Law Commons^™

Assertive Modesty: An Economics Of Intangibles, Wendy J. Gordon

Faculty Scholarship

At the center of our Symposium stand two papers: "A Manifesto Concerning the Legal Protection of Computer Programs" (Manifesto) and "Legal Hybrids: Between the Patent and Copyright Paradigms" (Legal Hybrids). Both are stimulating. Both are lengthy. As a result, my primary role is that of a guide: this Comment will summarize the authors' proposals, analyze certain aspects in greater detail, and outline their explicit and implicit methodologies. Part I of the Comment describes the papers' positions and methodologies. Part II highlights some of the papers' many contributions to the literature, and offers some other evaluative observations.

The Uncertain Future Of Computer Software Users’ Rights In The Aftermath Of Mai Systems, Michael E. Johnson

Duke Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Guarding Your Company's Intellectual Property Rights: Patents, Trademarks, And Copyright Protection, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

No abstract provided.

The Arts As A Cultural And Economic Factor In World Trade, Stanley S. Madeja

Northern Illinois University Law Review

The author begins by reviewing the cultural vision reflected in the United Nations Charter. The author analyzes the growth and development in the arts and arts industry since 1945, and discusses the arts as both an economic force in the United States and as a commodity in world trade. The author concludes with a discussion regarding ownership of the arts and culture, intellectual property rights, and copyrights in the field of electronic imaging.

Mickey Mouse Emeritus: Character Protection And The Public Domain, Jessica Litman

University of Miami Entertainment & Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Payment Demands For Spurious Copyrights: Four Causes Of Action, Paul J. Heald

Scholarly Works

“COPYING IS ILLEGAL” declares the final page of the chorus from the Bach cantata lying to the right of my computer. The slogan is ingeniously printed in gray across the entire page so that it will show up clearly if any photocopies are made. The first page of the text contains the copyright symbol and the name and address of the “sole selling agent” of the putative copyright owner. Apparently, the copyright claimant would prefer to sell additional copies of the music rather than receive royalties for copying done by users. “ALL COPYING IS ILLEGAL” states the edition of Shakespeare's …

Licensing And Merchandising Of Characters: Art Law Topic For Aals 1994, Phillip Edwards Page

University of Miami Entertainment & Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Methuselah Factor: When Characters Outlive Their Copyrights, Leslie A. Kurtz

University of Miami Entertainment & Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Stolen From Stardust And Air: Idea Theft In The Entertainment Industry And A Proposal For A Concept Initiator Credit, Robert M. Winteringham

Federal Communications Law Journal

In the entertainment industry idea theft is rampant. Because copyright protects only fixed expressions, a legal remedy does not always exist to stop the unattributed and unrewarded use of plot ideas. By incorporating elements from existing copyright and contract law, this Note proposes the creation of a "concept initiator" credit to protect fully developed ideas even where copyright cannot attach. The Author argues that the credit and the three-part test to determine when the credit applies will protect ideas from theft without drastically increasing the number of frivolous lawsuits.

Overview Of Potential Intellectual Property Protection For Biotechnology, Kate H. Murashige

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Dr. Murashige compares the function and value of copyright, patent and trade secret laws in recovering investments in developing genome-related biotechnology.

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose--But Is A Costume A Dress?, Malla Pollack

Malla Pollack

Law differs from life. If a judge, or more importantly a justice, calls a tail a leg, the tail does become a leg. Or, to be precise, the owner of the tail is treated as if he owned a leg. This short essay deals with the changeable meaning of the words "utilitarian function" and "useful article" in the Copyright Act. To be specific, is the Eastern District of New York correct in grouping a Halloween costume with a dress, rather than with a nose mask? This absurd question, timely reraised just after Halloween, is another chimera in the horror house …

Digital Image Reproduction, Distribution And Protection: Legal Remedies And Industrywide Alternatives, Jonathan A. Franklin

Librarians' Articles

Section II of this article describes the existing legal claims and remedies available to creators and distributors of stock photos who are confronted with the unauthorized use of their images. Section III discusses the alternatives to individual licensing and enforcement actions. After concluding that a centralized computer distribution and accounting system would best'serve the creators and distributors, section IV suggests how existing industry standards can help tailor the implementation of the collecting society model. Section V briefly discusses the international implications of such a distribution scheme, focusing on the problems of variable copyright terms and foreign collecting societies.

This article …

Avtorskoye Pravo [Author's Law]: The Reform Of Russian Copyright Law Toward An International Standard, Christopher Boffey

Maryland Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

The Copyrightability Of Nonliteral Elements Of Computer Programs, Julian Velasco

Journal Articles

The goal of copyright law is "[t]o promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts." It is premised on the assumption that "encourag[ing] . . . individual effort by personal gain is the best way to advance public welfare through the talents of authors . . ." In order to "promote progress," however, copyright law must respond to changes in technology.

One issue that has been problematic for the courts is whether and to what extent the nonliteral elements of computer programs are copyrightable. Nonliteral elements are aspects of the computer program other than the written code itself. Although it …

Digital Image Reproduction, Distribution And Protection: Legal Remedies And Industrywide Alternatives , Jonathan A. Franklin

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Proprietary Rights In Digital Data, Maureen A. O'Rourke

Faculty Scholarship

The Clinton Administration in 1993 announced its intention to develop a National ; Information Infrastructure (NII), an "information superhighway" designed to make electronic digital information more widely available and accessible to the public. This announcement has . ~ stimulated a national debate over how best to define and enforce an appropriate set of proprietary rights in digital information. That debate should begin with an analysis and assessment of the current state of the law of digital data. While that law resembles a moving target, general trends may be identified. The current framework provides the background against which NIL may be …