Document: 539 U.S. 23 DASTAR CORP.v.TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORP. ET AL. No. 02-428. Supreme Court of United States. Argued April 2, 2003. Decided June General Dwight D. Eisenhower's World War II book, Crusade in Europe, was published by Doubleday, which registered the work's copyright and granted exclusive television rights to an affiliate respondent Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (Fox). Fox, turn, arranged for Time, Inc., produce a Europe series based on Time assigned its Fox. The first broadcast 1949. In 1975, Doubleday renewed book's copyright, but never series, expired 1977, leaving public domain. 1988, reacquired including right distribute video sublicense others do so. Respondents SFM Entertainment New Line Home Video, acquired from manufacture video. 1995, petitioner Dastar released set, Campaigns it made tapes original version sold as own product substantially less than Line's set. SFM, brought this action alleging, inter alia, that Dastar's sale without proper credit constitutes "reverse passing off" violation § 43(a) Lanham Act. District respondents summary judgment. Ninth Circuit affirmed relevant part, holding, among other things, because copied entire labeled resulting with different name, marketed attribution had committed "bodily appropriation" Fox's sufficient establish reverse off. Held: Section Act does not prevent unaccredited copying uncopyrighted work. Pp. 28-38. (a) Respondents' claim has "false designation origin, false or misleading description fact, representation which.. . is likely cause confusion.. origin ... [its] goods" Act, 15 U. S. C. 1125(a), would undoubtedly be sustained if bought some videotapes merely repackaged them own. However, instead taken creative work domain, it, modifications (arguably minor), produced very videotapes. If "origin" refers only manufacturer producer physical "good" available (here, videotapes), origin. If, however, includes creator underlying copied, then someone else (perhaps Fox) product. At bottom, must decide what means "goods." 28-31. (b) Because products own, cannot prevail their claim. As dictionary definitions affirm, most natural understanding "goods"—the source wares—is tangible marketplace, here videotape. phrase "origin incapable connoting person entity originated ideas "goods" embody contain. consumer typically care about such origination, should stretched cover matters are no consequence purchasers. Although purchasers communications contained embodied communicative video, giving special application conflict law, precisely directed subject, grants copy once expired, e. g., Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Stiffel Co., 376 225, 230. Recognizing render superfluous provisions Visual Artists Rights grant artistic author "the right. .. authorship," 17 106A(a)(1)(A), carefully limit focus right, §§ 101, 106A(b), (d)(1), (e). It also pose serious practical problems. Finally, reading creating for, effect, plagiarism hard reconcile with, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Samara Brothers, 529 205, 211. 31-38. 34 Fed. Appx. 312, reversed remanded. SCALIA, J., delivered opinion Court, all Members joined, except BREYER, who took part consideration decision case. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR NINTH CIRCUIT David A. Gerber argued petitioner. With him briefs were Stewart Baker, Bennett Evan Cooper, Nimmer. Gregory G. Garre States amicus curiae urging reversal. brief Solicitor Olson, Assistant Attorney McCallum, Deputy Clement, Anthony J. Steinmeyer, Mark Davies. Dale M. Cendali respondents. her Walter E. Dellinger, Pamela Harris, Jonathan Hacker, Jeremy Maltby, Pammela Quinn, Gary Roberts.* JUSTICE SCALIA Court. 1 case, we asked whether prevents work, so, court may double profit award under 1117(a), order deter future infringing conduct. 2 * 1948, three half years after German surrender at Reims, Eisenhower completed his written account allied campaign during II. Copyright Office called consisting 26 episodes, combined soundtrack narration book film footage Army, Navy, Coast Guard, British Ministry Information Office, National Board Canada, unidentified "Newsreel Pool Cameramen." "`proprietor hire.'" App. Pet. Cert. 9a. did renew 3 obtained negatives restored them, videotape; distributed 4 Enter Dastar. decided expand line music compact discs videos. Anticipating interest 50th anniversary war's end, set entitled Europe. To make Campaigns, purchased eight beta cam edited series. slightly more long substituted new opening sequence, page, final closing those series; inserted chapter-title sequences narrated chapter introductions; moved "recap" beginning retitled "preview"; removed references images book. created packaging (as already noted) title. 5 manufactured advertising states: "Produced Distributed by: Distributing " (which owned Dastar), makes reference Similarly, screen credits state "DASTAR CORP presents" "an ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTING Production," list executive producer, associate employees Supp. 2-3, 30. videos themselves videotapes, sells Sam's Club, Costco, Best Buy, retailers mail-order companies $25 per 1998, alleging infringes Doubleday's and, thus, later amended complaint add claims "without credit" off"1 60 Stat. 441, unfair-competition law. 31a. On cross-motions judgment, found counts, id., 54a-55a, treating resolution controlling state-law ultimate test both deceived confused," 54a. awarded profits doubled pursuant 35 conduct 6 Appeals judgment claim, 316 (2002). (It said nothing regard claim.) respect reasoned "Dastar name Fox[, and] therefore `bodily appropriation' series." Id., 314. concluded "Dastar's [television] off." Ibid.2 Court's twice profits. We certiorari. 537 1099 (2003). 7 intended "actionable deceptive use marks," "to protect persons engaged commerce against unfair competition." 1127. While much addresses registration, use, infringement trademarks related marks, 43(a), 1125(a) one few goes beyond trademark protection. originally enacted, federal remedy used either "a any representation" connection "any goods services." 441. Second accurately observed enactment, however—and remains true 1988 revision—§ "does have boundless trade practices," Alfred Dunhill, Ltd. Interstate Cigar 499 F. 2d 232, 237 (1974). "[B]ecause inherently limited wording, can `codification' overall law `unfair competition,'" McCarthy, Trademarks Unfair Competition 27:7, p. 27-14 (4th ed. 2002) (McCarthy), apply certain practices prohibited text. 8 case treat word referring geographic location originated," Two Pesos, Taco Cabana, 505 763, 777 (1992) (STEVENS, concurring judgment),3 Courts considering issue, Sixth Circuit, unanimously refer geographical manufacture," Federal-Mogul-Bower Bearings, Azoff, 313 405, 408 (1963), thereby traditional unregistered marks. See McCarthy 27:14; supra, 768. Moreover, every consider issue broad enough encompass See, Williams Curtiss-Wright Corp., 691 168, 172 (CA3 1982); Arrow Indus., Hugh Richards, 678 410, 415 (CA2 L. Publications, Catholic Bishop Chicago, 214 USPQ 409, 416 (CA7 Smith Montoro, 648 602, 603 (CA9 1981); Bangor Punta Operations, Universal Marine 543 1107, 1109 (CA5 1976). Trademark Law Revision clear covers production well origin.4 Its language amply inclusive, moreover, off—if indeed implicitly adopt unanimous court-of-appeals jurisprudence subject. Alpo Petfoods, Ralston Purina 913 958, 963-964, n. (CADC 1990) (Thomas, J.). 9 Thus, comes us, gravamen respondents' that, marketing selling acknowledging nearly wholesale reliance confusion goods." 43(a). Brief 8, 11. That alleged wrongdoing, vastly different: domain —the series—copied (in 43(a)(1)(A) III 10 definition "[t]he fact process coming into being source," "[t]hat anything primarily proceeds; source." Webster's International Dictionary 1720-1721 (2d 1949). And here) "[w]ares; merchandise." 1079. think videotape concept might 43(a))5 include actual owner commissioned assumed responsibility ("stood behind") But our view Such extension stretch text, out accord history purpose inconsistent precedent. 11 prohibits actions like deceive consumers impair producer's goodwill. forbids, example, Coca-Cola Company's off Pepsi-Cola brand-loyal prefers drink Company PepsiCo sells, while he believes company (or least stands behind of) product, surely necessarily believe sense devise formula. buys branded automatically assume brand-name same came up idea designed product—and is. words 12 could argued, perhaps, reality purchaser concern product—one valued qualities, hammer, intellectual content conveys, or, here, novel interested merely, all, identity tome (the publisher), also, primarily, story conveys author). author, course, avoiding off) creation publisher. For argument goes) deemed item publishing house Farrar, Straus Giroux, Dastar) Tom Wolfe, or—assertedly—respondents). 13 problem according treatment causes subject specifically. copy, attribution, [an article whose patent expired]—including shape carried when patented—passes public." 230 (1964); see Kellogg Biscuit 305 111, 121-122 (1938). "In general, unless property protects item, will copying." TrafFix Devices, Marketing Displays, 532 23, 29 (2001). patentee holder "carefully crafted bargain," Bonito Boats, Thunder Craft 489 141, 150-151 (1989), which, monopoly invention attribution. construing been "careful caution misuse over-extension" protections areas traditionally occupied copyright. TrafFix, S., 29. "The Act," said, exist reward manufacturers innovation particular device; period exclusivity." 34. Federal "has necessary relation discovery," Trade-Mark Cases, 100 82, 94 (1879), rather, preventing competitors source-identifying mark," "reduce[s] customer's costs shopping making purchasing decisions," "helps assure (and imitating competitor) reap financial, reputation-related rewards associated desirable product," Qualitex Jacobson Products 514 159, 163-164 (1995) (internal quotation marks citation omitted). Assuming sake itself "Producer" amounted conveyed videos, allowing create species mutant limits public's "federal `copy use' copyrights, 165. 14 When Congress wished addition done so specificity Act's ambiguous "origin." 1990, 603(a), 104 5128, provides "shall authorship work." 106A(a)(1)(A). express focused: attaches specified "work[s] visual art," personal artist, 106A(b) (e),and endures life author," 106A(d)(1). misrepresentation noncopyrighted works (visual otherwise) these limitations superfluous. A statutory interpretation renders another statute course avoided. Mackey Lanier Collection Agency Service, 486 825, 837, (1988). Reading require materials Without copyrighted basepoint, discernable limits. MGM Carmen Jones, presumably just MGM, Oscar Hammerstein (who wrote musical based), Georges Bizet opera Prosper Mérimée based). many cases, figuring simple task. Indeed, present far status. Neither nor series—they licensed version. involvement best. principal, exclusive, creator, albeit arrangement neither shot Rather, anyone material groups, rather requires search Nile tributaries. 16 Another difficulty adopting places difficult position. hand, they face liability failing lawful copies based; hand crediting regarded implying creator's "sponsorship approval" 1125(a)(1)(A). simply "copied [the series] Europe," changing title (including Fox), confidence assurance "would action," Tr. Oral Arg. 35. plagiarism—the otherwise unprotected inventions —would previous decisions. 205 (2000), considered product-design dress ever distinctive. WalMart "knockoffs" children's clothes containing "minor modifications" designs. 208. designs protected showing "secondary meaning," 214, "`identify itself,'" 211 (quoting Inwood Laboratories, Ives 456 844, 851, (1982)). This limitation entirely pointless "original" turn around pursue reverse-passing-off exactly provision argue line. not, referred clothes, (potentially) copyrightable patentable embodied. 18 Similarly theory, supported suit rejected where defendants molds duplicate plaintiff's unpatented boat hulls (apparently plaintiff). 23: plaintiff, patents flexible road signs trade-dress features functional, unattributed design. 19 sum, accordance common-law foundations originality creativity), light laws were), conclude offered sale, idea, concept, communication goods. Cf. 202 (distinguishing between object embodied"). hold akin finding perpetual do. Eldred Ashcroft, 186, 208 20 talent sort lay left copyrighted, 102(a)(6), compilation) even though included 103(a). Had easy infringement. contention still live question remand. were, promotion, give impression quite action—not "confusion origin" 43(a)(1)(A), "misrepresents nature, characteristics [or] qualities" 43(a)(1)(B). saying 21 22 thus occasion permitted petitioner's reversed, remanded further proceedings consistent opinion. ordered. 24 BREYER Notes: Briefs ofamici reversal filed Association Bruce R. Ewing; Malla Pollack et al. Ms. Pollack, pro se. amici affirmance Competitive Technology Paul Bender Michael Klipper; Directors Guild America Richard P. Bress. American Intellectual Property William Barber, Louis T. Pirkey, Ronald Myrick; Library Band Peter Jaszi; Professors Tyler Ochoa. Passing palming off, sometimes called)occurs misrepresents services else's. See,e. O. W. Thum Dickinson, 245 609, 621 (CA6 1917). "Reverse off," implies, opposite: else's 1982). held tax sought manuscript triable hire, properly 1976. Appx., litigation, before us. infringe valid provision, arguably "available doing business locality falsely indicated origin," 778, 3. adopted 1946, provided full: "Any shall affix, apply, annex, services, container containers goods, representation, symbols tending describe represent same, enter commerce, knowledge falsity procure transported deliver carrier used, liable civil region situated, damaged representation." now provides: who, uses word, term, symbol, device, combination thereof, which— "(A) confusion, mistake, affiliation, connection, association person, sponsorship, approval commercial activities "(B) characteristics, person's activities, she act." 1125(a)(1). Under 1946 read providing mark, sell them—the typical franchise arrangement. My Pie Int'l, Debould, 687 919 stretching seemingly longer needed: amendments expressly prohibit "word, device," fact" "affiliation, person," "sponsorship, 1125(a).

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