Opinion ID: 1239364
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cause of action for unfair competition

Text: In their complaint and amended complaint, plaintiffs base their action on common-law copyright, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment. On appeal, however, plaintiffs rely exclusively on unfair competition, with the exception of one paragraph in their original brief which discusses common-law copyright. We consider the other grounds abandoned. Prior to International News Service v. Associated Press (1918), 248 U. S. 215, 39 Sup. Ct. 68, 63 L. Ed. 211 (hereinafter referred to as I. N. S. ), the three elements of a cause of action for unfair competition were (1) appropriation of the plaintiff's production, (2) competition between plaintiff and defendant, and (3) passing off the latter referring to misrepresentation by the defendant that the plaintiff's product was the defendant's. Goldstein, Federal System Ordering of the Copyright Interest, 69 Columbia Law Rev. (1969), 49, 58.