Here is a short list of US copyright case law which I did couple of months ago based on books I learnt from. I’ll try to add links and comments later. I will also prepare a Wiki page about this subject matter.

I. Concept of Copyright
II. Copyrightable Subject Matter
III. Ownership
IV. Formalities
V. Exclusive Rights
VI. Fair Use
VII. Enforcement of Copyright
VIII. Federal Preemption of State Law
IX. International Dimensions of Copyright

I. CONCEPT OF COPYRIGHT

A. General Principles of the U.S. copyright

• White-Smith Music Pub. Co. v. Apollo Co., 209 U.S. 1 (U.S. 1908).
• Mazer v. Stein, 347 U.S 201 (1954).
• Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, 464 U.S. 417 (1984).
• American Geophysical Union v. Texaco, Inc., 802 F. Supp. 1 (S.D.N.Y. 1992), aff’d, 60 F.3d 913 (2d Cir. 1995).
• Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v. Sarony, 111 U.S. 53 (1884).
• Blienstein v. Donaldson Lithographing Co., 188 U.S. 239 (1903).

B. Patents and copyright

• Alfred Bell & Co. v. Catalda Fine Arts, Inc., 191 F.2d 99 (2d Cir. 1951).

C. Trademarks and copyright

• Fredrick Warne & Co. v. Book Sales, Inc., 481 F. Supp. 1191 (S.D.N.Y. 1979).

D. Chattels

• Forward v. Thorogood, 985 F.2d 604 (1st Cir. 1993).

E. Term of copyright protection

• Eldred v. Ashcroft, 537 U.S. 186 (2003).

F. Copyright to “orphan works”

• Kahle v. Gonzales, 474 F.3d 665 (9th Cir. 2007).

G. Copyright misuse doctrine versus competition law

• Lasercomb America, Inc. v. Reynolds, 911 F.2d 970 (4th Cir. 1990).
• Practice Mgmt. Info. Corp. v. AMA, 121 F.3d 516 (9th Cir. 1997).
• Video Pipeline, Inc. v. Buena Vista Home Entm’t, Inc., 342 F.3d 191 (3d Cir. 2003).

II. COPYRIGHTABLE SUBJECT MATTER

A. Original Works of Authorship

• Feist Publication, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service, 499 U.S. 340 (1991).
• Magic Marketing v. Mailing Services Of Pittsburgh, 634 F. Supp. 769 (W.D.Pa. 1986).
• Sebastian Int’l, Ind. v. Consumer Contacts (PTY) Ltd., 664 F. Supp.909 (D.N.J. 1987), rev’d on the other grounds, 847 F.2d 1093 (3d Cir. 1988).

B. The Ideal/Expression Dichotomy

• Baker v. Selden, 101 U.S. 99 (1879).
• Morrisey v. Procter & Gamble Co., 379 F.2d 675 (1st Cir. 1967).
• Lotus Development Corp. v. Borland International, Inc., 49 F.3d 807 (1st Cir. 1995), aff’d by an equally divided court, 516 U.S 233 (1996).
• American Dental Association v. Delta Dental Plans Association, 126 F.3d 977 (7th Cir 1997).
• Bibbero Systems, Inc. v. Colwell Systems, Inc., 893 F.2d 1104 (9th Cir. 1990).
• Continental Casualty Co. v. Beardsley, 253 F. 2d 702 (2nd Cir.), certoriari denied, 358 U.S. 816 (1958).

C. Facts and Compilation

• Feist Publication, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service, 499 U.S. 340 (1991).
• Rockford Map Publishers, Inc. v. Directory Services Co., 768 F.2d 145 (7th Cir. 1985).
• Nash v. CBS, 899 F.2d 1537 (7th Cir. 1990).
• Wainwright Securities v. Wall Street Transcript Corp., 558 F.2d 91 (2d Cir. 1977).
• Roth Greeting Cards v. United Card Co., 429 F.2d 1106 (9th Cir. 1970).
• Atari Games Corp. v. Oman, 979 F.2d 242 (D.C.Cir. 1992).
• Mathew Bender & Co. v. West Publishing Co., 158 F.3d 674 (2d Cir. 1998).
• West Publishing Co. v. Mead Data Central, Inc., 799 F.2d 1219 (8th Cir. 1986).
• CCC Information Services v. Maclean Hunter Market Reports, Inc., 44 F.3d 61 (2d Cir. 1994).
• BellSouth advertising & Publishing Corp. v. Donnelley Information Publishing, Inc., 999 F.2d 1436 (11th Cir. 1993).
• Mason v. Montgomery Data, Inc., 967 F.2d 135 (5th Cir. 1992).
• CDN .v Kapes, CDN Inc. v. Kapes, 197 F.3d 1256 (9th Cir. 1999).

D. Derivative Work

• Batlin & Son v. Snyder, 536 F.2d 486 (2d Cir. 1976).
• Maljack Productions, Inc. v. UAV Corp., 964 F. Supp. 1416 (C.D. Cal. 1997).

E. Computer Programs

• Apple Computer, Inc. v. Franklin Computer Corp., 714 F.2d 1240 (3d Cir. 1983).
• Data General Corp. v. Grumman Systems, 825 F. Supp. 340 (D. Mass. 1993).
• Lotus Development Corp. v. Borland International Inc., 49 F.3d 807, 34 USPQ2d 1014 (1st Cir. 1995).
• Computer Assocs. Int’l, Inc. v. Altai, Inc., 982 F.2d 693 (2d Cir. 1992).

F. Pictorial, Graphic and Sculptural work

• Masquerade Novelty Inc. v. Unique Industries, 912 F.2d 663 (3rd Cir. 1990)
• Superior Form Builders, Inc v. Dan Chase Taxidermy Supply Co., 74 F.3d 488 (4th Cir. 1995), certoriari denied, 519 U.S. 809 (1996).
• Satava v. Lovry, 323 F.3d 805 (9th Cir. 2003).

G. Separability

• Keiseltein Cord v. accessories By pearl., Inc., 632 F.2d 989 (2d Cir. 1980).
• Carol Banhart Inc. v. Economy Cover Corp., 773 F.2d 411 (2d Cir. 1985).

H. Architectural Works

• Demetriades v. Kaufmann, 680 F. Supp. 658 (S.D.N.Y. 1998).

I. Characters

• Nichols v. Universal Pictures Corp., 45 F.2d 119 (2d Cir. 1930).
• Warner Bros., Inc. v. Columbia Broadcasting System, 216 F.2d 945 (9th Cir. 1954).
• Anderson v. Stallone 11 U.S.P.Q.2D 1161 (C.D. Cal. 1989).
• Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates, 581 F.2d 751 (9th Cir. 1978).
• Detectives Comics, Inc. v. Bruns Publishing, Inc., 111 F.2d 432 (2d Cir. 1940).
• Gaiman v. McFarlane, 360 F.3d 644 (7th Cir. 2004).

J. TV formats

• Barris/Fraser Enterprises v. Goodson-Todman Enterprise, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 146, 5 U.S.P.Q.2D (BNA) 1887 (S.D.NY. 1988).
• CBS Broad., Inc. v. ABC, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20258 (S.D.N.Y. 2003).

K. Sound recordings (sampling)

• Grand Upright Music, Ltd v. Warner Brothers Records, Inc., 780 F.Supp. 182 (S.D.N.Y. 1991).
• Newton v. Diamond, 349 F.3d 591 (9th Cir. 2003).
• Newton v. Diamond, 388 F.3d 1189 (9th Cir. 2004).

L. Government Works

• County of Suffolk v. First Am. Real Estate Solutions, 261 F.3d 179 (2d Cir. 2001).
• Veeck v. S. Bldg. Code Cong. Int’l, 293 F.3d 791 (5th Cir. 2002).

M. Morality and public policy in granting copyright protection

• Belcher v. Tarbox, 486 F.2d 1087 (9th Cir. 1973).
• Mitchell Bros. Film Group v. Cinema Adult Theater, 604 F.2d 852 (5th Cir. 1979).
• Devils Films, Inc. v. Nectar Video, 29 F. Supp. 2d 174 (S.D.N.Y. 1998).
• Tunick v. Safir, 209 F.3d 67 (2d Cir. 2000).

N. Other

• Open Source Yoga Unity v. Choudhury, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10440, 74 U.S.P.Q.2D (BNA) 1434, Copy. L. Rep. (CCH) P28 (D. Cal. 2005).

III. OWNERSHIP

A. Initial Ownership

• Adrien v. Southern Ocean County Chamber Of Commerce, 927 F.2d 132 (3d Cir. 1991).

B. Works Made For Hire

• Community For Creative Non-Violence v. Reid, 490 U.S 730, 109 S. Ct 2166, 104 L. Ed 811 (1989).
• Aymes v. Bonelli, 980 F.2d 857 (2d Cir. 1992).
• Carter v. Helmsley- Spear, Inc., 71 F.3d 77 (2d Cir. 1995), 116 U.S 1824 (1996).

C. Joint Works

• Thomas v. Larson, 147 F.3d 195 (2d Cir. 1998).

D. Transfer of Copyright Ownership

• Effects Associates v. Cohen, 908 F.2d 555 (9th Cir. 1990), cert denied, 498 U.S. 1103 (1991).
• Cohen v. Paramount Pictures Corp., 845 F.2d 851 (9th Cir. 1998).
• Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers, Ltd. v. Walt Disney Co., 145 F.3d 481 (2d Cir. 1998).
• Fantasy, Inc v. Fogerty, 654 F. Supp. 1129 (N.D. Cal. 1987).

E. Renewals and Derivative Works

• Stewart v. Abend, 495 U.S. 207, 110S. Ct. 1750, 109 L. Ed.2d 184 (1990).
• Russell v. Price, 612 F.2d 1123 (9th Cir 1979).

IV. FORMALITIES

• Estate Of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. v. CBS, Inc., 13 F. Supp. 2d 1347 (N.D.Ga. 1998).
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences v. Creative House Promotions, Inc., 944 F.2d 1446 (9th Cir. 1991).
• Hasbro Bradely, Inc. v. Sparkle Toys, Inc., 780 F.2d 189 (2d Cir.1985).

V. EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS UNDER COPYRIGHT

A. Right to make copies

• Mathew Bender & Co. v. West Publishing Co., 158 F.3d 674 (2d Cir 1998).
• Arnstein v. Porter, 154 F.2d 464 (2d Cir. 1946), cert. Denied, 330 U.S 851 (1947).
• Dawson v. Hinshaw Music, Inc., 905 F.2d 731 (4th Cir.), cert. Denied, 498 U.S. 981 (1990) .
• Bright Tunes Music Corp. v. Harrisongs Music, Ltd., 420 F. Supp. 177 (S.D.N.Y. 1976).
• Laureyssens v. Idea Group, Inc., 964 F.2d 131 (2d Cir. 1992).
• Ringgold v. Black Entertainment T.V. Inc., 126 F.3d 70 (2d Cir. 1997).
• Peter Pan Fabrics, Inc. v. Martin Weiner Corp., 274 F.2d 487 (2d Cir. 1960).
• Herbert Rosenthal Jewelry Corp. v. Kalpakian, 446 F.2d 738 (9th Cir. 1971).
• Educational Testing Services v. Katzman, 793 F.2d 533 (3d Cir. 1986).
• Nichols v. Universal Pictures Corp., 45 F.2d 119 (2d Cir. 1930).
• Sheldon v. Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corp., 81 F.2d 49 (2d Cir. 1936).
• Computer Associates International, Inc. v. Altai, Inc., 982 F.2d 693 (2d Cir. 1992).
• Steinberg v. Columbia Pictures Industries, 663 F. Supp. 706 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).
• Kisch v. Ammirati & Puris, Inc., 657 F. Supp. 380 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).

B. Right to make Phonorecords

• ABKCO Music, Inc. v. Stellar Records, Inc., 96 F.3d 60 (2d Cir. 1996).
• Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. Dimension Films, 410 F.3d 792 (6th Cir. 2005).

C. The Right to Prepare Derivative Works

• Horgan v. MacMillan, Inc., 789 F.2d 157 (2d Cir. 1986).
• Micro Star, Inc v. Formgen, Inc., 154 F.3d 1107 (9th Cir. 1998).
• Lee v. A.R.T. Co., 125 F.3d 580 (7th Cir. 1997).
• Futuredontics, Inc. v. Applied Angramics, Inc., 45 U.S.P.Q.2d. 2005, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22249 (C.D.Cal. 1998).
• National Geographic Society v. Classified Geographic, Inc., 27 F. Supp. 655 (D.Mass. 1939).
• Gilliam v. American Broadcasting Cos., 538 F.2d 14 (2d Cir. 1976).
• Wojnarowicz v. American Family Association, 745 F. Supp.130 (S.D.N.Y. 1990).
• Grand Upright Music, Ltd v. Warner Brothers Records, Inc., 780 F.Supp. 182 (S.D.N.Y. 1991).

D. The Right to Distribute

• Fawcett Publications, Inc v. Elliot Publishing Co., 46 F. Supp. 717 (S.D.N.Y. 1942).
• Quality King Distributors, Inc. v. L’Anza Research International, Inc., 523 U.S. 135 (1998).

E. Right of Public Performance and Display

• Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. v. Aveco, Inc., 800 F.2d 59 (3d Cir. 1986).
• Ocasek v. Hegglund, 116 F.R.D 154 (D. Wyo. 1987).

VI. FAIR USE

A. The application of the Fair Use Doctrine to the Creation of New Works

• Campbell v. Acuff- Rose Music, Inc., 510 U.S. 569 (1994).
• Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates, 581 F.2d 751 (9th Cir. 1978).
• Harper & Row Publishers, Inc. v. Nation Enterprises, 471 U.S. 539 (1985).
• Craft v. Kobler, 667 F. Supp. 120 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).
• Castle Rock Entertainment, Inc. v. Carol Publishing Group, Inc., 150 F.3d 132 (2d Cir. 1998).
• Sega Enterprises, Ltd. v. Accolade, Inc., 977 F.2d 1510 (9th Cir. 1992).

B. The application of the Fair Use Doctrine to New Technologies of Copying and Dissemination

• Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, 464 U.S. 417 (1984).
• Princeton University Press v. Michigan Document Services, Inc., 99 F.3d 1381 (6th Cir. 1996) (en banc), certoriari denied, 117 S. Ct.1336 (1997).
• American Geophysical Union v. Texaco, Inc., 60 F.3d 913 (2d Cir. 1995).
• Storm Impact, Inc. v. Software of the Month Club, 13 F. Supp. 2d 782 (N.D. Ill.1997).
• Infinity Broadcast Corp. v. Kirkwood, 150 F.3d 104 (2d Cir. 1998).
• Recording Indus. Ass’n of Am. v. Diamond Multimedia Sys., 180 F.3d 1072 (9th Cir. 1999).

VII. ENFORCEMENT OF COPYRIGHT

A. Damages

• Frank Music Corp. v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., 772 F.2d 505 (9th Cir. 1985).
• Cream Records, Inc. v. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co., 754 F.2d 826 (9th Cir. 1985).
• Engel v. Wild Oats, Inc., 644 F.Supp. 1089 (S.D.N.Y. 1986).
• Felter v. Columbia Pictures Television, Inc., 118 S. Ct. 1279 (1998).

B. Costs and Attorney’s Fees

• Fogerty v. Fantasy, Inc., 510 U.S 517 (1994).

C. Individual, Vicarious, and Contributory Liability

• Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, 464 U.S. 417 (1984).
• Fonovisa, Inc. v. Cherry Auction, Inc., 76 F.3d 259 (9th Cir. 1996).
• A&M Records, Inc. v. Abdallah, 948 F. Supp. 1449 (C.D. Cal. 1996).
• Religious Technology Center v. Netcom On-Line Communication Services, Inc., 907 F. Supp. 1361 (N.D.Cal. 1995).

D. Overenforcement: Copyright Misuse

• Practice Management Information Corp. v. American Medical Association, 121 F.3d 516 (9th Cir. 1997).

VIII. FEDERAL PREEMPTION OF STATE LAW

• International News Services v. Associated Press, 248 U.S. 215 (1918).
• Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Stiffel CO., 376 U.S. 225 (1964).
• Compco Corp. v. Day-Brite Lighting, Inc., 376 U.S. 234 (1964).
• Goldstein v. California, 412 U.S. 546 (1973).
• Kewanee Oil Co. v. Bicron Corp., 416 U.S 470 (1974).
• Bonito Boats, Inc. v. Thunder Craft Boats, Inc., 489 U.S. 141 (1989).
• Baltimore Orioles, Inc. v. Major League Baseball Players Association, 805 F.2d 663 (7th Cir. 1986).
• National Basketball Ass’n v. Motorola, Inc., 105 F.3d 841 (2d Cir. 1997).
• ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg, 86 F.3d 1447 (7th Cir. 1996).
• Smith v. Weinstein, 578 F. Supp. 1297 (S.D.N.Y. 1984).
• Ehat v. Tanner, 780 F.2d 876 (10th Cir. 1985).
• Harper & Row Publishers, Inc. v. Nation Enterprises, 723 F.2d 195 (2d Cir. 1983), rev’d on other grounds, 471 U.S. 539 (1985).
• Computer Associates International, Inc v. Altai, Inc., 982 F.2d 693 (2d Cir. 1992).
• Rano v. Sipa Press, Inc., 987 F.2d 580 (9th Cir. 1993).

IX. INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF COPYRIGHT

• London Film Productions, Ltd. v. Intercontinental Communication, Inc., 580 F. Supp. 47 (S.D.N.Y. 1984).
• Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers, Ltd. v. Walt Disney & Co., 145 F.3d 481 (2d Cir. 1998).
• Itar-Tass Russian News Agency v. Russian Kurier, Inc., 153 F.3d 82 (2d Cir. 1998).
• Subafilms, Ltd. v. MGM-Pathe’ Communications Co., 24 F.3d 1088 (9th Cir.) (en banc), certoriari denied, 513 U.S. 1001 (1994).
• Update Art, Inc. v. Modiin Publishers, 843 F.2d 67 (2d Cir. 1998).
• Curb v. MCA, 898 F. Supp. 586 (M.D. Tenn. 1995).
• King Features Syndicate v. Fleischer, 299 F. 533 (2d Cir. 1924).

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