Re: Aphorisms and Copyright

Bob Stock <bstock[_at_]ucla.edu> wondered:
>
> Obviously, these are bare conclusions with no analysis as to the
> threshold question of copyrightability, but what the hell is a heat
> transfer, and why would defendant use those kinds of sayings on such
> a product?

Heat transfers are what put designs on t-shirts and that pretty much answers the second question. I deal with a lot of stickers, patches and t-shirts and am constantly getting calls from people who have a "great" slogan idea and want to copyright it. I had heard about Brilliant before but it still doesn't make sense to me that his slogans can be copyrighted. There's a provision in the copyright regs that says they can't.

But perhaps this judge doesn't read regs.

I also gets calls on behalf of clients from guys who have "copyrighted" "Shit Happens" or "Mean People Suck." I just tell them to send me a copy of the form and I have yet to hear back from any. But then Ashleigh Brilliant's never called...

Carol Cricow
<carol[_at_]yujean.com>

"The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are in the wrong. Nearly anybody will side with you when you are in the right." Mark Twain Received on Sun Aug 16 1998 - 17:55:50 GMT