Re: Copyright cartoon for web site

On Feb. 4, 1997, Allen Christian <allen_christian[_at_]tamu-commerce.edu> wrote:

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Others have said how to register the copyright in the particular illustration and that you have copyright protection on fixation in a tangible medium. If you want to try to protect the character rather than just the illustration, I'd recommend creating several illustrations of the character in a variety of poses, activities, or situations and registering these. The problem with a single illustration of a character is that someone might be able to present your character in a different way that avoids the substantial similarity prong of infringement analysis. A greater number of illustrations reduces the possibility that someone else will be able to imitate your character without infringing the copyright in some portion of the array of illustrations you have created.

Brian E. Lewis
Associate General Counsel
Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
<lawman[_at_]wizards.com>

"The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." Yale business management professor responding to student Fred Smith's paper on a reliable overnight delivery service. (That is Fred Smith as in CEO FedEx) Received on Sat Feb 08 1997 - 00:24:22 GMT