Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/222/55/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 02:27:31+00:00

Document:
An exhibition of a series of photograph of persons and things, arranged on film as moving picture and so depicting the principal scenes of an author's work as to tell the story, is a dramatization of such work, and the person producing the film and offering them for sale for exhibition, even if not himself exhibiting them, infringes the copyright of the author under Rev.Stat., § 4952, as amended by the Act of March 3, 1891, c. 565, 26 Stat. 1106.
Quaere whether there would be infringement if the illusion of motion were produced from paintings, instead of photographs of real persons, and also quaere whether such photographs can be copyrighted.
Rev.Stat., § 4952, as amended by the Act of March 3, 1891, c. 565, 26 Stat. 1106, confines itself to a well known form of reproduction, and does not exceed the power given to Congress under Art. I, § 8, cl. 8 of the Constitution to secure to authors the exclusive right to their writings for a limited period.
"Ben Hur. Scenery and Supers by Pain's Fireworks Company, Costumes from Metropolitan Opera House. Chariot Race by 3d Battery, Brooklyn. Positively the Most Superb Moving Picture Spectacle Ever Produced in America, in Sixteen Magnificent Scenes,"
etc., with taking titles, culminating in "Ben Hur Victor." It sold the films, and public exhibitions from them took place.
of real men through the medium of natural forces, although the machinery is different and more complex. How it would be if the illusion of motion were produced from paintings instead of from photographs of the real thing may be left open until the question shall arise.
the use of its films for dramatic reproduction of the story. That was the most conspicuous purpose for which they could be used, and the one for which especially they were made. If the defendant did not contribute to the infringement, it is impossible to do so except by taking part in the final act. It is liable on principles recognized in every part of the law. Rupp & Wittgenfeld Co. v. Elliott, 131 F. 730, 732; Harper v. Shoppell, 28 F. 613. Morgan Envelope Co. v. Albany Paper Co., 152 U. S. 425, 152 U. S. 433.
It is argued that the law, construed as we have construed it, goes beyond the power conferred upon Congress by the Constitution to secure to authors for a limited time the exclusive right to their writings. Art. I, § 8, cl. 8. It is suggested that to extend the copyright to a case like this is to extend it to the ideas, as distinguished from the words in which those ideas are clothed. But there is no attempt to make a monopoly of the ideas expressed. The law confines itself to a particular, cognate, and well known form of reproduction. If to that extent a grant of monopoly is thought a proper way to secure the right to the writings, this Court cannot say that Congress was wrong.

References: § 4952
 § 4952
 § 8
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 § 8