I admit, I can never keep straight these categories of potential copyright protection.
Ok, for the record, and so that I have something to look back at the next time I’m feeling utterly confused on the topic, here it is for once and for all (um, or at least until some higher court says otherwise).
Letters, lectures, speeches are all protected by copyright. See e.g. Salinger v. Random House, Inc., 811 F.2d 90, 94-95 (2d Cir. 1987) (author of letter owns the copyright in its contents, while the recipient of the letter retains ownership over the physical document); Jackson v. MPI Home Video, 694 f. Supp. 483 (N.D. Ill 1988) (Jesse Jackson’s speech at the 1988 Democratic Party Convention found protectable as a literary work).
Now what about simple conversations? Well, there my friends, I’m afraid the law is unclear. A conversation is considered something different from a lecture, which is generally written prior to its delivery. That is, just think of a politician at the podium absent a carefully crafted speech. Most of them would be as dumbfounded as say Dan Quayle or George Bush (Version II). I’m not counting Obama in this, of course. The man is a master orator. He’s also refreshingly intelligent.
In any event, the trend appears to be that conversations are not protected by copyright except in extraordinary circumstances. Like when, you ask? Well, the classic conversation case is Estate of Hemingway v. Random House, Inc., 23 N.Y.2d 341, 296 N.Y.s. 2d 771 244 N.E. 2d 250 (1969). In that case, the NY Court of Appeal stated that while there is a presumption that conversations are not copyrightable subject matter, there may be limited an special circumstances where that presumption may be overcome. Specifically, the court said that where the speaker indicates that he/she intends to mark off the utterance at issue from his/her ordinary stream of speech, and further indicates that he/she wishes to exercise control of the statement’s publication. Uh-huh, that happens all the time.
Other courts have taken a more narrow view of things (as if this were possible). See e.g. Falwell v. Penthouse International, Ltd., 521 F. Supp. 1204. 1207-1208 (W.D. Va. 1981) (“Plaintiff’s claim of copyright presupposes that every utterance he makes is a valuable property right. If this were true, the courts would be inundated with claims from celebrities and public figures all of whom may argue that their expressions should also be afforded the extraordinary protection of copyright. Such a result . . . would run counter to the firmly established constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press.”) E.g., a judicially delivered body slam with the implicit message: no!
So now that we’ve gotten this straight, we return to something important: a hot cup of coffee and looking for food in the office fridge.
Jonathan Pink litigates copyright, trademark and patent infringement cases in courts throughout the country. He also handles business litigation disputes and occasionally publishes cartoons worthy of the New Yorker (if only the New Yorker would agree). He can be reached at 949-223-7173.
on Jun 26th, 2010 at 8:02 am
Pillspot.org. Canadian Health&Care.Special Internet Prices.No prescription online pharmacy.Pillspot.org. Vitamins@buy.online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Categories: Antiviral.Weight Loss.Blood Pressure/Heart.Anti-allergic/Asthma.Anxiety/Sleep Aid.Stop SmokingAntidepressants.Vitamins/Herbal Supplements.Mens Health.Antibiotics.Womens Health.Stomach.Pain Relief.Eye Care.Skin Care.Antidiabetic.Mental …
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Purchase@Discount.Abana” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 8:21 am
Cheap@Abana.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it…
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Buy@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription…
on Jul 31st, 2011 at 9:06 am
acai@berry.detox.fort.worth.where.to.buy” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric pills…
on Jul 31st, 2011 at 9:32 am
Purchase@Generic.Acai.500mg” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription…
on Aug 1st, 2011 at 1:22 am
coral@calcium.is.it.safe” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
on Aug 1st, 2011 at 2:31 am
Get@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow it…
on Aug 1st, 2011 at 8:19 am
Buy@Discount.Abilify” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds…
on Aug 2nd, 2011 at 3:07 am
Purchase@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds…
on Aug 2nd, 2011 at 4:15 am
Purchase@Discount.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric pills…
on Aug 2nd, 2011 at 5:23 am
Get@Coral.Calcium.Online” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Buy@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Buy@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
on Aug 6th, 2011 at 6:28 am
Purchase@Cheap.Accutane” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow it…
on Aug 6th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Order@Accutane.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
on Aug 7th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Get@Aciphex.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric pills…
on Aug 7th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Order@Generic.Aciphex” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
on Aug 10th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Buy@Discount.Actoplus.Met” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric pills zdg…
on Aug 11th, 2011 at 4:50 am
Order@Discount.Actos” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs krg…
on Aug 12th, 2011 at 4:41 am
Order@Discount.Acular” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs zfk…
on Aug 12th, 2011 at 7:46 am
Buy@Adalat.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds qmo…
on Aug 12th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Cheap@Adalat.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buywithout prescription dyo…
on Aug 12th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Buy@Cheap.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription xiu…
on Aug 14th, 2011 at 12:52 am
Buy@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs axm…
on Aug 14th, 2011 at 4:03 am
Order@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs nih…
on Aug 15th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Order@Accupril.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription tao…
on Aug 16th, 2011 at 5:27 am
Purchase@Accupril.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription yyn…
on Aug 16th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Buy@Accutane.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription jui…
on Aug 17th, 2011 at 9:21 am
Order@Accutane.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription gdt…
on Aug 17th, 2011 at 11:32 am
Purchase@Accutane.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyit now ojb…
on Aug 17th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Purchase@Generic.Accutane.10mg.20mg” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs itj…
on Aug 21st, 2011 at 12:25 am
Purchase@Discount.Acomplia” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it xmt…
on Aug 21st, 2011 at 2:20 am
Get@Acomplia.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it tly…
on Aug 22nd, 2011 at 2:39 am
Order@Generic.Actonel” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buydrugs without prescription xab…
on Aug 26th, 2011 at 7:19 am
hair@growth.and.accutane” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
on Aug 27th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
altace@cough.buy” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow…
on Oct 18th, 2011 at 11:17 am
antidepressant drugs for cats…
Buy_generic drugs…
on Oct 19th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
drug detection testing…
Buy_generic meds…
on Oct 21st, 2011 at 9:29 am
best life diet…
Buy_no prescription…
on Oct 24th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
green nerf ds lite armour…
Buy_generic pills…
on Oct 26th, 2011 at 4:30 am
bmi chart for kids…
Buy_generic drugs…
on Oct 26th, 2011 at 9:31 am
buy cheap clomid…
Buy_it now…
on Oct 28th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
what is valtrex used for…
Buy_generic drugs…
on Oct 30th, 2011 at 3:30 am
symptoms of chocolate allergy…
Buy_it now…
on Oct 31st, 2011 at 1:07 am
deadliest type of cancer…
Buy_generic pills…
on Oct 31st, 2011 at 2:27 pm
genie francis weight loss…
Buy_now…
on Oct 31st, 2011 at 10:47 pm
zyrtec and drug tests…
Buy_generic meds…
on Nov 2nd, 2011 at 6:28 am
persistent nausea and stomach pain…
Buy_generic meds…
on Nov 2nd, 2011 at 6:07 pm
cordarone intravenous…
Buy_generic meds…
on Nov 2nd, 2011 at 7:47 pm
respiratory infection humidity dry antibiotics avelox…
Buy_generic pills…
on Nov 2nd, 2011 at 9:27 pm
find clomid cheap in us…
Buy_now…
on Nov 6th, 2011 at 10:33 am
what causes constant itching…
Buy_generic pills…
on Nov 6th, 2011 at 6:52 pm
washington university marfan losartan study…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
on Nov 6th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
clinical trial ediary data…
Buy_now it…
on Nov 7th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
juliet’s on the spot acne treatment…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
on Nov 9th, 2011 at 2:47 am
rules on flying during pregnancy…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
on Nov 9th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
neurontin and mood lability…
Buy_generic meds…
on Nov 10th, 2011 at 3:47 am
menses while on birth control pills…
Buy_generic drugs…
on Nov 13th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
can iodine help thyroid function…
Buy_generic drugs…
on Nov 13th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
breven medication for add…
Buy_generic drugs…
on Nov 15th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
information about treatment for leg edema…
Buy_generic drugs…
on Nov 17th, 2011 at 1:05 am
dogs to detect cancer…
Buy_generic drugs…