Case ID: f_177/html/0286-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "COXE, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GREEN et al. v. MINZENSHEIMER.
    (Circuit Court, S. D. New York.
    March. 19, 1909.)
    Copyrights (§ 66) — “Infringement”—What Constitutes — Temporary Injunction.
    The singing of a single verse and chorus of a copyrighted song, without musical accompaniment, in imitation of the voice, postures, and mannerisms of another, is not an “infringement,” against which a temporary injunction will issue:
    [Ed. Note. — Eor other eases, see Copyrights, Dec. Dig. § 66.*
    For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, vol. 4, pp. 3590-3594.
    Infringement of copyright by use of extracts and quotations, see note to G. & C. Marriam Co. v. United Dictionary Co., 76 C. C. A. 475.]
    In Equity. Suit by Irene Franklin Green and another against Belle Blanch Minzensheimer. On motion for injunction restraining defendant from producing upon the stage a copyrighted musical composition.
    Denied.
    Nathan Burkan, for complainants.
    August Dreyer, for defendant.
    
      
      For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs, 1907 to date. & Rep’r Indexes
    
   COXE, Circuit Judge.

The foundation of the motion appears to be a copyright upon the musical composition “Redhead.” It appears that one Geo Feist is the owner of the copyright upon the musical composition. He, however, is not a party to this action. It is alleged that the complainants have reserved to themselves the dramatic right in “Redhead.” The defendant is charged with infringement because she imitates the voice, postures and mannerisms of the complainant Irene Franklin Green by singing one verse and the chorus of “Redhead.” She does this without musical accompaniment of any kind, prefacing her singing by the announcement that she will give “a suggestion of Irene Franklin,” which is the stage name of Irene Franklin Green. It is not easy to see how the defendant infringes the copyright of a musical composition not owned by the complainants by a performance in which no music is used, especially as the court is not informed what the defendant does, except in the most general way. If, as the affidavits seem to show, the short performance by the defendant in which she imitates several well-known popular singers, the complainant among the rest, derives its popularity from the mimicry and cleverness in which she reproduces the mannerisms of these popular favorites, I am unable to see how the case can be distinguished from Bloom & Hamlin v. Nixon (C. C.) 125 Fed. 977. It is enough for the present to say that, upon the papers submitted to me, there is too much doubt to warrant the issuing of a preliminary injunction.

The motion is denied.