Source: http://hyperlaw.com/westlit/litdocs/1996-11-04-hyperlaw-reply-motion-for-sj.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 08:31:45+00:00

Document:
94 Civ. 0589, U.S.D.C. S.D.N.Y., November 4, 1996.
UPON HYPERLAW, INC.'S REQUEST, THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN UNSEALED BY WEST PUBLISHING CO. PURSUANT TO THE PROTECTIVE ORDER DATED APRIL 13, 1994.
It is clear that West now seeks a trial on the merits of its putative copyrights in the text of judicial opinions. West's Opposition to HyperLaw's Motion for Summary Judgment ("Opposition") brims with assertions that "HyperLaw seeks. . .to raise scores of clearly disputed issues". Id. at 1.
There are, however, no material issues regarding the text of court opinions published in the Supreme Court Reporter and Federal Reporter–old or new. What has really happened is that for the nth time in this case, West asserts that it adds some great and mysterious authorship to the text of court opinions–but has again refused HyperLaw's nth requestthat West specify what authorship it really adds to actual text. This refusal does not create an issue, nor does it entitle West to side-step summary judgment.
West uses sophistry and obfuscation to try to create the appearance that there is an issue–that something original or creative is done to judicial text. There are only two or three material facts. There is no issue regarding these material facts.
First, West adds nothing to the text of court opinions in its federal appellate reporters that is even arguably copyrightable. A simple run-through of actual text from actual volumes demonstrates this beyond question.
Second, as West is pressed against the wall of closer and closer scrutiny, its efforts to manufacture issues has become strained, almost farcical. To contrive an issue, West attempts to interject a completely inapplicable old chestnut, "intermediate copying" . This is an heroic effort to distract the Court from the total lack of original or creative changes to judicial text.
Although HyperLaw would welcome the revelations which would attend a trial on the merits of these mysterious, creative changes (and would certainly look forward to the examination of West's witnesses on such complex issues as exactly what West does add to the text of judicial decisions in a single volume) HyperLaw submits that trial is not necessary. Despite manufactured "disputes" about non-critical issues, the essential facts are present.
HyperLaw has never previously expressed any intent to copy text and pagination from 'the lower court decisions of federal appellate decisions reported by HyperLaw'. . .
However, more than four years ago, HyperLaw stated that it considered the lower court decisions which are referenced in federal appellate decisions to be an integral part of the text it will copy–to be included by reference in those federal appellate reporters.
Exhibit 14 to HyperLaw's Complaint, HyperLaw's letter to James Schatz dated May 21, 1992. West has always known that HyperLaw considers lower court decisions which underlie the federal appellate decisions to be included by reference–and documents evidencing West's understanding are clearly appended as exhibits to the Complaint.
With regard to West's position that Headnotes and Syllabi were not raised initially in this proceeding, prior to this action West always maintained it was the sole author of these materials. HyperLaw bought this story along with everyone else. It was only after this litigation was commenced–and in fact quite recently, that HyperLaw came to understand and be able to prove that many of these were not authored (or solely authored) by West. It came as quite a shock that despite West's many contentions to the contrary, federal judges write some headnotes, and participate in writing others.
West now seeks to take advantage of its own prevarications. West cannot seriously contend that HyperLaw should have known this little secret in advance–nor can it seriously contend that it has any copyright claim in government works. But West's real intent is to again delay this Court's determination of the motion regarding the main body of text.
Because West should not be allowed to create appellate issues on procedural matters, to address West's procedural concerns HyperLaw will submit a motion for leave to amend its complaint regarding these other text issues. This leaves the issue of West's claimed copyrights in the text of judicial opinions published in Federal Reporter and the Supreme Court Reporter standing alone for summary disposition.
In its Opposition, West states that the issue of its copyright claim regarding pagination is ripe for summary judgment. This comports with Matthew Bender's view.
HyperLaw first discusses West's refusal to respond to the majority of the points raised in HyperLaw's motion, and its absolute inability to prevail on those few points it did try to address (in sections a and b below). This includes a brief initial discussion of the manufactured issue of intermediate copying.
In Section c, HyperLaw responds to various points raised in the Opposition which don't quite fit anywhere else–West's tortured reading of the law to protect its efforts to misuse copyright claims, and backtracking on its prior statements that first page citations are in the public domain.
West expends almost 4 full pages of its Opposition on the ultimate red-herring–a discussion of intermediate copying relating to scanning non-copyrighted materials. This is utter, deceptive and calculated nonsense. All of Section III of West's Opposition is unrelated to this action.
As West well knows, the scanning methods which HyperLaw has (repeatedly) described to West involve absolutely no intermediate copying. This has always been a non-issue with regard to HyperLaw's stated methods, and West knows this. It has been stated, and stated, and stated, and then stated some more.
it is a mystery known only to your client as to what it is in its reporters in which it does not claim a copyright.
Let me be clear: it is premature to discuss a license agreement until such time as West Publishing asserts a specific copyright or other interest in specific material that HyperLaw wishes to use. Because of the broad, sweeping and non-specific copyright claims and assertions made by West, it is also premature. . .until such time as West articulates that West indeed asserts copyright claims in the specific material we wish to publish.
HyperLaw has redacted (blocked out) all portions of the (Mendell v. Gollust) decision. . .in which West might assert a copyright or other claim. The "Redacted Version" is enclosed herewith and HyperLaw in good faith believes that everything in the Redacted Version is public domain information.
The Redacted Version was then prepared for scanning. Introductory material (including the caption, docket numbers, etc.) was reorganized into HyperLaw format, footnotes were moved, the court was correctly identified. . .and other additional information was added. I enclose a copy of the "Scanning Version".
HyperLaw then scanned the Scanning Version, reformatted the text and created the "HyperLaw Version, which is also enclosed.
HyperLaw intends. . .to publish the HyperLaw Version. . . .
Exhibit 12 to HyperLaw's Complaint. Moreover, attached to Exhibit 12 was the redacted version of the Mendell v. Gollust case, the scanned version, and the resulting HyperLaw version.
West's attempt to interject this inveiglementis yet another hapless stab at misdirection and delay. HyperLaw has always stated that it will redact anything that is subject to copyright, and only then scan or keypunch the text.
If specific letters, specific examples and everything HyperLaw has ever said on the issue is not enough, there is the fact that HyperLaw presented deposition exhibits at the Bergsgaard deposition consisting solely of the exact same type of redacted text for the Feist and Sweet Home cases–about which Ms. Bergsgaard was questioned for days. See e.g.
18 from our case report.
20 material that has been whited out.
22 Q. Do you understand that term?
4 A. That is what it appears to be.
West's eleventh hour effort to equate Alan Sugarman's reference to "scanning" to "scanning of copyrighted materials" seeks to forget the entire history of this case–every single document and every single statement by HyperLaw about its methods. The very inclusion of this argument is non-responsive to HyperLaw's motion, completely without foundation, intentionally dilatory, and a filing made consciously in bad faith.
Turning to the only real issues before the Court, HyperLaw again notes that West has not stated any changes it made to the Feist or Sweet Home cases beyond those it described in days of extensive deposition. That is an uncontested fact. That deposition is before the Court.
West has never stated what changes it made to the actual text in Volume 1 of Federal Reporter, Third Series beyond its deposition testimony. That is another uncontested fact.
Nor has West given a single example of a change it made to that volume which is even arguably copyrightable. Every one of West's pleadings in this case is before this Court, and there is still no statement of any change which would support copyright in the text of 1 F.3d. That is also an uncontested fact. HyperLaw has written and questioned, and cajoled, and ridiculed, and challenged–but West has not been able to point to even one instance of protectable change to the text in that volume.
Moreover, West has never stated what other changes it made to the 100 pages of text in Volume 1 of Federal Reporter, Third Series, as described in HyperLaw's exhibit–which is also before this Court. That is also a fact. Not one single "change" located by HyperLaw is even arguably "authorship", even arguably "creative". Not one single change to that text is original.
With the exception of its clearly distinguishable work such as headnotes, West has done nothing other than simple, basic proofreading and cross-reference. It is classic sweat of the brow. West has not been able to point to a single change to the content, of actual text in 1 F.3d which reflects any creativity, authorship, or originality. That too is a fact.
These are the only relevant facts about the text of judicial opinions published by West in 1 F.3d. Similarly, West has not pointed to a single change to the text of Volume 111 of Supreme Court Reporter beyond what was stated in deposition testimony, nothing which reflects any creativity, authorship, or originality. There is nothing more which is relevant with regard to the text of judicial decisions in these two reporters. West prints the opinions of courts exactly as written with regard to content. Any changes to actual content were made solely by, or with the approval of a court. At this late date West cannot point to any non-mechanical changes. There are no other relevant facts. There are no material issues of fact in dispute. All of the other issues West attempts to interpose are irrelevant. At the very least, partial summary judgment should be granted immediately as to these two volumes.
Nor has West been able to point to any other sufficient changes to court text, in any volume of Federal Reporter or Supreme Court Reporter. Summary judgment should also be granted as to the balance of these reporters.
It is not clear why Ms. Bergsgaard makes this statement to support West's creativity and originality, as the rule of arranging opinions enunciated by Ms. Bergsgaard is exactly the same sequencing used by the Reporter of Opinions of the Supreme Court. Sugarman Affidavit at ¶ 27. Inspection of a volume of the United States Reports shows that the opinions are ordered by date, seniority, etc. in exactly the same manner. Id. at 27.
Attached to the Sugarman Affidavit is a simple, side-by-side listing of the 1990 Term Supreme Court opinions appearing in Volume 111 of Supreme Court Reporter. As the Court can see, when one simply compares this ordering in Volume 111 to the ordering in Volumes 498 to 501 of United States Reports, they are virtually identical. In those 2 instances where there is not an exact overlap, it is West's sequencing which ignores its own alleged "rules"–as these opinions are out of the professed order. In the real world this would be called an infrequent anomaly–although West will no doubt invent some arcane sounding name for this; and try to convince the Court that these two situations have their roots in years of diligent research by generations of legal reporting masterminds. (These goof-ups are set out in bold.) Sugarman Affidavit at ¶ 30.
In short, West follows the same non-original organization followed by the Reporter of Decisions of the Court, with minuscule variations which would certainly not support copyright. Id.. at 31.
Moreover, although Ms. Bergsgaard (at Par. 12 of her newest affidavit) claims that "West editors may override the general arrangement guidelines for Supreme Court Reporter to create combines, precedes-and-follows, same-volume-and-issue, file lines and corrections", West editors did not do so in West's example–Volume 111. West uses as vanilla an ordering system as is imaginable. West's claims rest on post facto efforts to invent "systems" out of this vanilla topped with one or two anomalies gleaned from hundreds and hundreds of cases. In the end, West simply asserts that it is entitled to a copyright because it made the "choice" to adopt the very same arrangement as the court issuing the opinion.
And what does West say about all of this? West's Opposition only contains "analysis" of tiny bits of two or three selected cases–just snippets. Moreover, West's own examples fail to support a copyright claim. One of West's examples shows how West made a completely non-original, non-creative "arrangement decision" which was, in any case, actually ordered by a court. Sugarman Affidavit to the Reply at ¶ 7 through ¶ 16.
West states that a "combine" is demonstrated on page 1303 where the order denying rehearing appears. Thus, West seeks a copyright for having done nothing more than placing two contemporaneous orders in the same cause together in its reporter. (Again, this is only done if, by sheer coincidence, the second order is available before the first is printed in the final.) This is West's example of its mysterious, creative "combine" arrangement methodology. It is an utterly common, mechanical, simplistic ordering of cases–one used by virtually all reporters from the dawn of the reporting of cases. A "combine" puts two orders in the same case together if they happen to come out closely enough in time. However, a reader cannot rely on this, and it is not a consistent feature of the collection.
In addition, it is ironic that the Dayhoff case report selected by Ms. Bergsgaard to illustrate a "combine" appeared (or more accurately did not appear) in West's advance sheet Volume No. 31–first published by West on July 29, 1996. The "combine" does not appear therein despite the fact that the second order was already out when that advance sheet came out. By August 19, West apparently discovered its "mistake" and made the amendment as instructed by the court; appending the part of the order denying a rehearing to the end of the case report. In other words, West's original "idea" about combining the two did not 'occur' to it when the orders were first printed–but did after occur to it after the court ordered it.
West asserts that by appending the July 24, 1996 order to the June 24, 1996 opinion, it has created a copyrighted work.
The publisher of a print product has essentially three options when deciding how to arrange an order affecting an previous opinion: (1) place the order with the opinion it affects, (2) place it elsewhere in the same book, or (3) place the order in the next current volume to be released. Of course, if the opinion has already appeared in permanent volumes, the publisher has no choice but to place the order in a separate volume–so West really has only two options. Thus, In West's example, Dayhoff, West had the amending order in time to include the change in the permanent volume. West then claims a copyright, and to bolster the claimed creativity, concocts fanciful names like "combine" and "precede-and-follow" to describe one of the two or three options available to all publishers–and used universally forever. Id. at ¶ 17 through ¶ 20.
Therefore, West's arrangement in Supreme Court Reporter is the same as the arrangement used by the Court. West's arrangement of its other reporters is as described in HyperLaw's moving papers. To the extent there is any variation, it is either chance or the result of simplistic mechanical concepts.
There is no selection of Supreme Court decisions. It appears that West concedes this.
West's claim of selection for the Federal Reporter is equally specious. Ms. Bergsgaard does not discuss the detailed exhibits that HyperLaw provided in it moving papers demonstrating that that the essential arrangement of opinions in the Federal Reporter is by circuit and then by date. See HyperLaw Exhibit 1-24 and 1-29. These exhibits are extensive and specific–and cannot be rebutted by a couple of anecdotal illustrations gleaned from disparate West volumes. In short, when a publisher prints thousands of cases, there will be a few odd situations. West seeks to use a handful of such "example" to try to create some inexplicable "system"–in an effort to overcome tens of thousands of other, actual cases.
Ms. Bergsgaard similarly avoids the entire topic of how opinions are selected for full reporting in the Federal Reporter. It is critical to note that West, in its response to the 3(g) statement, apparently now concedes that the Federal Reporter "does not include the text of opinions of the United States Courts of Appeals where the Circuit Court issuing the opinion designates as 'unpublished', 'not for publication', or 'not citable as authority.'" See Response 109 in West's Statement of Disputed Material Facts Pursuant to Rule 3(g).
109. West's Federal Reporter does not include the text of opinions of the United States Courts of Appeals where the Circuit Court issuing the opinion designated it as "unpublished", "not for publication", or not citable authority.
However, West, tries to slip around the fact hat the Federal Reporter contains the text of all opinions "citable as authority under the rules of the Circuit Court issuing the opinion." Id. at Response 108. In its Response 83 West again tries to wiggle out of what is meant by the term "published" opinions as used by West in the context of the Federal Reporter. However, Ms. Bergsgaard in her affidavits does not identify any published or citable opinions of Circuit Courts for which West has not published the full text in the Federal Reporter. Certainly a few anecdotal errors might be located–no doubt to form the basis of yet another fanciful "system".
¶ 38-¶ 39. And the real import of this point is that West has not provided any example of this to the Court.
The following opinions, judgments or affirmance without opinion an dismissal orders will not be published in a printed volume because they do not add significantly to the body of law and are not of widespread interest. They are public record. They are not citable as precedent. These dispositions will appear in tables published periodically.
The Federal Circuit tables to which this note refers are the tables published by West in the Federal Reporter. West is either following the instruction of the respective court, or copying the court's work.
"Affirmed," "Reversed," "Dismissed," or "Enforced."
West has not suggested that 86 F.3d 1161 is anything other than a reprint of the list made available by the Ninth Circuit to "legal publishing companies", e.g. West and Lexis.
Unpublished Opinions-The style of all unpublished opinions is published in table form in the Federal Reporter. See e.g. 40 F.3d 384.
5th Cir. Internal Operating Procedures.
The lists of unpublished opinions are either provided by the Fifth Circuit to West for publication in the format desired by the Fifth Circuit, or West copies the court's suggestions.
The foregoing is just a sample, based on the only public records available to HyperLaw: West objected to discovery of its dealings with the Fifth Circuit and other federal courts on these issues and refused to answer questions relating thereto. Accordingly, West cannot now be heard to make new claims regarding facts relating to its dealings with these courts.
Although West's responsive papers to both HyperLaw's motion and Matthew Bender's motion contain inch thick examples of raw copies from books and print-outs from CD-ROMs without any supporting analysis, West refuses to provide HyperLaw or the Court with meaningful back-up information for its conclusory assertions and junk statistics.
HyperLaw makes numerous assertions based upon its review of 100 pages of West dead copy. However, changes and corrections to court opinions are made throughout the publication process and continue after publication. West does keep track of the changes and who made them.
Again, Ms. Bergsgaard does not disclose any specific changes to the first volume of 1 Federal Reporter not shown in HyperLaw's list of changes. (HyperLaw's complaint makes specific reference to this volume.) In addition, Ms. Bergsgaard was questioned at length about this volume and these pages, and, stated there were no other changes of which she was aware.
The arguments in this section are relevant only if the Court first determines there is some minute amount of copyrightable material. They are arguments in the alternative.
In a semantic tour d'force, West argues that West's specific and explicit waiver of first page copyright should not be taken into account by the Court because "HyperLaw may not assert A waiver defense." Section I(D) of West's Opposition, at 4. This is predicated on the fact that "Waiver is one of the specific defenses set forth in Rule 8(c). . . .[a]ccordingly, a party seeking to rely on the defense of waiver must state so affirmatively." It is instructive to briefly revisit reality here–to review the timeline of this case.
First, HyperLaw filed a complaint (several years ago) alleging that West was tactically misusing and abusing copyright claims by threats, lies and vagueness.
With his back firmly against the wall, Mr. Opperman finally conceded that HyperLaw could use West's first page citations at the beginning of all of the cases reported in HyperLaw's product. No mention was made in either that deposition or in the subsequent Matthew Bender's deposition of him, of "fair use" as a basis for this concession. The masses cheered, life was good, and HyperLaw did just that–inserting the West first page citations to thousands and thousands of cases on its CD-ROM.
What West seems to miss in all of this complex interplay is that its total and complete surrender on this point came for a reason, and only after the suit was running for years–in direct response to the pressures of this suit. It did not say "fair use" because it could not say "fair use" because of its position. West now seeks to skip back over that line.
To make this less confusing to West (since explicit post-filing capitulation on a point well after the suit has been filed appears to be indistinguishable to West from a pre-existing waiver) HyperLaw will not use the term "waiver"–instead it will use the terms "conceded", "gave up", "stipulated to avoid humiliation", and "retreated and retrenched when caught full out". That will avoid any confusion with the completely different concept of pre-existing waiver as a defense embodied in Rule 8(c).
Or perhaps the Court should impose this by estoppel–since West was trapped on this issue, and after "conceding" wanted to trumpet its liberal views to avoid a neutral citation system. West then made explicit statements in other courts, in deposition, and in letters to hundreds on the Internet. That would do it! It isn't simply waiver. It is just that West is estopped as to lying–prevented from retreating from positions it had to take to put off informed inquiry into its abusive and ever-shifting effort to use copyright as a weapon.
Obfuscate, delay, toss out inane arguments: Defame competitors: Steal markets: This argument is just the latest in a campaign. It is even more pathetic than the malicious foray into "intermediate copying".
West makes yet another toss-away argument that requires time and space and response–no matter how ludicrous the argument may be. West alleges that its misuse of copyright law was never noticed in HyperLaw's complaint.
HyperLaw's complaint alleged that West threatened HyperLaw and other West competitors with suit by the knowing and calculated use of sham copyright claims. Every sentence on every page in the complaint and every document filed thereafter by HyperLaw screams out that West's management became abusive bad guys–that somewhere along the line West went off the road of serving the profession, crashing through the landscape–a juggernaut of payments to judges sitting on its cases, deceptions to Congress and courts, statements by lawyers that it later denies, and (most of all) the tactical use of the now famous Damoclean Sword; edged with knowingly specious copyright claims to oppress, bully, abuse, and frighten small competitors.
This action concerns acts by defendant West to privatize and misappropriate the text of laws of the United States by asserting copyrights in citations to judicial opinions, and by asserting claims of copyright over factual material and material created by the federal government. Defendant has attempted to copyright the body of the law itself—perverting the purposes of the Copyright Clause of the Constitution and the Copyright Act. . .
Amended Complaint at ¶ 6. Is it necessary for HyperLaw to trot out the dictionary definitions of "pervert"and "misappropriate"?
West's copyright claims and warnings to HyperLaw, its public warnings, public statements, willingness to engage in litigation, and ability to engage in such litigation have created an apprehension by HyperLaw that it will be sued by West for publishing public, non-copyrightable information from West's Federal Reporter and Supreme Court Reporter, which is thus impairing HyperLaw's ability to publish public, non-copyrightable information"
West has erected restrictions and encumbrances upon such access to federal judicial opinions, privatizing the law, and interfering with the due process rights of the citizenry, inconsistent with the Copyright Act and the Constitution of the United States.
West seems to suggest that HyperLaw did not allege that even if a very few changes to text were subject to copyright protection, those few changes were indistinguishably merged with material not subject to copyright protection–to such an extent that the material is not subject to copyright protection pursuant to the Copyright Act. HyperLaw alleged exactly that.
Even if factual material such as the names of counsel, parallel citations, corrections, and amendments made by defendant West and contained in Volume 111 of West's Supreme Court Reporter and Volume 1 of the Third Series of West's Federal Reporter (other than the West Editorial Additions set forth in paragraph 28 above) were subject to copyright protection, that material is indistinguishably merged with material not subject to copyright protection to such an extent that the such material is not subject to copyright protection pursuant to the Copyright Act.
HyperLaw's Amended Complaint at ¶ 97. (Emphasis added.) See also Exhibit 14 to HyperLaw's Complaint, "
West also seems to suggest that HyperLaw's "text merger theory" is a startling new concept. HyperLaw's Memorandum noted that there is an existing view regarding unintentional merger–when some slight merger occurs, but it was not the intentional tool of a party exploiting the confusion created by the merger.
West has merged any original efforts so completely that they cannot be distinguished from public domain materials. . . .Bentley v. Tibbals, 223 F. 247 (2d Cir. 1915) as well as Lasercomb Am., Inc. v. Reynolds, 911 F.2d 970 (4th Cir. 1990) . . . ."one who so embodies copyrighted with uncopyrighted matter that one reading his work cannot distinguish between the two [has no copyright claim]" and there is no copyright where the reader "is left to ascertain for himself by a verbal comparison, word for word."
West has so merged its efforts with those of the courts that there is no way to distinguish between them. . . .
HyperLaw also discussed, as an additional, separate issue, the effect of a factual finding that such merger was used as a execrable tool–the confusion created and exploited with wrongful intent.
HyperLaw's determined efforts to avoid infringing on any legitimate claims have been met with a calculated series of tactics including shifting definitions, vagueness, threats, personal attacks, and anti-competitive activities. [Footnotes omitted.] West has played a high-stakes game with the copyright laws–bludgeoning HyperLaw and others. As damaging as these abuses are, however, even more destructive has been West's continual shifting of positions on its copyrights, and its determined and purposeful refusal to identify what changes it makes that are its own authorship as distinguished from original text and changes made by federal judges. See Sugarman Aff. at ¶¶ 15 - 16 and Exhibit 1-11.
[t]o extend copyrightability to minuscule variations would simply put a weapon for harassment in the hands of mischievous copiers intent on appropriating and monopolizing public domain work.
L. Batlin & Son, 536 F.2d at 492. HyperLaw asks this Court to consider going beyond the mere declaratory denial of copyright–as the Court may provide attorneys fees and punitive relief against West for knowingly and intentionally undertaking such a calculated misuse. (The memorandum from West's counsel Steve Haynesmakes it absolutely clear that West has had a definite institutional strategy of using abusive copyright litigation to delay entry of others into markets..
West might argue that it is not responsible for the fact that when judges gave changes to West, the courts did not make corresponding changes to the official documents by amending their original decisions. But, West certainly is responsible for giving knowingly false information to HyperLaw to the effect that such a comparison would reveal West's changes rather than a mixture of West's changes and changes by judges.
West gave HyperLaw false information and HyperLaw initially followed that information, and (mistakenly) understood all of the changes to have been made by West. HyperLaw had to sift and strain to learn even the slightest bits of the truth. Thus, West's actions go beyond merely mixing in trivial changes in an effort to abuse copyright–they even go beyond an intentional effort to do so as was present in Lasercomb.
When a publisher makes a very few changes to a larger body–particularly where it is a government work, the publisher must identify which work copyright is claimed on.
Section 103 of the Act, 17 U.S.C. § 103 makes it clear that the "copyright in a compilation or derivative work extends only to the material contributed by the author of such work, as distinguished from the preexisting material employed in the work, and does not imply any exclusive right in the preexisting material. The copyright in such work is independent of, and does not affect or enlarge the scope, duration, ownership, or subsistence of, any copyright protection in the preexisting material."
West provides no statement identifying, either affirmatively or negatively, those portions of the copies. . .protected, and a failure to meet this requirement should be treated as an omission of the notice, subject to the provisions of section 405. Nor is there any great mystery regarding why this section was enacted–to stop exactly what West has tried to do–expropriate governmental works by vaguely identified, minuscule variation (created by editing or providing introductory materials). House Judiciary Committee Report No. 94-1476 and House Conference Committee Report No. 94-1733.
justified under the present law, has been the object of considerable criticism.
public that the bulk of the work is [not] uncopyrightable and therefore free for use.
To make the notice MEANINGFUL RATHER THAN MISLEADING, section 403 requires that, when the copies or phonorecords consist "preponderantly of one or more works of the United States Government," the copyright notice (if any) identify those parts of the work in which copyright is claimed. A failure to meet this requirement would be treated as an omission of the notice, subject to the provisions of section 405.
See also Levine and Squires, "Notice, deposit and registration: The importance of being formal" 24 U.C.L.A. Law Rev. 1232. Since the very beginning of this case, this is what HyperLaw has attempted to make West do. See the Mendell v. Gollust letter to Schatz, Exhibit 12 to the Complaint; and HyperLaw's letter to Schatz, May 29, 1992, Exhibit 16.
we very carefully prepared, from the West version, a redacted version of the Mendell case, stripping out all material that is arguably copyrightable, such as headnotes and key numbers. The issue is comparing the slip opinion to the redacted version. . .
27. A reader of a West case report cannot determine where West added changes to the original court opinion without a word by word comparison to the original.
The situation is simple, if a reasonable reader cannot determine what few changes the publisher has made to court opinions (as opposed to those of a judge in this case) it cannot stop copying of the slightly altered original. West effectively appropriates the original government work. West does this with malicious intent, for huge profit. When it is a governmental text, there is a affirmative statutory burden to distinguish designed to prevent this exact type of abuse.
32. West acknowledges that many corrections to citations, corrections of typographical errors, and changes to the text originated from the courts. West solicits the courts to correct the text. . .
33. Often when, after an opinion is release by a court, judges, parties and other contact West to provide changes–changes not authored by West.
The Rule 3(g) statement is just a series evasions. HyperLaw implores this Court to carefully read West's statement–particularly ¶¶ 32-38. To get a real sense of what West does to evade this most basic truth, a reading of its Response numbered 47 is critical.
47. Exhibit 1-1 is an accurate description of the changes made to the initial 100 pages of Volume 1 of Federal Reporter, Third Series.
RESPONSE: Denied. Each case is unique. What can be said, however, is that changes and corrections to court opinions are made throughout the publication process and continue even after the publication. West does keep track of the changes and who made them. A notation is usually made in the margin of the case indicating who authorized the change. Communications with the court, such as letters, amending orders, or telephone call slips are pinned to the back of the case. Some changes are made directly on the page proofs of advance sheet pages. After advance sheet publication, the changes and corrections are noted on the advance sheet pages and stored with the correspondence. After publication of the bound volume, the corrections and changes are noted for Westlaw.
That means that many times it isn't. That means that WEST SIMPLY CANNOT TELL THIS COURT, OR ANYONE ELSE, WHICH CHANGES WERE ACTUALLY MADE BY JUDGES. West's non-retention of this material seems to be a result of cold calculation–to achieve exactly what it has achieved; a blur in which it can claim West makes changes rather than judges. But this is irrelevant–whatever its intent West has not retained the information necessary to identify which materials were the authorship of judges–and it admits this.
Communications with the court, such as letters, amending orders, or telephone call slips are pinned to the back of the case.
A lie. Sometimes West captures this information. Many times it does not. West cannot tell this Court what changes were made or, as West calls this, were "suggested" by judges. See also West's answer in Response numbered 81 to HyperLaw's assertion that despite West's statements to HyperLaw, such a reading would not reveal authorship.
This is a hustle, a con job. West lied to HyperLaw and others about how its changes could be identified–and now it says that we all should have gone through not only the slip opinions, but back to individual case files where (it says) it is "West's understanding is that many judges do see to it that corrections made by them are noted in the court's files." That certainly gives good and clear notice as required by the statute, as to which of the materials in West's reporters are the works of the government. This is methodical deception.
Once again, HyperLaw begs this Court–it beseeches, it implores, it entreats the Court to focus on West's refusal to go through even one single volume of actual text published before this suit was initiated and state what it claims it makes that supports a copyright claim to the text of judicial decisions and to prove that they are not changes "suggested" by judges–and, if nothing else at this point, grant partial summary judgment with regard to the first hundred pages of 1 F.3d, as West simply refuses to say what it does. A corollary to this is that summary judgment should be granted with regard to everything sought where there can never be any specificity under 17 U.S.C. § 403 as to what West actually does to actual judicial text–West admits that it can never provide the statutory notice. West won't tell the Court which changes it made because either there are no more than those HyperLaw noted–and thus none which would support a copyright claim, because there were more but they were made by judges, or because West simply can't do it.
49. Once the changes described in the previous paragraph are removed from the count, a reader is left with 15 mechanical or typographical changes in 100 pages.
RESPONSE: Denied. There is no record to support these assertions. . .
Record? HyperLaw identified the specific 100 pages, identified the 15 changes actually made by direct comparison with West's own working papers, and stated that there were 15 changes. Were there, or weren't there?
HyperLaw asks that summary judgment be entered against West on both the pagination and text issues–there being no material issues of fact regarding any point necessary to the determination.
CARL J. HARTMANN III, ESQ.
Attorneys for Plaintiff Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
 Such requests were made in letters, in discovery requests, in depositions, and (most recently) in HyperLaw's motion on this issue. Return to text.
 HyperLaw discusses the intermediate copying non-issue first–as it is acutely enlightening as a window into West's desperation. Return to text.
 In other litigation, West has obscured depositions answers and then showed up at summary judgment with new, unchallenged facts. This time, West cannot do this effectively, and so it seeks a trial. Return to text.
 West continually refers to every statement made outside of this proceeding and every statement not made in a deposition as "hearsay". This includes statements by its own counsel testifying and writing on its behalf on the exact matters before this Court. Rule 801(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Evidencemakes it fairly clear that a statement is not hearsay when it is "offered against a party" and is "by a person authorized by the party to make a statement concerning the subject" or "by the party's agent. . .concerning a matter within the scope of agency." Return to text.
 See also HyperLaw's prior letter to West dated July 1, 1991 stating "[i]t is our intention to obtain copies of Federal Reporter and Federal Supplement. . .we will remove all West Key Numbers and West Digests." Exhibit 8 to the Complaint. See also HyperLaw's letter to Mr. Schatz dated August 12, 1991, which states the indication to obtain "cases from the Federal Reporter 2d and Federal Supplement." Exhibit 10 to the Complaint. Return to text.
 See West's discussion about "suggestions" federal judges make for changes to text, set forth below. Return to text.
 Indeed, West has copied headnotes of official reporters and passed those off as West's editorial product, as coincidently shown in the random exhibits to the Affidavit of Kendall Svengallis attached to the Sugarman Affidavit in Reply as HyperLaw Exhibit 14. See the examples of case reports for kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Wyoming and compare them to the corresponding West reports. Return to text.
 Such as reporters containing cases appealed in or referenced by federal appellate cases. Return to text.
 As the text of lower court decisions is the subject of Matthew Bender's complaint, and as West agrees that this issue will be dealt with later, there can be no prejudice claimed by West as a result of such a motion. Return to text.
 West states there is "one issue in this case that is ripe for summary treatment, that is [pagination]. . ." Id. at 1. Return to text.
 For actual production, Mr. Sugarman has testified that (and all deposition testimony from Ms. Bergsgaard used HyperLaw's exhibits in which) redacting is done directly on pages of West's Reporters. As Mr. Sugarman has repeatedly stated, states again now, and "stipulates" just in case West seeks to try this dodge again. . .There is no intermediate copy. Return to text.
You should carefully compare the enclosed copy of the public domain slip opinion in Mendell to the West case report. In addition to the West editorial material added to produce the case report. . .you will see that the slip opinion and the case report vary substantially in their selection, coordination and arrangement of material included. . .the copyright notice in 909 F.2d clearly states Copyright is not claimed as to any part of the original work prepared by a United States Government officer or employee". . .the "original work" in question here is the enclosed slip opinion which is on file with the Second Circuit and can be obtained. . .from that Court.
 See also Responses numbered 11 and 12 in West's Statement of Disputed Facts Pursuant to 3(g) (to HyperLaw's motion), dated October 14, 1996 ("3(g) statement"). West repeatedly tries to assert what it knows to be nothing more than flat out deception: "Mr. Sugarman indicated that he indicated that he intended to use scanning equipment. . .even if certain West materials were properly subject to copying by HyperLaw (e.g. text authored by courts), HyperLaw would still be infringing West's copyrights by scanning protected headnotes, synopsis and other editorial enhancements." Return to text.
 This is just another completely baseless legal filing by West's counsel. It is akin to West's counsel's statements to other courts and to organizations trying to understand West's claims. As set forth in HyperLaw's moving papers here, West makes these outrageous assertions about its positions and its competitors. When caught full in the act, West attempts to distance itself or simply lie about the inconsistencies. Where was the responsive affidavit of Steven Haynes after West's counsel made all sorts of representations in papers? It never materialized. See also West's Response numbered 79 in its 3(G) statement, where West "admits that this statement was made by Mr. Haynes" in a "memorandum concerning the West v. Mead litigation."
Where is the deposition of Brady Anderson stating that he did not say the things to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin set forth in HyperLaw's moving papers in the instant motion–in a recorded hearing? Missing. And where is Michael Trittipo's affidavit stating that he did not write the letters sent on the Internet? The answer is simple–Trittipo was available to do another affidavit full of horse hockey opposing Bender's motion–but once again there is only silence when West was caught masking open statements to hundreds of law librarians about HyperLaw and West's positions. It is simply abusive litigation by deception and misdirection–racking up legal fees for opponents while always delaying. Return to text.
 West assiduously avoids any type of page by page, case by case analysis of even a single volume of one of its reporters. Ms. Bergsgaard's attempts at statistical analysis are clever, but fail, not only by definition, but in the lack of supporting foundation, as shown by the bald assertion that "taking volume 112 as representative, more than 6% of the full case reports and mems contain file lines or are combines." Ms. Bergsgaard's statistic treats in identical fashion so-called 'file lines' and combines. Ms. Bergsgaard had the opportunity to provide the court with substantiation for her statement, and a breakdown of a full case (or better yet a full volume) of file lines, of full case combines, of mem file lines, and mem of combines. West did not do so in discovery, in response to specific questions at deposition of Ms. Bergsgaard, or in its responsive papers here.
 Again, any order of the alleged combine is lost when the advance volumes are simply jammed together to make the final volumes. The order is lost–and proceeds and follows and combines are just bits of the resultant flotsam in a blurry, unordered mix. The final volumes cannot obtain "arrangement" by some sort of derivation–even if the advance sheets once had it–which is inconceivable. Return to text.
 According to the inside first page of that advance sheet, the closing date for advance sheet Volume 31 was August 19, 1996. Return to text.
 It is interesting, as a passing matter, that this revelation by West occurred two weeks after this Court denied West's motion to dismiss HyperLaw. Return to text.
 The same is true with regard to any originality, creativity, value or even meaning in the choice of where West places its page breaks. West, not HyperLaw selected the Dayhoff case as an example. The Dayhoff exhibit gives some insight into the "arrangement" decision by West in placing its page breaks–for what it insists on calling star-pagination. Attached to Sugarman's Affidavit as HyperLaw Exhibit 11 is a copy of the Dayhoff case as it appears in the advance sheet volume of 86 F.3d, interleaved with the same case report as it appeared in the permanent volume of 86 F.3d. This shows that the West star-pagination breaks are completely different in the advance sheet as compared to the pagination breaks of the same case in the permanent bound volume, a fact which is not disclosed in any way to the reader. Thus, the documents submitted by West have demonstrated that there are at least four different ways in which West breaks pages for the very same case report: (1) the breaks occurring in the printed advance sheet, (2) the Westlaw version of the advance sheet, (3) the different breaks in the printed permanent version, and (4) the Westlaw version of the permanent version. These conflicting "arrangement" decisions from West's own example shows that the arrangement of star pagination consists of automated page breaks, with no creativity whatsoever. Id. at ¶ 22 through ¶ 23. See also West's admission at Response 98 in its 3(g) statement–stating that the break moves all around, and its admission at Response 110.
 This specifically contradicts West's contention at ¶ 20 of its 3(g) Statement in Support of it Motion for Summary Judgment against Matthew Bender, where West states "[n]o law, court rule, or court order dictates the selection. . .of case reports of any of West's compilations." Return to text.
Ms. Bergsgaard does not specify even one micharacterization made by HyperLaw. West's Fifth and Eleventh Circuit slip opinions (together with West's headnotes) load onto Westlaw only hours after release of the opinions by those Courts. The West printed case reports appear to the untrained (and even trained) eye as virtually identical to the slip opinion West printed for the Fifth Circuit.
 Ms. Bergsgaard also stated in deposition that there were no documents other than the dead copy produced to HyperLaw which would show other changes made by West. Now, she reverses her testimony and claims there are other documents including "changes made directly on the page proofs of advance sheet pages" and claims that "changes and corrections are noted on the advance sheet page proofs." (Significantly, Ms. Bergsgaard does not provide any of this other documentary proof with respect to Volume 1 of Federal Reporter, Third Series). Return to text.
 West's response in its 3(g) statement regarding pre-existing waiver in its relationship to LEXIS is instructive however.
89. LEXIS presently uses the first page citations without any statement of license, and West points to LEXIS' use of the first page citation (without any mention of any license) as proof to those considering alternative citation systems that the first page may be used freely by competitors.
What West admits here is that it specifically tells courts, lawyers and law librarians that West's first page citations are "in the public domain" (verbatim from West's statement to the Wisconsin Supreme Court as echoed by West on the Internet in response to HyperLaw) and points to LEXIS' use as an example–knowing full well that this is nothing more than a total sham–as LEXIS operates under a license. See also West's response that Tritippo's statements about this were "inadmissible hearsay" despite the fact that it was a statement against interest–and tops this by saying he didn't quote the specific Wisconsin testimony despite the fact that Tritippo said that he was doing exactly that! West statement in Response numbered 90 that it "denies that it ever testified that first page citations are in the public domain" is sanctionable in light of the clearly non-hearsay statement against interest West's lawyer made in filings and testimony before the Wisconsin Supreme Court–notwithstanding the effort to use the word "effectively" to escape in Response numbered 91. See also West's two admissions about "testimony" by Dwight Opperman in response to Judge Kelley at Responses 191-92, and Vance Opperman's testimony before Congress in Response numbered 94.
 Or perhaps the Court should consider this a statement under oath before the Court–a "stipulation". Though, this would mean that West would hardly be forced to go along with anything it explicitly says.
 "To turn to an improper use."
 "To put to wrong use." Return to text.
 West has testified that is has not kept records which would reflect all of these changes were its own work. Se the discussion, infra, regarding what records West keeps.
 See Sugarman Aff. at ¶ 13 and Exhibit 1-13, the internal West memorandum from West executive, attorney Stephen Haynes dated June 25, 1985. This memorandum states: "If we obtain a preliminary injunction, this will provide us the breathing room to bring up star paging ourselves."
 The competitors are put at a competitive disadvantage while West's intentional misuse of both the copyright and the judicial system served to profit the company handsomely. This activity goes on to this very day–it is embodied in the directly contrary statements West makes before this Court in comparison to its statements by James Schatz and West before the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Return to text.
Id. at 492. This is the very essence of what West does–it uses the weapon of indistinct claims to unidentified, minuscule variations to original court text to appropriate and monopolize public domain works. West cannot be permitted to continue to take material in the public domain, make minor, mechanical variations to it, and then assert a derivative copyright. This is particularly true of critical public documents such as judicial decisions. Return to text.
 Subject matter of copyright: compilations and derivative works Return to text.
 Subsection (a) states that "protection for a work employing preexisting material in which copyright subsists does not extend to any part of the work in which such material has been used unlawfully. This does not say "used criminally"–is says "unlawfully".
 Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works. Return to text.
 Notice of copyright: Publications incorporating U.S. Government works. Return to text.
 Act October 19, 1976, P.L. 94-553, ¶ 102, 90 Stat. 2598, provided that this section "becomes effective on January 1, 1978". Oct. 19, 1976, P.L. 94-553, Title I, § 101, 90 Stat. 2577; October 31, 1988, P.L. 100-568, § 7(c), 102 Stat. 2858.
Whenever a work is published in copies or phonorecords consisting preponderantly of one or more works of the United States Government, the notice of copyright provided by sections 401 or 402 shall also include a statement identifying, either affirmatively or negatively, those portions of the copies or phonorecords embodying any work or works protected under this title."
 Notice of the wrongful nature of West's notice practices was given by HyperLaw years ago. The legislative history of section (a) of section 405 provides that '. . .Section 405(a) takes a middle-ground approach in an effort to encourage use of a copyright notice without causing unfair and unjustifiable forfeitures on technical grounds. Clause (1) provides that, as long as the omission is from "no more than a relatively small number of copies or phonorecords,' there is no effect upon the copyright owner's rights except in the case of an innocent infringement covered by section 405(b); there is no need for registration or for efforts to correct the error if this clause is applicable. The phrase 'relatively small number' is intended to be less restrictive than the phrase 'a particularly copy or copies' now in section 21 of the present law.
Under clause (2) of subsection (a), the first condition for curing an omission from a larger number of copies is that registration be made before the end of 5 years from the defective publication. This registration may have been made before the omission took place or before the work had been published in any form and, since the reasons for the omission have no bearing on the validity of copyright, there would be no need for the application to refer to them. Some time limit for registration is essential and the 5-year period is reasonable and consistent with the period provided in section 410(c).
The second condition established by clause (2) is that the copyright owner make a 'reasonable effort,' after discovering the error, to add the notice to copies or phonorecords distributed thereafter." (Emphasis added.) Return to text.
 And for that matter, anyone. Return to text.
 –West admits that it did not do this.
 At 10 and 33-35. Return to text.
 If West suddenly discovers documentation that would allow this–after stating that there was none, and producing none–it should be both estopped and sanctioned. Return to text.
 West admits later in its Responses that some of the corrections which come from judges and courts are made verbally and that a parallel reading of judicial text in a West Reporter and the original text would not reveal this. There is no record.
78. Many corrections are made verbally to West by court, and a parallel reading would not reveal this fact.
RESPONSE: West admits that some corrections are suggested verbally to West by courts. Return to text.

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