates

Stencilsandtemplatesarepatternsfortracing,trimming,orcuttingdesignsorotheritemsdepictedbythestencilortemplate.TheOfficemayregisterstencilsortemplatesthatcontainasufficientamountoforiginalpictorialorgraphicartworkororiginalcompilationsofsuchartwork,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).TheOfficewillrejectnonspecificclaimsinprojectideasorprojectdesign.



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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, and Tables, and Figures

Thecopyrightlawdoesnotprotectblankgraphs,charts,andtables,andfiguresthataredesignedforrecordinginformationanddonotinthemselvesconveyinformation.Thesetypesofworksarenotcopyrightable,becausetheyareafunctionalmeansforexpressingideas,methods,ortechniques,andtypicallytheycontainonlyademinimisamountofauthorship.Indeed,theyrarelycontainmorethanademinimisamountofanyauthorshipotherthanthatnecessarytoimplementtheunderlyingmethod,technique,oridea.Forthesamereasons,theideasforgraphs,charts,andtables,andfiguresortheoveralldesignofagraphing,charting,ortablingmethodortemplatearenotcopyrightable.See37C.F.R.§202.1(c).

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

Examples:

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

• GayleGilescreatesacolumnartablethatrecordsinformationaboutherson’sphysicalandintellectualgrowthintenselectedcategories.



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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,astronomicalcharts,andsimilarworks.TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillregisterthesetypesofworksiftheycontainasufficientamountoforiginalpictorialorgraphicmaterial.

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



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923 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).

923.1 Architectural Works Distinguished from Technical Drawings

Anarchitecturalwork(i.e.,thebuildingitself)andatechnicaldrawingforanarchitecturalworkareseparateworks.Iftheapplicantintendstoassertaclaiminatechnicaldrawingandthearchitecturalworkdepictedtherein,theapplicantshouldfileanapplicationtoregisterthearchitecturalworkandaseparateapplicationtoregisterthetechnicaldrawingasapictorialworkoranarchitecturaldrawing,eventhoughthedepositcopy(ies)forbothapplicationsmaybethesame.37C.F.R.§202.11(c)(4)(“Wheredualcopyrightclaimsexistintechnicaldrawingsandthearchitecturalworkdepictedinthedrawings,anyclaimswithrespecttothetechnicaldrawingsandthearchitecturalworkmustberegisteredseparately.”).

Aregistrationforatechnicaldrawingcoversthedrawingitself,butitdoesnotcoverthearchitecturalworkdepictedtherein.Althoughatechnicaldrawingmaybeprotectedbycopyright,thecopyrightownercannotpreventathirdpartyfromusingthatdrawingtoconstructanactualbuilding.Thisisduetothefactthatthecopyrightinaworkthatportraysausefularticledoesnotgivetheownerofthatworktherighttocontrol“themaking,distribution,ordisplayoftheusefularticle.”17U.S.C.§113(b).Bycontrast,whenanarchitecturaldrawingisregisteredasanarchitecturalwork,theregistrationcoversthearchitecturalworkdepictedinthosedrawings,andtheregistrationmaybeusedinaninfringementactioninvolvingtheunauthorizedreproductionofthatworkinanymaterialobject(includingtheconstructionofanactualbuilding).

Example:

• TinaThornsubmitsasetofdrawingsandassertsaclaimin“drawingsforabuilding.”Theregistrationspecialistwillcommunicatewiththeapplicant,becauseitisunclearwhetherTinaintendstoregisterthedrawingsorthearchitecturalworkdepictedtherein.

923.2 Copyrightable Authorship in Architectural Works

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficemayregisteranarchitecturalworkifitisahabitablestructurethatisstationary,intendedtohavepermanence,andintendedforhumanoccupancy.37C.F.R.§202.11(b)(2).Examplesofworksthatsatisfythisrequirementincludehouses,officebuildings,churches,museums,gazebos,andpavilions.Bycontrast,theOfficewill



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refusetoregisterbridges,cloverleaves,dams,walkways,tents,recreationalvehicles,orboats(althoughahouseboatthatispermanentlyaffixedtoadockmayberegistrableasanarchitecturalwork).Id.§202.11(d)(1).

TheCopyrightActprotects“theoverallform[ofanarchitecturalwork]aswellasthearrangementandcompositionofspacesandelementsinthedesign,”butitdoesnotprotectinteriordesign,suchastheselectionandplacementoffurniture,lighting,paint,orsimilaritems.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“architecturalwork”).However,apictorial,graphic,orsculpturalrepresentationofaninteriordesignmayberegisteredifitissufficientlyoriginal.

Examples:

• ArcherAnthonydesignsauniquebirdhouseandattemptstoregisterhiscreationasanarchitecturalwork.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheclaim,becauseabirdhouseisnotdesignedforhumanoccupancy.

ArchibaldArnolddesignsamoveable,fast-foodkioskforuseinshoppingmallsandattemptstoregisterthekioskasanarchitecturalwork.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheclaim,becausethekioskisnotpermanentandstationary.

ArlindaAtkinsdesignsacondominiumcomplexwithalarge,complexparkingstructureandintricatelandscapedesign.Sheattemptstoregistereachaspectofthisdesignasanarchitecturalwork.Theregistrationspecialistwillregisterthecondominiumdesignifitissufficientlyoriginal,butwillasktheapplicanttoremovethereferencetotheparkingstructureandlandscapedesign.

923.2(A) Standard Configurations

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

Example:

• StaceyStonedesignsamotelcomprisedofacentralhallwithuniformlyshapedrectangularrooms.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisclaimbecauseitisastandardconfigurationofspace.

923.2(B) Functional Features

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterpurelyfunctionalelementsofanarchitecturalwork,suchasinnovationsinarchitecturalengineeringorconstructiontechniques.



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Example:

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

923.2(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.

923.3 Application Tips for Architectural Works

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

ThetitleofthebuildingshouldbeprovidedintheTitlefield/spaceandthedateofconstructionforthebuilding,ifany,shouldbeprovidedintheYearofCompletionfields/spaces.Ifthebuildinghasnotbeenconstructed,theapplicantshouldstate“notyetconstructed”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).

Theapplicantshouldchecktheboxmarked“architecturalwork”intheAuthorCreatedfieldwhencompletinganonlineapplicationorintheNatureofAuthorshipspacewhencompletingapaperapplication.

Anapplicationmaycoveronlyonearchitecturalwork,regardlessofwhethertheworkispublishedorunpublished.TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregistermultiplearchitecturalworksasagroupofrelatedworksorasanunpublishedcollection.Iftheapplicantintendstoregistervariationsonasingleplan,suchasaplanfortracthousing,



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theapplicantmustsubmitaseparateapplicationforeachhousemodelwithallaccompanyingfloorplanoptions,elevations,andstylesthatareapplicabletothatparticularmodel.37C.F.R.§202.11(c)(2).

Forinformationconcerningthedepositrequirementsforarchitecturalworks,seeChapter1500,Section1509.3(D).

924 Registration Requirements for Useful Articles

AsdiscussedinSection906.8,“usefularticles”arenotprotectedbycopyrightlaw.However,theDesignpurelyornamentalordecorativepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesofausefularticlemayberegisterediftheycanbeidentifiedseparatelyfrom,andarecapableofexistingasworksofauthorshipindependentlyof,theutilitarianaspectsofthatarticle.17U.S.C.§101(definitionof“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks”).ThisSectionexplainswhattypesofworksareconsideredusefularticlesandhowtodetermineiftheycontainsufficientlyseparableelementstowarrantregistration.

924.1 What Is a Useful Article?

TheCopyrightAct“establishesdefinesaspecialruleforcopyrightingapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalworkincorporatedintoa‘usefularticle,’whichisdefinedas‘“anarticlehavinganintrinsicutilitarianfunctionthatisnotmerelytoportraytheappearanceofthearticleortoconveyinformation.”17U.S.C.§101.StarAthletica,137S.Ct.at1008(quotingthedefinitionof“usefularticle”).“Thestatutedoesnotprotectusefularticlesassuch.Rather‘“thedesignofausefularticle’is‘article...shallbeconsideredapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,onlyif,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.

.Anitemorobjectisconsideredausefularticleifitperformsanyinherentorintrinsicutilitarianfunctionotherthantoinform,entertain,orportrayitsappearancetohumanbeings.Examplesofusefularticlesincludeautomobiles,householdappliances,furniture,lightingfixtures,worktools,dinnerware,food,clothing,shoes,personalcomputers,andcarryingcasesforlaptops.

Thestatutealsostatesthat“[a]narticlethatisnormallypartofausefularticleisconsidereda‘usefularticle.’”Id.Forexample,thebezelonawristwatchorthehandleon



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acasketwouldbeconsideredusefularticles,becausetheyareinherentlyusefulandbecausetheyaretypicallyusedaspartofalargerusefularticle.

Themechanicalorutilitarianaspectsofathree-dimensionalworkofappliedartarenotcopyrightable.Forexample,theserratededgeofaknifecannotberegistered,evenifthepatternoftheserrationisoriginal.

Aworkofauthorshipthatdoesnothaveanintrinsicutilitarianpurposeisnotconsideredausefularticle,evenifthatworkcouldpotentiallybeusedinafunctionalmanner.Forexample,asculpturedoesnotbecomeausefularticlesimplybecauseitcouldbeusedasadoorstoporpaperweight.

924.2 Separability Tests for Useful Articles

Sections101and102(a)oftheCopyrightActprovidetheguidingprinciplesfordeterminingwhetherthedecorativeorornamentalfeaturesofausefularticlemayberegisteredwiththeU.S.CopyrightOffice.Section102(a)(5)oftheActstatesthatthecopyrightlawprotects“pictorial,graphic,andsculpturalworks,”whicharedefinedbytoinclude“two-dimensionalandthree-dimensionalworksoffine,graphic,andappliedart”aswellas“worksofartisticcraftsmanshipinsofarastheirformbutnottheirmechanicalorutilitarianaspectsareconcerned.”Thestatutealsostatesthat

Whenexaminingausefularticle,theOfficemustdeterminewhetherthearticlecontainsanypictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthatareseparablefromitsutilitarianfunction.Ifthearticledoesnotcontainanyfeaturesthatcanbeseparatedfromitsutilitarianfunction,theOfficewillrefusetoregistertheclaim,becauseCongresshasmadeitclearthattheCopyrightActdoesnotcoveranyaspectofausefularticlethatcannotbeseparatedfromitsfunctionalelements.H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.5659,5668-69.IftheOfficedeterminesthattheworkcontainsoneormorefeaturesthatcanbeseparatedfromitsfunctionalelements,theOfficewillexaminethosefeaturestodetermineiftheycontainasufficientamountoforiginalauthorshiptowarrantregistration.

TheOfficewillregisterclaimstocopyrightinusefularticlesonlyonthebasisofseparatelyidentifiablepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeatures.Thesefeaturesshouldbecapableofindependentexistenceapartfromtheoverallshapeoftheusefularticle.TheOfficeusestwoteststodetermineiftheusefulelementsofanarticleareseparablefromthecopyrightableelements:thephysicalandconceptualseparabilitytests.ThesetestsarediscussedinSections924.2(A)and924.2(B).

924.2(A) Physical Separability

Theusefulelementsofanarticlewillbeconsideredseparablefromthecopyrightableelementsifthecopyrightableelementscouldbephysicallyremovedwithoutalteringtheusefulaspectsofthearticle.Thisisknownasthephysicalseparabilitytest.Physicalseparabilitymeansthattheusefularticlecontainspictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthatcanbephysicallyseparatedfromthearticlebyordinarymeanswhileleavingtheutilitarianaspectsofthearticlecompletelyintact.



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Example:

• Asufficientlycreativedecorativehoodornamentonanautomobile.

924.2(B) Conceptual Separability

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficeappliestheconceptualseparabilitytestonlyifitdeterminesthattheusefularticlecontainspictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesthatcannotbephysicallyseparatedfromthatarticle.

Conceptualseparabilitymeansthatafeatureoftheusefularticleisclearlyrecognizableasapictorial,graphic,orsculpturalwork,notwithstandingthefactthatitcannotbephysicallyseparatedfromthearticlebyordinarymeans.Thisartisticfeaturemustbecapableofbeingvisualized—eitheronpaperorasafree-standingsculpture—asaworkofauthorshipthatisindependentfromtheoverallshapeoftheusefularticle.Inotherwords,thefeaturemustbeimaginedseparatelyandindependentlyfromtheusefularticlewithoutdestroyingthebasicshapeofthatarticle.Apictorial,graphic,orsculpturalfeaturesatisfiesthisrequirementonlyiftheartisticfeatureandtheusefularticlecouldbothexistsidebysideandbeperceivedasfullyrealized,separateworks—oneanartisticworkandtheotherausefularticle.Forexample,thecarvingonthebackofachairoranengravingonavasewouldbeconsideredconceptuallyseparable,becauseonecouldimaginethecarvingortheengravingasadrawingonapieceofpaperthatisentirelydistinctfromtheoverallshapeofthechairandthevase.Evenifthecarvingortheengravingwasremovedtheshapeofthechairandthevasewouldremainunchanged,andboththechairandthevasewouldstillbecapableofservingausefulpurpose.H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5668-69.

Examples:

• Artworkprintedonat-shirt,beachtowel,orcarpet.

• Acolorfulpatterndecoratingthesurfaceofashoppingbag.

• Adrawingonthesurfaceofwallpaper.

• Afloralreliefdecoratingthehandleofaspoon.

Merelyanalogizingthegeneralshapeofausefularticletoaworkofmodernsculptureoranabstractsculpturedoesnotsatisfytheconceptualseparabilitytest,becauseitdoesnotprovideanobjectivebasisforvisualizingtheartisticfeaturesandtheusefularticleasseparateandindependentworks.SeeEsquire,Inc.v.Ringer,591F.2d796,804(1978)(D.C.Cir.1978)(agreeingwiththeOffice’sdeterminationthat“theoveralldesignorconfigurationofautilitarianobject,evenifitisdeterminedbyaestheticaswellasfunctionalconsiderations,isnoteligibleforcopyright”);seealsoInhale,Inc.v.StarbuzzTobacco,Inc.,739F.3d446,449(9thCir.2014)(findingthattheOffice’sinterpretationofconceptualseparabilityisentitledtodeference,statingthat“[c]ourtshavetwistedthemselvesintoknotstryingtocreateatesttoeffectivelyascertainwhethertheartisticaspectsofausefularticlecanbeidentifiedseparatelyfromandexistindependentlyofthearticle’sutilitarianfunction”).



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Thefactthatausefularticlecouldhavebeendesigneddifferentlyorthefactthatanartisticfeatureisnotnecessarytoordictatedbytheutilitarianaspectsofthatarticleisirrelevanttothisanalysis.Ifthefeatureisanintegralpartoftheoverallshapeorcontouroftheusefularticle,thatfeaturecannotbeconsideredconceptuallyseparablebecauseremovingitwoulddestroythebasicshapeoftheusefularticle.SeegenerallyH.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5668-69.

924.2(C) Factors Not Relevant in Evaluating Separability

Inassessingwhethercertainelementsarephysicallyorconceptuallyseparablefromtheutilitarianfunctionsofausefularticle,registrationspecialistsdonotconsiderthefollowing:(i)theaestheticvalueofthedesign;(ii)thefactthatthearticlecouldhavebeendesigneddifferently;or(iii)theamountofeffortorexpensethatwentintothemakingofthedesign.H.R.REP.NO.94-1476,at55(1976),reprintedin1976U.S.C.C.A.N.at5668-69.

924.3 Specific Types of Useful Articles

924.3(A) Clothing Designs

Clothingsuchasshirts,dresses,pants,coats,shoes,andouterweararenoteligibleforcopyrightprotectionbecausetheyareconsideredusefularticles.Thisisbecauseclothingprovidesutilitarianfunctions,suchaswarmth,protection,andmodesty.Asaresult,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisteraclaiminclothingorclothingdesigns.SeeRegistrabilityofCostumeDesigns,56Fed.Reg.56,530,56,531(Nov.5,1991).

924.3(A)(1) Fabric and Textile Designs Embodied in Clothing or Other Useful Articles

Althoughthecopyrightlawdoesnotprotecttheshapeordesignofclothing,andalthoughfabricandtextileshaveusefulfunctions(e.g.,providingvaryingdegreesofwarmthandprotection),designsimprintedinoronfabricareconsideredconceptuallyseparablefromtheutilitarianaspectsofgarments,linens,furniture,orotherusefularticles.Therefore,afabricortextiledesignmayberegisteredifthedesigncontainsasufficientamountofcreativeexpression.

Example:

• FrederiqueFalloncreatesafabricdesignwithswirlsofcolorandimagesofpeople.SheusesthisfabrictoproduceaclassicA-linedress.Frederiqueappliestoregisterthefabricdesignandthedress.Theregistrationspecialistwillregisterthefabricdesignbecauseitissufficientlycreative,butwillrefusetoregisterthedressitselfbecauseitisausefularticle.

924.3(A)(2) Costumes

Costumesareconsideredusefularticles,becausetheyprovidetheusefulfunctionofclothingthehumanbody.SeegenerallyRegistrabilityofCostumeDesigns,56Fed.Reg.



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56,530(Nov.5,1991)(discussingtheOffice’spolicyandseveralfederalcourtdecisionsontheregistrabilityofcostumedesigns).

Aswithallusefularticles,theregistrationspecialistwillexaminecostumestodetermineiftheycontaintwo-orthree-dimensionaldesignelementsthatareseparablefromthecostumeitself,andtodetermineifthoseseparableelementscontainasufficientamountofcreativeexpression.

Thefactthatacostumemaybeintendedprimarilyforornamentationandshow,andsecondarilyforcoveringthebody,doesnotchangethefactthatthecostumeisausefularticle.Whole-orpartial-bodycostumesareconsideredusefularticlesandaresubjecttotheseparabilitytest,eveniftheydepictapersonorthing,orillustratecultural,historical,oroccupationalgarbordress.

Examples:

• CorinneClarkcreatesanoutfitthatincludesboots,pants,abelt,ashirt,avest,aneyepatch,andaplasticsword.Shefilesanapplicationtoregistertheoutfitasa“piratecostume.”Theregistrationspecialistwillrefuseregistrationbecausetheclothingelementsarenotseparablefromthefunctionalaspectsoftheoutfitandbecausetheswordiscommonplaceandunoriginal.

• CorneliusChangefilesanapplicationtoregistera“witchcostume”thatconsistsofawhitedress,pointedhat,highheeledshoes,broom,angelwings,andaskull-and-crossbonesnecklace.Becausethewingsandnecklacearephysicallyseparablefromtheusefulaspectsofthecostume,theregistrationspecialistwillexaminetheseelementsforcopyrightableauthorshipandwillasktheapplicanttodeletetheotheritemsfromtheclaim.

924.3(A)(3) Decorative Masks

Decorativemasksaremasksthatmaybewornaspartofacostumeordisplayedasadecorativeadornment.Anornamentalordecorativeheadorfacemaskmayberegisteredifitcontainsasufficientamountofcopyrightablepictorial,graphic,orsculpturalauthorship.However,theregistrationforamaskdoesnotextendtoanyfunctionalormechanicalaspectsofthework,suchasclasps,straps,snaps,locks,orairvents.

Unlikebodycostumes,federalcourtsandtheU.S.CopyrightOfficegenerallydonotconsiderheadandfacemaskstobeusefularticles.Therefore,whenaregistrationspecialistexaminesamaskforcopyrightableauthorship,thespecialistwillnotapplytheseparabilitytest.SeegenerallyRegistrabilityofCostumeDesigns,56Fed.Reg.56,530(Nov.5,1991).Ifthemaskiscombinedwithacostumeorotherusefularticle,thespecialistwillasktheapplicanttoexcludethosefunctionalelementsfromtheclaim.



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Example:

• DinahDunnsubmitsaclaimtoregisteranosemaskintheshapeofapigsnout.Themaskwouldnotbeconsideredausefularticlebecauseitdoesnotperformautilitarianfunction,anditmaybeeligibleforregistrationifitissufficientlycreative. SeeMasqueradeNovelty,Inc.v.UniqueIndustries,Inc.,912F.2d663,671(3dCir.1993).

924.3(B) Blank Forms

TheU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregisterblankformsthataredesignedforrecordinginformationanddonotinthemselvesconveyinformation,regardlessofhowtheyaredescribedinanapplication.37C.F.R.§202.1(c).Examplesofblankformsincludetimecards,graphpaper,accountbooks,diaries,bankchecks,scorecards,addressbooks,reportforms,andorderforms.Id.

Blankformsarenotcopyrightable,becausetheyareutilitarianandtheyarenotseparablefromtheideas,procedures,processes,systems,methods,concepts,principles,ordiscoveriesthattheyareintendedtorecordorimplement.17U.S.C.§102(b).Likewise,theOfficewillrefusetoregisterclaimsthatarebasedsolelyonthearrangement,spacing,orjuxtapositionoftextmatter,becausethistypeofmaterialfallswithintherealmofuncopyrightableideasorconcepts.RegistrationofClaimstoCopyright;NoticeofTerminationofInquiryRegardingBlankForms,45Fed.Reg.63,297(Sept.24,1980).However,aregistrationspecialistmayregisterliteraryorvisualartscontentthathasbeenaddedorappliedtoablankformifitiscopyrightable,suchasartworkthatdecoratestheformorliteraryelementsthatdescribeorexplainhowtocompletetheform.Seeid.at63,298.

Examples:

• BrendaBlandcreatesacolor-codeddailyjournal.Thejournalincludessixcolumnswithtypicalheadingsandmultiplecolorstoaidtheuserinorganizingcontent.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthisjournalbecauseitisablankformthatdoesnotcontainasufficientamountofliteraryorpictorialauthorshiptosupportaregistration.

• BerniceBrowncreatesadailydiarythatincludessixcolumnswithtypicalheadingsandgraphicartworkalongtheborderofeachpage.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregisterthecolumnsandheadingsbecauseitismerelyablankform,butmayregisterthedecorativeborderifitissufficientlycreative.

• BlytheBurnfilesanapplicationtoregistera“graphicaidfordiagnosingAlzheimer’sdisease.”Thedepositcopyconsistsofablankformforrecordingpatientdata.Theformcontainseightboxeswithvariousquestionsthatareintendedtoidentifysymptomsofthisdisease.Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusethe



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claimin“graphicaid”andmayrefertheclaimtotheLiteraryDivisiontodeterminewhetherthetextualauthorshipsupportsaclaiminaliterarywork.

924.3(C) Measuring and Computing Devices

Devicesthatarepurelyintendedtocompute,measure,andrecorddataareusefularticles.Thisincludesanyprintedmaterialonadevicethatprovidestheuserwithusefulinformation,suchaslines,numbers,symbols,colors,categories,andmarkings.Commonexamplesofsuchdevicesincludesliderulers,wheeldials,depthgauges,divecomputers,echo-sounders,andperpetualcalendardesigns.Thesetypesofdevicesdonotcontainexpressiveauthorshipandaremerelydesignedtocalculateandproducefacts,data,orotherusefulinformation.Assuch,theyarenotcopyrightable.See37C.F.R.§202.1(d).

Textualorartisticmaterialthatexplainsorillustratesadeviceanditsusemaybeprotectableifitissufficientlycreative,aslongasitdoesnotperformtheactualusefulfunctionofthedevice.Forexample,aninstructionmanualwithsignificanttextandpicturesthatshowshowtouseadevicemayberegistrable.However,theregistrationforthatworkwouldextendonlytothedescriptiveorillustrativeauthorshipandwouldnotextendtotheconcept,physicaldesign,anduseofthedeviceitself.

Whenassertingaclaiminaninstructionalmanualorothertextorimagesthatexplainorillustrateadevice,applicantsshouldusetermsthatspecificallydescribetheexpressive,nonfunctionalauthorshipthattheauthorcontributedtothework,suchas“textofdescriptionofdevice,”“textofinstructions,”“technicaldiagrams,”or“photographsofdevice.”

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

924.3(D) X-Rays, Medical Imaging, and Non-Medical Echo Sonography

Generally,theU.S.CopyrightOfficewillnotregistermedicalx-raysorimaging,regardlessofwhethertheyareclaimedonanapplicationasphotographs,images,artwork,orgraphics.Thesetypesofimagesareconsideredusefularticles,becausetheyhaveanintrinsicutilitarianfunction,andtheskillorcraftusedtocreatetheimages(ifany)isdictatedbythatfunctionalpurpose.Thefollowingisanonexhaustivelistofsuchworks:

• Medicalx-rays.

• Magneticresonanceimaging.

• Echocardiography.



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• 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.

Whenelementsofcolorandthelikeareusedtofacilitatethemedicaluseofx-raysorotherimages,theOfficewillrefusetoregistertheclaimbasedonthefactthattheimageisausefularticle.Theremayberaresituationswherex-raysormedicalimagingmayberegisterediftheyareseparablefromtheutilitarianfunctionoftheimage,oriftheimagingtechnologywasusedsolelyforartisticpurposes.Forsuchartisticusesofx-rayorimagingtechnologies,thesoleartisticpurposemustberecognizablefromthedepositcopy(ies)

,andmustbeconceptuallyseparableandsufficientlycreative.



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Examples:

• XavierXanderfilesanapplicationforanx-rayofabrokenarmanddescribeshisauthorshipasa“photograph.”Theregistrationspecialistwillrefusetoregistertheclaim.

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


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COMPENDIUM Chapter 900 Visual Art Works · COMPENDIUM: Chapter 900 Visual Art Works 901 What This Chapter Covers This Chapter covers issues related to the examination and registration