Apologies. I mischaracterized the Feist case. The plaintiff's arrangement of facts WAS NOT original enough to be eligible for copyright protection. But, apparently the level of originality required for an "original work" is not very high.
An idea for the future is to digitally mark graphics and documents so it's possible to track down thieves. A recent PBS "Computer Chronicles" show on copyright included Adobe Products representative, Karen Gauthier. She showed how subtly graphics can be watermarked. (<http://www.computerchronicles.org/>. Go to archives and the copyright episode #1716).
The graphic can then be registered at two levels, one free, one paid. This serves two purposes, per Gauthier. First, anyone who wants to legitimately use the graphic is able to track down the artist. Second, you can obtain periodic reports of any unauthorized web use of your work.
And, according to an April 20 news release from Digimarc Corp., there is technology that even works for print. They say that identity document marks survive the printing process, laminations and binding -- surviving "normal usage over the life of the document." <http://www.digimarc.com/news/pr00-29.shtml>
Liane Lucietta
<lrlucietta[_at_]hotmail.com>
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