Principles of Copyright Law – Cases and Materials

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I.

SUBJECT MATTER AND CONDITIONS OF PROTECTION

1. COPYRIGHT IN AN ITEM IS DISTINGUISHED FROM PROPERTY
   RIGHTS IN IT AS A PHYSICAL THING


2. IDEAS VS. EXPRESSION

• Copyright does not subsist in style


• Copyright does not subsist merely in news


• Copyright does not subsist in history, historical incidents or facts


• Copyright does not subsist in scientific principles or descriptions
  of an art


• Copyright does not subsist in mere principles or schemes


• Copyright does not subsist in methods of operation


• General ideas, e.g. for entertainment, are not protected by
  copyright


• Ideas may nevertheless be protected through means other than
  copyright

3. CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN IDEAS
   AND EXPRESSION

• The author is the person responsible for the work’s expression


• Taking an idea does not infringe copyright


• Idea and expression may merge


• Where does “idea” stop and “expression” start?

4. COPYRIGHT PROTECTION ARISES AUTOMATICALLY ON
   CREATION OF THE WORK, AND DOES NOT DEPEND UPON
   REGISTRATION

CHAPTER I.

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