Re: Copyright in Fireworks

On 10/1/98, Terry Carroll <carroll[_at_]tjc.com> wrote:
>
> On Wed, 30 Sep 1998, Bruce Hayden <bhayden[_at_]ieee.org> wrote:
> >
> > Houston Industries Power is apparently claiming copyright
> > in their choreographed laser and fireworks display.
> >
> > Isn't fixation required? Is the choreography sufficient?
> > Wouldn't there be a need to simultaneously tape the display?

Just some speculation. Many firework displays are computer-controlled and triggered; certainly, that certain computer program itself would be copyrightable. I'm just guessing Houston Industries Power is claiming quite a bit more than copyright in the program.

> Terry Carroll | "Duke Nukem's world is made up of aliens, radio-
> Santa Clara, CA | active slime and freezer weapons--clearly fantasies,
> carroll[_at_]tjc.com | even by Los Angeles standards." - Micro Star v.
> Modell delendus est | Formgen, Inc., no. 96-56433 (9th Cir. Sep 11, 1998)

btw, Terry, I sure like the way you keep changing your sig yet still keep it within the old Netiquette guidelines (4 lines, minimum of white-space blah, blah)

Lee T. Lau <lau[_at_]wedge.com>       (604) 739-2110 (Phone)
David Wedge Computer Law         (604) 739-2123 (Fax)