Re: Coipyright in the Hollywood Sign

Surely the Chamber of Commerce can claim copyright only in its own photograph of the sign?

In this case, the photo was taken by an individual ("by one of our own staff"). Exactly like the zillions of photos of the sign taken by tourists over the years. Surely each holds copyright in their own photographs of the sign.

The sign itself can't possibly be protected by copyright, can it? It's a sign. A word. A name. On a hillside. In a landscape.

The mind boggles.

Could it be protected by trademark?

Amalyah Keshet

At 17:05 15/06/2005, you wrote:
>I'm hoping that US colleagues on the list may be able to help with advice
>on a recent request to pay licensing fees for use of a photograph of the
>Hollywood sign.
>
>My university is a distance teaching university in the UK and we host an
>open web site on which we place educational and general interest content
>for access by members of the public. One of the activities featured on
>the site contains a photograph of the Hollywood sign, taken by one of our
>own staff.
>We've received a request to pay licensing fees for use of the photograph
>from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerc, claiming that the sign itself is
>protected by copyright.
>
>Is this the case, and does US legislation permit licensing of this
>kind? Under UK copyright law works of art displayed openly in public
>places may be photographed freely and a similar photograph in the UK could
>be used without licence.
>
>Many thanks
>
>Richard McCracken
>Head of Intellectual Property
>The Open University
Received on Fri Jun 17 2005 - 00:00:00 GMT