Opinion ID: 771186
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Limit of One Architectural Work per Structure

Text: 96 Representative Kastenmeier, the House sponsor of the AWCPA, clarified that what is protected by section 102(a)(8) is the design of a building or other three-dimensional structure. The term `design' is intended to encompass both the overall shape of a structure as well as protectible individual elements. 136 CONG. REC. E259, E260 (daily ed. Feb. 7, 1990) (statement of Rep. Kastenmeier). He emphasized, however, that there is only one `architectural work' per structure; separate registrations may not be sought for multiple protectible elements in any given structure. Id. If an architect were able to copyright individual architectural elements as architectural works, it would retard the progress of architecture by preventing others from using, adapting or modifying those elements in new, useful and interesting ways. See id. (This provision recognizes both that creativity in architecture frequently takes the form of a selection, coordination, orarrangement of unprotectable individual elements into an original, protectable whole, and that an architect may incorporate new, protectable design elements into otherwise standard, unprotectable building features.). The nature of architecture as a utilitarian art form justifies this limitation on copyright protection. That same concern does not carry over into the nonutilitarian world of sculpture. Accordingly, the statement that there is only one architectural work per structure does not mean there cannot be multiple protectable PGS works in a structure.