Opinion ID: 2974224
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The interactive aspect of the computer program

Text: Copyright law also does not afford protection to LawMode’s interrelation of variables in the templates, because the interrelation of variables is too basic and is compelled by the express terms of the underlying forms. A software designer might have copyrightable creative expression in the way that variables interact, particularly where the interrelationship of variables communicates information to the user that is not contained within the express terms of the form. LawMode’s programing choices, however, communicate no information and thus are not copyrightable. The variables in LawMode’s templates are interrelated. By “interrelated” we mean that the data entered on one template will affect the choices available on future templates. For example, if a user indicates that the user will be filing in a district court, the drop down box containing specific courts is activated so that the user can select the specific court. Correspondingly, the fields related to circuit courts are deactivated such that the user is not prompted to enter a specific circuit court. This makes sense because a case cannot be simultaneously filed both in a district court and in a circuit court. The interrelation of variables is dictated by the express terms of the forms and is not creative expression. By the express terms of the form, a case can be filed only in one court. Thus, the programming choice to permit the user the option of choosing a circuit court or a district court does not convey any information that is not expressly dictated by the terms of the forms. There is nothing original in translating the express terms of a form into HotDocs. See Feist, 499 U.S. 345-46. LawMode’s programming choices that merely follow the instructions on the underlying form are not creative expression protected by copyright. Though LawMode refers to Bucklew v. Hawkins, Ash, Baptie & Co., 329 F.3d 923 (7th Cir. 2003), in support of its argument that LawMode’s automation is copyrightable, Bucklew actually favors Lexis because it illustrates that interrelationship of variables dictated by the express terms of the forms is not creative expression. Bucklew developed a software program using a standard spreadsheet application (e.g., Excel) that filled in Housing and Urban Development (HUD) forms. Id. at 925-26. The HUD forms required some arithmetic manipulations of salary data and other expenditures. Id. at 926. Bucklew’s program automatically performed required arithmetic after the user entered the raw data. Id. The Seventh Circuit held that three computerized forms were not copyrightable. Id. at 930-31. Though there was limited discussion of the role of interrelated variables in the court’s decision, the Seventh Circuit reversed despite the fact that Bucklew’s forms had interrelated variables. In many respects Bucklew’s forms were very similar to LawMode’s No. 05-1513 Ross Brovins & Oehmke v. Lexis Nexis Group Page 8 forms. Both were computerized templates that filled in preexisting forms. Both had interrelated variables where an entry in one section would affect the result in another section. Yet, the interactive variables did not save Bucklew’s forms from a finding of uncopyrightability as a matter of law. In Bucklew, like this case, the interrelationship of variables was dictated by the express terms of the forms. Bucklew could not copyright the fact that his program added the figures as required by the HUD forms. Id. at 928. Similarly, LawMode cannot copyright the fact that its program interrelated variables to permit a user to pick only one court because the underlying form only permits a user to pick one court. Cases where interrelation of variables did support a copyright are distinguishable from this case because in those cases the interrelated variables communicated information to the user not contained within the express terms of a form. For example, in Manufacturers Technologies Inc. v. Cams Inc., a computerized form for estimating repair costs was held copyrightable where the form communicated information to the user about how parts needed to be identified, and the identification of parts affected the derivation of an estimate. 706 F. Supp. 984, 997 (D. Conn. 1989). That the forms in Manufacturers Technologies communicated information not contained on the face of the form to the user is the key distinction between copyrightable computerized forms and the uncopyrightable forms in this case. LawMode’s programming is not copyrightable because LawMode’s programming communicated no information not expressly contained on the face of the underlying forms. LawMode’s “automation” is not copyrightable because it merely translates the express terms of the underlying forms and does not convey new information.