Case Name: LYDIARD-PETERSON CO. v. WOODMAN
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1913-03-03
Citations: 204 F. 921
Docket Number: No. 3,738
Parties: LYDIARD-PETERSON CO. v. WOODMAN.
Judges: Before SANBORN and HOOK, Circuit Judges, and McPHER-SON, District Judge.
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 204
Pages: 921–926

Head Matter:
LYDIARD-PETERSON CO. v. WOODMAN.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
March 3, 1913.)
No. 3,738.
1, Copykights (§ 36 ) —Extent or MoNoroJvx.
The holder of a copyright has no monopoly by virtue of the issued copyright itself; his rights being measured solely by the statute, provided he has complied therewith.
[Ed. Note.- — For other cases, see Copyrights, Cent. Dig. § 37; Doc. Dig. § 36. ]
2. Copyrights (§ 29 ) — Notice—Map.
Act June 18, 1874, c. 301, 18 Stat. 78 (U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 3411), provides that a copyrighted publication must contain a notice on its face or title page, “ ‘Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year .by A. B., in the office of the librarian of Congress, at Washington or at his option the word ‘Copyright,’ together with the year and the name, thus: ‘Copyright, 18 — , by A. B.’ ” Held that, where a map of a lake and surrounding property was drawn by J. C. Woodman and published by the Woodman Publishing Company, a copyright notice on the map, “Copyright 1908, Drawn by J. C. Woodman,” was insufficient.
[Ed. 'Note. — For other cases, see Copyrights, Cent. Dig. §§ 29, 30; Dec. Dig. § 29. ]
3. Copyrights (§ 29 ) — Directory—Map.
Complainant published a map of a lake and surrounding territory, called “Woodman’s Minnetonka Map-Directory, 1908.” On the title page of the book were the words “Copyright 1908 by Prentiss M. Woodman, Woodman Publishing Company, Lumber Exchange, Minneapolis, Minn.” The map had on its face “Woodman’s Minnetonka Map-Directory, Copyright 1908, Drawn by J. C. Woodman.” It also contained red figures referring to the index book or directory by which the particular pieces of property shown on the map were further described and identified. The book contained a pocket for the map, both being referred to as “Map-Directory” and intended to be used together. Five hundred more maps than books were published, and some extra maps were sold alone, but not until after the book was copyrighted. Held, that the map was a part of the book, and protected by the valid copyright notice in the book, though the notice on the map was insufficient.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Copyrights, Cent. Dig. §§ 29, 30; Dec. Dig. § 29. ]
1-Iook, Circuit Judge, dissenting.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Minnesota; Charles A. Willard, Judge.
Suit by Prentiss M. Woodman against the Lydiard-Peterson Company. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Milton D. Purdy, of Minneapolis, Minn. (William A. Lancaster and David F. Simpson, both of Minneapolis, Minn., on the brief), for appellant.
Charles J. Traxler and Prentiss M. Woodman, both of Minneapolis, Minn., for appellee.
Before SANBORN and HOOK, Circuit Judges, and McPHER-SON, District Judge.
For oilier eases see same topic & § .number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes
For opinion on rehearing see 205 Fed. -.
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dee. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
SMITH McPHERSON, District Judge.
This is an action in equity for an injunction and damages for infringement of an alleged copyrighted map or chart of Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. The Lydiard-Peterson Company, the defendant in the court below, pleaded a number of defenses, only one of which will be considered. The lower court adjudged the Lydiard-Peterson Company guilty of infringement, awarded plaintiff damages in the sum of $75 and costs, including an attorney fee of $50, and perpetually enjoined the Lydiard Company from reproducing, printing, or selling the map it had been printing and selling. Thereupon this appeal was taken.
To save expense and to limit the controversy, the parties signed and filed a stipulation, to the effect that the only question for determination by this court is as to the sufficiency of the notice on complainant's alleged copyright. Prentiss M. Woodman had printed a Directory showing the ownerships of all residences and property adjacent to and near by the lake. Inside of the cover is a pocket for a map. There were 500 copies of the book and 1,000 maps printed. In some instances the book with map included sold for $3, and in other instances the map alone for $1. Woodman himself sold them, and a few were sold at hook stores. On the map is the following:
"Woodman's Minnetonka Map-Directory. Copyright 1908. Drawn by .T. C. Woodman."
On another part of the map is the following:
"Published by Woodman Publishing Co., 841 Lumber Exchange Building, Minneapolis, Minn. Red figures refer to Index Book with ten special books. Price, including book, $;>.00 postpaid."
The hill of complaint refers to the map only. The map has red numerical figures representing each piece or tract of ground. By referring to the corresponding figure in the Directory, the name of the owner or occupant is ascertained. The description of defendant's map need not be stated, because the stipulation recites:
"It being conceded by the appellant, if the notice of copyright is sufficient, the record contains evidence sufficient to support the finding and judgment of the court as to infringement."
It was also stipulated that the outside cover of the book, and.the title page, introduction, and contents of the book should be certified to this court—
"for the reason those portions of the exhibit above specified contain all matters in any wise affecting or pertaining to the question raised and to be considered on this appeal, to wit, the sufficiency of the notice contained on Exhibit A (which is the map)."
So that it is necessary to iurn to the book (Map-Directory) in so far as it is in the record. On the title page is the following:
"Woodman's Minnetonka Map-Directory, 1908"
and the following:
"Woodman's Minnetonka Map-Directory, 1908.
Copyright 1908 by Prentiss M. Woodman.
Woodman Publishing Company, Lumber Exchange, Minneapolis, Minn."
The requisite copies were timely deposited with the librarian of Congress and on March 25, 1908, the copyright for 28 years was issued.
The holder of a copyright has no monopoly by virtue of the issued copyright itself, but his rights are measured by the statute, provided always he has complied with the statute, Thompson v. Hubbard, 131 U. S. 123, 9 Sup. Ct. 710, 33 L. Ed. 76; Merrell v. Tice, 104 U. S. 557, 26 L. Ed. 854; Wheaton v. Peters, 8 Pet. 591, 8 L. Ed. 1055. The statute of June 18, 1874 (18 Stat. 78, c. 301 [U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 3411]) provided that a publication should show on its face or title page:
" 'Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year.by A. B., in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington;' or, at his option the word 'Copyright' together with the year and the name thus— 'Copyright, 18— by A. B.' "
This was on the book at its appropriate place with greater definiteness than required by statute. And if we were dealing with the book or Directory alone, the case would not require argument to show that the statute had been complied with. And the subsequent statute, enacted after complainant had obtained his copyright, is of less specific requirements. See Act March 4, 1909, c. 320, 35 Stat. 1079 (U. S. Comp. St. Supp. 1911, p. 1472).
Turning to the map, and considering it alone, we find at one place on its face in large print:
"Woodman's Minnetonka Map-Directory. Copyright 1908. Drawn by J. C. AVoodman."
In another place the words:
"Published by Woodman Publishing Co., 841 Lumber Exchange, Minneapolis, Minn."
In the light of the fact that the record shows Prentiss M. Woodman to have been the author of the copyright, and that J. C. Woodman was the draftsman of the map, and that they were father and son, of the same city and same business address, that of and by itself, the notice on the map is not sufficient. The cases of Burrow-Giles Lithographic Company v. Sarony, 111 U. S. 53, 4 Sup. Ct. 279, 28 L. Ed. 349, and Bolles v. Outing Company, by the Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 77 Fed. 966, 23 C. C. A. 594, 46 L. R. A. 712, affirmed in 175 U. S. 262, 20 Sup. Ct. 94, 44 L. Ed. 156, although not passing on the point, have gone far in upholding the sufficiency of a notice. In the Sarony Case the initial of the given name was given. In the Bolles Case no initial of the first name was given, and the surname only was recited. But the subject-matter was a photograph, and there was no other photographer by that name in the city named. To uphold the map alone in the case at bar is to carry the defective notice further than either of the cases cited, and as believed further than any appellate court has yet gone. So that, if the map alone were being considered, it would follow that the notice is insufficient.
But we are of the opinion that in this case the book or Directory and the map are one production, and that the Directory includes the map. We fail to find a material difference whether the map is inclosed in the pocket to the Directory, or whether it is stitched or otherwise fastened to the cover, or elsewhere in the Directory. On the map is the hyphenated word "Map-Directory," showing that it is of itself not complete. To use it, the figures necessarily carry the reader to the book or Directory. And on the title page of the book are the same words "Map-Directory." These carry the reader to the map.
But the argument against the foregoing is that there were but 500 books published and 1,000 of the maps, and that some of the 500 extra maps were alone sold. But the answer to that is: He had the right to print as many extra maps as he desired, provided he did not distribute them. And those separate maps put in circulation were thus distributed after he had a valid copyright. The effect of that may or may not amount to an abandonment, the very question we are precluded under the stipulation from considering. The parties have agreed that we shall only consider the sufficiency of the notice.
.Paragraph 8 of the defendant's answer is an affirmative defense to the effect that subsequent to March 28, 1908 (date of complainant's copyright), the complainant sold the map separately and thereby lost his exclusive rights under his copyright. This question was for the District Court to decide, and presumptively was correctly decided. And that holding is not here for review.
Our holding is that the Directory, with the map in the pocket, constitute but one publication, on which, at the appropriate place, is a sufficient notice. What, was done with the extra maps with a defective notice at a subsequent time, and the effect thereof, is now not material.
The decree of the lower court should be affirmed; and it is so ordered.