Opinion ID: 77567
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Striking Similarity

Text: 50 Where a plaintiff cannot demonstrate access he may, nonetheless, establish copying by demonstrating that his original work and the putative infringing work are strikingly similar. 11 Calhoun v. Lillenas Publ'g, 298 F.3d 1228, 1232 n. 6 (11th Cir.2002) (per curiam) (citing Herzog, 193 F.3d at 1249; Benson v. Coca-Cola Co., 795 F.2d 973, 975 n. 2 (11th Cir.1986) (per curiam); Ferguson, 584 F.2d at 113). Striking similarity exists where the proof of similarity in appearance is so striking that the possibilities of independent creation, coincidence and prior common source are, as a practical matter, precluded. Selle v. Gibb, 741 F.2d 896, 901 (7th Cir.1984); see also M. Nimmer & D. Nimmer, 4 Nimmer on Copyright § 13.02[B] (2005). 51 First, as discussed, the expert reports opining as to the striking similarity between the Painting and EPCOT were properly excluded by the district court. Of those portions of the reports that remain, none properly supports any assertion of striking similarity. 12 Although both discuss similar arrangement of otherwise unprotectable elements, neither expert explains the originality of the Waters arrangement of elements or points out how, precisely, the expressive effect of Waters's arrangement is duplicated by either EPCOT or the rendering thereof. 52 Second, WorldCo has presented evidence of independent creation, tracing the development of EPCOT from the ideas for International Street and City of Tomorrow, through Disney's participation in the 1964 World's Fair, into what it had become by the time it opened. Corwin attempts to rebut WorldCo's evidence of independent creation with both Alexander's testimony as to the absence of a coherent development in EPCOT's design and with his argument that EPCOT was designed with suspiciously unusual speed. 13 As the district court noted, however, both approaches are merely speculative and neither is supported by the record. The record contains many drawings and much correspondence related to the development of the 1964 World's Fair exhibits, the International Street concept, and the designs for the combination of the international and futuristic theme parks. Alexander's conclusory statements regarding independent creation are insufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to this issue. 53 Accordingly, in the face of WorldCo's evidence of independent creation, of the comparisons to World's Fair concepts and designs, and of the significant differences between the two manifestations—the appearance of the globe, the level of detail in the villages, the location of pavilions in relation to the lake, the presence of several elements at EPCOT not present in the Painting, the route and nature of the rail system, and the overall scale of the park— we conclude that Corwin has failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to striking similarity. Accordingly, the district court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of WorldCo.