Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/113950765/Bouchat-v-EA-summary-judgment-ruling-D-Md-2012
Timestamp: 2017-02-20 10:19:38
Document Index: 561238274

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107']

Bouchat v. EA - summary judgment ruling (D. Md. 2012) | Fair Use | Copyright
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FREDERICK E. BOUCHAT Plaintiff vs. NFL ENTERPRISES LLC, et al. Defendants * * * *
FREDERICK E. BOUCHAT Plaintiff vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
DECISION RE: FAIR USE ISSUES
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The Court has before it motions for summary judgment1 based upon a fair use defense in each of the three above-captioned cases. In each case, the Defendants contended, and the Court agreed, that very limited discovery was necessary prior to the presentation of motions for summary judgment on the basis of a fair use defense. Accordingly, following limited discovery, the
instant motions were filed.2 The Court has considered the materials submitted by the parties relating to the motions as well as the arguments of counsel presented at a hearing. The Court issues this decision
determining the validity vel non of the fair use defense in regard to each of the three pending motions.
BACKGROUND As detailed in no less than seven (so far) published
decisions of this Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit,3 in late 1995, Plaintiff, Frederick E.
Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment [Document 26 in MJG-112878], Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment on Fair Use [Document 20 in MJG-12-1495] and Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment on Fair Use [Document 11 in MJG-12-1905] 2 There is no contention that further discovery is needed to oppose the summary judgment motions. 3 Bouchat v. Baltimore Ravens, Inc., 241 F.3d 350 (4th Cir. 2001); Bouchat v. Baltimore Ravens, Inc., 215 F. Supp. 2d 611 (D. Md. 2002); Bouchat v. Baltimore Ravens, Inc., 346 F.3d 514
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Boucha (“Bouc at chat”) cr reated a drawing referred to as t d the “Shie eld Drawin ng” and obtained copyrigh rights therein o ht s n.
The Natio onal Foot tball Lea ague (“NF FL”) and the Balt timore Ravens4 infring ged Bouch hat’s cop pyright b copying the S Shield by Drawin and cr ng reating what is referred to as th “Flyin B Logo w r he ng o.”
The Raven used the Flyin B Logo as the teams’ p ns t ng o primary logo during th first three (1 d he 1996, 199 97, and 1 1998) sea asons.
(4th Cir. 2003); Bouch C hat v. Ch hampion P Products, Inc., 3 , 327 F. Supp. 2d 537 (D. Md. 2003); Bo 2 ouchat v. The Bon n-Ton Dep pt. Store es, Inc., 506 F.3d 315 (4t Cir. 2007); Bo d th 2 ouchat v. Baltimo . ore Raven ns Ltd. P’ship, 587 F. Su P upp. 2d 686 (D. M 6 Md. 2008); Boucha v. at Baltim more Rave ens Ltd. P’ship, 619 F.3d 301 (4t Cir. 2 d th 2010). 4 In vi iew of th numero he ous entit ties invo olved in the lit n tigation, the Court’s re eferences to the “NFL” an “Raven s nd ns” are i intended, , collec ctively, to refer to all pertinen entiti r nt ies affil liated wi ith the league and the tea respec d am ctively.
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Bouchat sued the NFL and Ravens and established infringement of his copyright in the Shield Drawing by their use of the Flying B Logo. Bouchat, however, recovered no damages
due to a jury finding that no part of the profits of the infringers, relating to the infringements then at issue, was attributable to the copyright infringement. Judgment awarding
no damages was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.5 In 2008, Bouchat sued the Ravens and the NFL, seeking injunctive relief to halt the then ongoing use of the Flying B Logo in three manners: 1. The sale of season highlight films showing the 1996-98 Ravens on which the Flying B Logo was visible, The display at football games of film clips of Ravens’ teams from 1996-98 on which the Flying B Logo was visible, and The display at the Ravens team headquarters of photographs of players and memorabilia (such as a first game ticket) on which the Flying B Logo was visible.
This Court, deciding the case on an agreed submitted record, held that there was no infringement because each of these uses was a non-infringing fair use under 17 U.S.C. § 107. Bouchat v. Baltimore Ravens Ltd. P’ship, 587 F. Supp. 2d 686 (D.
Bouchat v. Baltimore Ravens, Inc., 346 F.3d 514 (4th Cir. 2003).
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Md. 2008).
On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for
the Fourth Circuit reversed in part, agreeing that the aforesaid display was a fair use, but holding that the sale of highlight films and display of film clips at football games was not. Bouchat v. Baltimore Ravens Ltd. P’ship (“Bouchat 2010”), 619 F.3d 301 (4th Cir. 2010). Thus, in Bouchat 2010, the case was
remanded with directions to this Court to proceed to determine whether to grant injunctive relief.6 In the three above-captioned cases, Bouchat has sued for infringement of his copyright in the Shield Drawing due to the respective Defendants’ use of the Flying B Logo as follows: Use At Issue Documentary videos Pictures on stadium walls Madden NFL game Defendant(s) Case NFL 12-1495 (“the Documentary Video Case”) Ravens 12-1905 (“the Stadium Wall Pictures Case”) NFL & EA7 11-2878 (“the Madden NFL Game Case”)
The fair use determination in each case is based upon the same legal principles and the benefit of the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Bouchat 2010.
The proceedings on remand remain pending at this writing. Electronic Arts Inc. (“EA”).
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SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD A motion for summary judgment shall be granted if the
pleadings and supporting documents “show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” 56(c)(2). The well-established principles pertinent to summary judgment motions can be distilled to a simple statement: The Fed. R. Civ. P.
Court may look at the evidence presented in regard to a motion for summary judgment through the non-movant’s rose-colored glasses, but must view it realistically. After so doing, the
essential question is whether a reasonable fact finder could return a verdict for the non-movant or whether the movant would, at trial, be entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See,
e.g., Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986); Shealy v. Winston, 929 F.2d 1009, 1012 (4th Cir. 1991). The Court does not find that genuine issues of material fact8 would prevent a grant of summary judgment in regard to the instant motions.
I.e., potentially outcome determinative fact issues.
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III. FAIR USE PRINCIPLES A copyright owner’s ability to obtain relief for an unauthorized use of a copyright work is subject to a statutory exception for “fair use” provided in 17 U.S.C. § 107. 2010, 619 F.3d at 307. Courts have traditionally regarded fair use of a copyrighted work as “a privilege in others than the owner of the copyright to use the copyrighted material in a reasonable manner without his consent.” Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. v. Nation Enters., 471 U.S. 539, 549 (1985)(quoting H. Ball, Law of Copyright and Literary Property 260 (1944)). A person who makes fair use of a copyrighted work is not an infringer even if such use is otherwise inconsistent with the exclusive rights of the copyright owner. See 17 U.S.C. § 107 (providing that “the fair use of a copyrighted work . . . is not an infringement of copyright”). The doctrine of fair use is an equitable one, and the “fair use inquiry is ‘not to be simplified with bright-line rules, for the statute, like the doctrine it recognizes, calls for case-bycase analysis.’” Bouchat 2010, 619 F.3d at 308 (quoting Bouchat
Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., 510 U.S. 569, 577 (1994)). Congress has enumerated four nonexclusive factors for courts to consider when evaluating whether a particular use is a fair use:
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17 U.S.C. § 107. The use of the Flying B Logo in each of the three cases at issue is measured in light of these factors, keeping in mind, as directed by the Fourth Circuit, that “the factors are not to be treated in isolation, but rather the results are to be weighed together, in light of the purposes of copyright.” Bouchat 2010,
619 F.3d at 308 (quoting Campbell, 510 U.S. at 578 (internal quotation marks omitted)).
The first factor calls upon courts to consider “the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes.” U.S.C. § 107. Here, courts generally consider a set of 17
subfactors, including the commercial or noncommercial character of the use, the degree to which the use is transformative, the
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defendant’s good or bad faith, and whether the purpose of the use falls within one of the categories of purposes mentioned in the preamble of section 107.
Protected purposes
In assessing the character of the use, courts consider the specific examples set forth in section 107’s preamble – criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. 17 U.S.C. § 107. Certainly, this is not intended to
be an exhaustive list, nor even presumptively fair, but it does guide the court as being representative of uses that are protected. Bouchat 2010, 619 F.3d at 308, 309.
Although the commerciality of the defendant’s use is merely one factor among others that a court may consider as part of its analysis of the purpose and character of the use, a commercial purpose “tends to weigh against a finding that the challenged use is a fair use.” 84. Id. at 310-11; Campbell, 510 U.S. at 583-
“The crux of the profit/nonprofit distinction is not
whether the sole motive of the use is monetary gain but whether the user stands to profit from exploitation of the [protected]
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material without paying the customary price.” Bouchat 2010, 619 F.3d at 311 (quoting Harper & Row, 471 U.S. at 562).
In Campbell, the Supreme Court suggested that an important factor to consider in whether a use was fair was whether the second use was “transformative” – whether it “adds something new, with a further purpose or different character, altering the first with new expression, meaning, or message.” 579. “A transformative use is one that employs the copyrighted work in a different manner or for a different purpose from the original, thus transforming it.” Bouchat 2010, 619 F.3d at 30910 (quoting Vanderhye v. iParadigms, LLC, 562 F.3d 630, 638 (4th Cir. 2009)(internal quotation marks omitted)). A use may be 510 U.S. 569,
transformative in function or purpose even if the original work has not been altered. Vanderhye, 563 F.3d at 639. Certainly,
for the analysis to have meaning, it cannot be viewed as a binary concept, but one of degree – to what extent is the new work transformative? See Bouchat 2010, 619 F.3d at 308 (“we
ask, in other words, whether and to what extent the new work is transformative”).
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Propriety of conduct
“[T]he propriety of the defendants’ conduct is relevant to the character of the use.” Id. at 311 (quoting Harper & Row, 471 U.S. at 562 (internal quotation marks omitted)). In a sense,
this subfactor asks if the use is “fair,” because “[f]air use presupposes good faith and fair dealing.” See Harper & Row, 471 U.S. at 562.9 A defendant’s good or bad faith is a
consideration, but not necessarily a determinative one, impacting the overall weighing of fair use factors. v. Ross Inst., 364 F.3d 471, 478-79 (2d Cir. 2004). NXIVM Corp.
This factor “calls for recognition that some works are closer to the core of intended copyright protection than others, with the consequence that fair use is more difficult to establish when the former works are copied.” 569, 586. Campbell, 510 U.S.
The Fourth Circuit has agreed with this Court’s
finding that “the creative nature of Bouchat’s work would tend to indicate that making a copy would not be fair use.” 2010, 619 F.3d at 311 (internal quotation omitted). Bouchat
Consider also the Supreme Court’s variation of the “golden rule” of fair use: “Take not from others to such an extent and in such a manner that you would be resentful if they so took from you.” Harper & Row, 471 U.S. at 550 n.3.
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To analyze this factor, courts consider “the amount and substantiality of the portion” copied by the defendant “in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole.” (citing 17 U.S.C. § 107). Id. at 311
To state it simply, the more the
defendant takes of the plaintiff’s work, the less likely it is that the taking will qualify as fair use. If an entire work is copied, as is the situation in each of the three cases at issue, this weighs against finding a fair use. Id. at 311 (citing Sundeman v. Seajay Soc., Inc., 142 F.3d Copying the entire work does not,
194, 205 (4th Cir. 1998)).
however, preclude a finding of fair use and must be considered in light of the other factors. Sundeman, 142 F.3d at 205-206.
The fourth factor requires courts to consider the effect of the use “upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.” 17 U.S.C. § 107. The Harper & Row Court
considered this factor to be the most important one in the context of that case, in which the defendant preempted the plaintiff’s market by publishing the infringing work before the plaintiff had the opportunity to publish and establish its market. See 471 U.S. at 566. The Campbell Court later stated,
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however, that all factors are to be explored, and that the market effect factor, “no less than the other three, may be addressed only through a sensitive balancing of interests.” U.S. at 590 n.21. 510
“Market harm is a matter of degree, and the
importance of this factor will vary, not only with the amount of harm, but also with the relative strength of the showing on the other factors.” Id.
A “purpose of copyright is to create incentives for creative effort,” and “a use that has no demonstrable effect upon the market for, or the value of, the copyrighted work need not be prohibited in order to protect the author’s incentive to create.” Sony Corp. v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. At the same time, “[t]he mere absence of
417, 450 (1984).10
measurable pecuniary damage does not require a finding of fair use.” Marcus v. Rowley, 695 F.2d 1171, 1177 (9th Cir. 1983).
Certainly, any use that interferes with a copyright owner’s market would weigh heavily against fair use, but the absence of harm to the market does not necessarily justify the secondary use. See Pierre N. Leval, Toward a Fair Use Standard, 103 Harv.
L. Rev. 1105, 1136 (1990).
Although the Campbell Court later rejected the Sony Court’s presumption of market harm, the rationale of this statement still holds true.
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FAIR USE DETERMIN F NATIONS A. A Stad dium Pict ture Disp plays 1. The Dis splays
The Raven have displays at their home st ns d r tadium, M & T Stadiu (“the Stadium” um ”), relat ting to B Baltimore e’s sport histor ts ry. Three of these display (“the Stadium Picture Displays e ys s”) inclu ude pictur res on wh hich the Flying B Logo is visible s e. The Timel line Disp plays: On the se O econd lev vel conco ourse,
there are seve eral larg displa ge ays that highligh signif ht ficant times in Balti imore’s football history from the Ninetee f e enth Centur ry, throu ugh the Colt era, the Can C nadian Fo ootball L League years, and the time of the Rav e f vens. Th 1996 d he display,
promin nently fr raming th entran he nce to a Women’s restroom includ m, des pictur res of th first home-gam ticket and pro he me t ogram on which th he Flying B Logo can be seen. g s
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The Highl light Ree el:
The “Highlig ght Reel” is a di ” isplay of f
still photogra aphs loca ated in the Club Level ar t rea near location ns at which food and drin is sol nk ld.
The photo ographs in the Hi i ighlight Reel are accompa e anied by text that prov vides fac ctual inf formation about s n significa ant event ts in the Ravens’ history y. The Highlight Reel in H t ncludes p photograp phs
on which the Flying B Logo is visible, i.e., F The Ravens inaugural uniform i l ms. June 5, e 1996 6. “The new Rave ens’ logo colors and o, s unif forms are unveile in a f e ed fashion s show at Harb borplace.”
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Jonathan Ogden wearing a Ravens collared shirt. April 20, 1996. “Ravens select UCLA T Jonathan Ogden with their 1st-ever draft choice (4th overall). Miami LB Ray Lewis is selected with the team’s 2nd pick in the 1st round (26th overall).” Peter Boulware wearing the Ravens helmet. April 19, 1997. “The Ravens select Peter Boulware with their 1st pick in the 1997 draft (4th overall). Boulware went on to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors finishing with 11.5 QB sacks, the 4th-best sack total by a rookie in NFL history.” The new Stadium at its debut (with an image of the Flying B Logo in the end zone). September 6, 1998. “The Ravens open their new NFL Stadium in downtown Baltimore before a host of dignitaries, a packed house and the Steelers.” Brian Billick next to a Ravens helmet. January 19, 1999. “Brian Billick becomes the second head coach in Baltimore Ravens’ history when he accepts a six-year contract from owner Art Modell.”
Important Plays: The Important Plays display, on the Club Level, is a group of photographs accompanied by dates and text, commemorating important plays in the Ravens’ history, including two on which the Flying B Logo is wholly or partly visible.
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“Qua arterback Vinny Testaverd scores the k T de s First Touchd down in franchise history on a 9f e y yard run dur d ring the Ravens’ 19-14 Wi in agai inst Oakl land on September 1, 1996 S r 6.”
“Wid Receiv de ver Jerma aine Lewi ties a NFL is an Sing gle-Game Record with two punt ret w turn Touc chdowns (89 yards and 66 yards), earning s Balt timore a 31-24 wi over S in Seattle o on Dece ember 7, 1997.”
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With one exception, the facts relating to the fair use analysis of the Stadium Picture Displays are essentially the same as those presented by the headquarters lobby displays held to constitute fair use in Bouchat 2010. The sole material
difference is that the Stadium Picture Displays are in the Stadium, so the general public must purchase a ticket to obtain entry.
The Court finds the purpose and character of use factor to favor a finding of fair use. There is no doubt that the purpose
of the Stadium displays is, like the headquarters lobby displays, “consistent with the fair use of copyrighted material in a museum.”11 Bouchat 2010, 619 F. 3d at 313.
i. Commerciality It is true that a member of the public must buy a ticket to get into the area in which the Stadium Picture Displays are
The Court must note the ironic happenstance that the NFL benefits from analogizing M & T Stadium to a museum. No Baltimore football fan can forget the unappreciated suggestion made by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, when refusing to grant a franchise to Baltimore, that the city use the funds set aside for a stadium to build a museum. Perhaps the NFL will now agree with the Baltimore fans who said, when the Ravens opened their stadium, “Mr. Tagliabue, this is our museum.”
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located.12
However, in context, the static picture displays are
not any meaningful part of the incentive for a patron to buy a game ticket. Nor can the static displays be considered a part
of the game experience as are the video clips shown on the scoreboard during games. The video clips are specially selected
for that specific game’s entertainment; the photographic displays are hanging for viewing during all games, and at all times, including non-game events or arranged tours. Moreover, there is no direct or immediate commercial advantage from the displays. On balance, there is some, albeit indirect, commercial use that would factor against a fair use finding absent a substantial transformative use.
As stated in Bouchat 2010, “[t]he season tickets and the player photos adorned with the Flying B logo are displayed to represent the inaugural season and the team’s first draft picks. In this way, the logo is used ‘not for its expressive content, but rather for its ... factual content.’” 619 F.3d at 314 (quoting Bond v. Blum, 317 F.3d 385, 396 (4th Cir. 2003)). “This use is comparable to the use of the concert posters in
Indeed, entry to the Club Level is had only at a premium price.
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Bill Graham Archives, where the posters documented the fact of past concerts, a transformatively different purpose from their original use as advertisements for future concerts.” Id.
(citing Bill Graham Archives v. Dorling Kindersley Ltd., 448 F.3d 605, 609 (2d Cir. 2006)(internal citations omitted)).
iii. Propriety of conduct It is true that the Ravens are an originator of the putative infringement at issue. However, there is nothing to
put into doubt the Ravens’ good faith in believing that the uses at issue were non-infringing fair uses.
There is no doubt that the nature of the copyrighted work tends to weigh against a finding of fair use. However, as
stated in Bouchat 2010, “the [nature of the work] factor may be of limited usefulness where the creative work of art is being used for a transformative purpose.” Id. at 315 (quoting from In view of the
Bill Graham Archives, 448 F.3d at 612).
substantial transformative use, this factor does not weigh against a fair use finding.
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Amount and substantiality As stated
The entirety of the copyrighted work was used. in Bouchat 2010:
The Ravens have no choice but to use the entire copyrighted work if they wish to display the inaugural season tickets and the photographs of their first ever draft picks in their original team dress. The tickets were originally printed with the entire logo, and the players dressed with the entire logo on their helmets. Therefore, in order to fulfill the legitimate transformative purpose of exhibiting the Ravens inaugural season tickets and the photos of the team’s first ever draft picks, the entire work has to be displayed. Id. at 315. As did the court in Bouchat 2010, this Court finds that the use of the entire copyrighted work is neutralized by the transformative nature of the use.
The use of the Flying B Logo in the Stadium Picture Displays is transformative and only minimally, if at all, commercial. The Court does not find, as urged by the defense,
that the absence of a market in which Bouchat himself could exploit the copyrighted work is a major factor in the context of the instant case. However, the transformative nature of the
use, and the minimal commercial aspect of the use, largely offset the negative aspects of this factor.
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The first (purpose and character of the use) factor weighs heavily in favor of a finding of fair use, the second (nature of the copyrighted work) and fourth (effect on the market) factors weigh only slightly against a finding of fair use, and the third (amount and substantiality) is neutral. Considering the § 107 factors together, the Court finds that the use of the Flying B logo in the Stadium Picture Displays is a non-infringing fair use.
Documentary Videos 1. The Videos
Bouchat sued the NFL13 for infringement of his copyright in the Shield Drawing by virtue of the use of the Flying B Logo in segments of three documentary videos (collectively referred to as “the Documentaries”): 1. 2. 3. Top Ten Series: Draft Classes Episode Top Ten Series: Draft Busts Episode; and Sound FX Series: Ray Lewis Episode.
As noted above, the term “NFL” is used herein to refer, collectively, to all entities affiliated with the National Football League.
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The Documentaries were produced by the NFL and made available to viewers on certain internet sites14 and cable television networks.15 The Top Ten Series: The Top Ten Series is a series of documentaries, each of which presents ten segments related to NFL players, coaches, or events from NFL history, accompanied by archival footage and interviews. The episode Top Ten: Draft Classes provides segments on the all-time ten best NFL draft classes, including a four-minute segment on the Ravens 1996 draft class. Two fleeting images of
the Flying B Logo can be seen during the introductory portion of the segment, and a third fleeting image appears in the last football scene of the segment. The episode Top Ten: Draft Busts provides segments on the all-time worst NFL draft choices, including a four-minute segment on Lawrence Phillips, selected by the St. Louis Rams in 1996. At the end of the segment, a play is seen in which a A glimpse of the Flying B
defensive player tackles Phillips.
Logo possibly can be seen by one who is directed to look for it
Including NFL.com and hulu.com, a website offering ad-supported streaming video of TV shows, movies, clips, and other film footage from various networks and studios. 15 Including the NFL Network.
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during the brief time (some fraction of a second) in which it is visible. Sound FX: Sound FX is a documentary series airing on NFL Network. Each episode offers viewers an inside look into the
sights and sounds of football games and practices through players who are wearing microphones. The Ray Lewis episode
provides a compilation of audio and footage of Ray Lewis over the course of his career with the Baltimore Ravens. In one
segment, Ray Lewis is shown at training camp with his teammates playing a practice game, and the Flying B Logo can be seen on some of the players’ helmets at various times over a period of about eight seconds. There is also a fleeting partial image of
the Flying B Logo on the side of Ray Lewis’s helmet about a minute later in the film when he is making a tackle.
The pertinent facts relating to the fair use analysis of the Documentaries are materially different from those relevant to the film clips presented at home football games that were considered in Bouchat 2010.
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The Court finds the purpose and character of use factor to favor a finding of fair use. The Documentaries use pictures and
film clips that show the Flying B Logo selectively as necessary to portray “history” in biographical and comparative presentations, distinct from the video presentation in the Stadium during a home game showing a few plays from a prior game against the same team.
i. Commerciality There is no doubt that the Documentaries are produced for a commercial purpose and that the NFL earns income by making them available to viewers. There is no need to quibble about the As
extent to which the income generated is direct or indirect.
made clear in Campbell, a sufficiently transformative use – in that case a parody – can be a fair use even though it involves the obviously commercial and exploitive unauthorized use of a copyrighted work. See 510 U.S. at 579, 584-85.
The Documentaries are substantially transformative uses. Each offers commentary, criticism, and documents historical facts. Each use in these films adds something new by
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representing factual content, documenting and commenting on historical events, or functioning as a biography or career retrospective. The Flying B Logo, to the extent seen in the Documentaries, is being used “not for its expressive content, but rather for its . . . factual content.” Bouchat 2010, 619
F.3d at 314 (quoting Bond, 317 F.3d at 396).
iii. Propriety of conduct It is true that the NFL is an originator of the putative infringement at issue. However, there is nothing to put into
doubt the NFL’s good faith in believing that the uses of the Flying B Logo in Documentaries were non-infringing fair uses.
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The entirety of the copyrighted work was used. However, as with the uses in the Stadium Picture Displays, the Court finds that the use of the entire copyrighted work is neutralized by the transformative nature of the use.
The use of the Flying B Logo in the Documentaries is transformative and only minimally commercial. The Court does
not find, as urged by the defense, that the absence of a market in which Bouchat himself could exploit the copyrighted work is a major factor in the context of the instant case. However, the
substantial transformative nature of the use offsets the negative aspects of this factor.
The first (purpose and character of the use) factor weighs heavily in favor of a finding of fair use. The negative aspects
of the second (nature of the copyrighted work) and fourth (effect on the market) factors are effectively outweighed by the substantially transformative nature of the use, and the third (amount and substantiality) factor is neutral.
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Considering the § 107 factors together, the Court finds that the use of the Flying B logo in the Documentaries is a noninfringing fair use.
The Madden NFL Game 1. The Game
For some 20 years or more, Defendant Electronic Arts Inc. (“EA”) has produced a video football game, named Madden NFL, and referred to herein as “the Game.” At all times relevant hereto,
EA published current editions of the Game annually on various game station platforms.16 The Game essentially allows game players to experience the excitement and challenge of NFL football in a virtual environment. Game players can choose to compete against an
opponent controlled by the Game itself, against another player present and connected to the same game station, or against a remotely located player connected through the internet. Game players may select their virtual teams from any of the 32 current NFL teams. Game players can use some 2000 virtual
players that simulate (by appearance and performance characteristics) current NFL payers and/or can choose to create fictional players and add them to the team rosters. Hence, a
And, sometimes, computer platforms.
Case 1:12-cv-01495-MJG Document 33 Filed 11/19/12 Page 29 of 36
Game player can replace a current player on a team with a fictional player having the game player’s own name with selected “heroic” characteristics. Game players can have the virtual
games played in their choice of virtual setting (stadium, time of day, weather, etc.). The Madden NFL ‘10, ‘11, and ‘12 versions of the game for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and Madden NFL ‘12 for the Wii included a “throwback uniform” feature. Using this feature, a
Game player can choose to dress the players on a virtual team in uniforms that had been used by that team in the past. Thus, the
throwback uniform feature enables a game player choosing the Baltimore Ravens to have the Ravens wear the team’s original (1996-98) uniforms that included the Flying B Logo.
The Court finds the use of the Flying B Logo in the Game to present a situation materially different from that presented in regard to the Stadium Picture Displays and the Documentaries.
The Court finds the purpose and character of use factor to favor, quite strongly, a finding that there was no fair use.
Case 1:12-cv-01495-MJG Document 33 Filed 11/19/12 Page 30 of 36
The Game does not, as do the Stadium Picture Displays and the Documentaries, use the Flying B Logo as necessary to present accurate depictions of historically significant artifacts (such as the first ticket and program) or events. Rather, the Game
uses the Flying B Logo optionally to augment sales of its product by seeking to profit from the “nostalgia value” gained from use of the infringing work in the very same manner as was the original use.
i. Commerciality The Game is a commercial product, and the Flying B Logo is used for a commercial purpose. EA can be presumed to have made
a commercial decision that it could increase its sales by including the throwback uniform feature in the versions at issue. A part of this feature was the inclusion of the Ravens’
1996-98 uniforms with the Flying B Logo. There certainly can be a debate, and no doubt will be, as to the amount of commercial value of the throwback uniform feature and the portion of such value attributable to the use of the Flying B Logo. Nevertheless, it is fair to conclude that
the throwback uniform feature would not have been added to the Game without a determination by EA that there was commercial
Case 1:12-cv-01495-MJG Document 33 Filed 11/19/12 Page 31 of 36
value (even if a small one) to the addition of a feature that included the use of the Flying B Logo.17
If there is a spectrum of transformative uses, the use in the Game is at the low end, if in the spectrum at all. The
least transformative use would appear to be a use in which the Ravens decided – as have other NFL teams this very season – to suit up for a league game wearing throwback uniforms. Put The
succinctly, the Game is making virtually the same use.18 Game presents a use that can be described as totally or virtually non-transformative.
It must be emphasized that the allocation of the value of the use of the Flying B Logo in the throwback uniform feature is not the same as the allocation of value to the sale of licensed merchandise at issue in earlier lawsuits. With regard to merchandise (for example, caps, tee shirts, etc.), it may make no difference whether the Flying B Logo or some other logo is used to signify affiliation with the Ravens. However, in the Game throwback uniform feature, it is the Flying B Logo and no other that adds the desired “nostalgia value.” 18 Although the world created in the game is fictional, the Flying B Logo is still being used as an identifying symbol within the virtual world created. A helmet with the Flying B Logo readily identifies the virtual football player as playing for the virtual Ravens team. As the Fourth Circuit concluded, “[a] logo is an identifying symbol . . . .” and “the logo remains a symbol identifying the Ravens.” Bouchat 2010, 619 F.3d at 309.
Case 1:12-cv-01495-MJG Document 33 Filed 11/19/12 Page 32 of 36
iii. Propriety of conduct There is a question whether the unauthorized use of the Flying B Logo in the Game will be found to have been done in good faith.19 As of this writing, there is a question whether
the versions of the Game using the Flying B Logo were produced by EA pursuant to a license from the NFL that included the Flying B Logo.20 If there was a license, EA may be viewed as having reasonably relied upon the license. However, the NFL had no
right whatsoever to grant such a license to use Bouchat’s copyrighted work. Hence, certainly by the time Madden NFL ‘10
was produced, NFL knew, or manifestly should have known that it could not purport to grant such a license. If there was no license, there may be no claim against the NFL, but there would be a serious question as to EA’s good faith. The bottom line is that, from the point of view of the defense, the propriety of conduct factor is of no help to them.
The issue is not now being resolved but will be addressed, as necessary, in other contexts. 20 For purposes of the instant motion, EA concedes it was not licensed but contends that its use constitutes fair use and that its designers incorporated the Flying B Logo into Madden NFL in good-faith belief that it was appropriate and within their rights.
Case 1:12-cv-01495-MJG Document 33 Filed 11/19/12 Page 33 of 36
There is no doubt that the nature of the copyrighted work tends to weigh against a finding of fair use.
Amount and substantiality Unlike the
The entirety of the copyrighted work was used.
uses in the Stadium Picture Displays, and the Documentaries, the use of the entire copyrighted work in the Game is not neutralized by the transformative nature of the use.
The use of the Flying B Logo in the Game is substantially commercial and barely, if at all, transformative. The Court does not find, as urged by the defense, that the absence of a market in which Bouchat himself could exploit the copyrighted work is a major factor in the context of the instant case. The NFL recognizes that there is a market to exploit the nostalgia value of throwback uniforms, choosing to have modern teams - as recently as the very day before this writing – play official games in throwback uniforms such as the Pittsburg Steelers’ “Bumble Bee” regalia shown here:
Case 1:12-cv-01495-MJG Document 33 Filed 11/19/12 Page 34 of 36
Moreover, at leas some NFL teams current M st N s tly offer for sal r le replic cas of th hrowback uniforms and th NFL se s, he ells on i its websi ite a numb ber of co onsumer products that are decorat p e ted with historic c logos from var rious NFL teams. L Since t there is a market for t
memora abilia, it only stands to reason that the i s o ere is a potentia al
1 market for the Flying B Logo.21 e
See Bo ouchat 20 010, 619 F.3d at
313 (“we concl lude that there is a pote t i ential ma arket for Bouchat r t’s copyrighted wo ork”). It must be borne in mind that Bou b uchat’s c copyright ted work is hield Dra awing, no the Fl ot lying B L Logo, a w work deri ived from m the Sh Boucha at’s. It is nota t able that through t hout the course o the of
Boucha litiga at ation, al concer ll rned – in ncluding all judg ges – appear to reco r ognize th hat the absence o any ma a of arket for a licen r nse of Bou uchat’s copyright c ted work, the Shi ield Draw wing, doe not ma es ake the Flying B Logo a fa L air use.
Afte all, it was th logo on the Ra er i he o avens’ in naugural uniform. .
Case 1:12-cv-01495-MJG Document 33 Filed 11/19/12 Page 35 of 36
The instant litigation arises in a context in which a user of the Flying B Logo needs consent of both Bouchat and the NFL. There is, no doubt, a market for the Flying B Logo. Hence, it
would be unsound to find that there is no market for Bouchat’s copyrighted work since that work is, itself, an integral element of the Flying B Logo. Indeed, Bouchat is analogous to the
holder of a patent on an item that is of commercial value only if it incorporates the invention of an improvement patent. There would be no market for the product produced by virtue of the initial patent, but the improvement patent enables a marketable product. The Court finds that Bouchat’s inability, on his own, to license his copyrighted work, the Shield Drawing, is not a factor in favor of permitting fair use.
The first (purpose and character of the use), second (nature of the copyrighted work), and third (amount and substantiality) factors weigh heavily against a finding of fair use. The fourth (effect on the market) factor is, if not
neutral, only slightly favoring a finding of fair use. Considering the § 107 factors together, the Court finds that the use of the Flying B logo in the Game is not a fair use.
Case 1:12-cv-01495-MJG Document 33 Filed 11/19/12 Page 36 of 36
CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons the Court finds that: 1. The uses of Bouchat’s copyrighted work in the Stadium Picture Displays at issue were noninfringing fair uses. The uses of Bouchat’s copyrighted work in the Documentaries at issue were non-infringing fair uses. The uses of Bouchat’s copyrighted work in the versions of Madden NFL at issue were not fair uses.
SO ORDERED, on Monday, November 19, 2012.
/s/________ Marvin J. Garbis United States District Judge
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Sign up to vote on this titleUsefulNot usefulBouchat v. EA - summary judgment ruling (D. Md. 2012) by Peter Perkowski0.0 (0)EmbedDownloadDescriptionCourt's ruling on copyright fair use issues re "Flying B" logo: summary judgment denied on EA's/NFL Properties' use of logo in Madden game; granted as to Ravens' and NFL Enterprises' use in documen...Court's ruling on copyright fair use issues re "Flying B" logo: summary judgment denied on EA's/NFL Properties' use of logo in Madden game; granted as to Ravens' and NFL Enterprises' use in documentaries and stadium displays.Interests: Types, Business/LawRead on Scribd mobile: iPhone, iPad and Android.Copyright: Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)Download as PDF, TXT or read online from ScribdFlag for inappropriate contentShow moreShow less
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