Legal Document

499 U.S. 340 111 S.Ct. 1282 113 L.Ed.2d 358 FEIST PUBLICATIONS, INC., Petitionerv.RURAL TELEPHONE SERVICE COMPANY, INC. No. 89-1909. Argued Jan. 9, 1991. Decided March 27, Syllabus Respondent Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc., is a certified public utility providing telephone service to several communities in Kansas. Pursuant state regulation, publishes typical directory, consisting of white pages and yellow pages. It obtains data for the directory from subscribers, who must provide their names addresses obtain service. Petitioner Feist Publications, publishing company that specializes area-wide directories covering much larger geographic range than such as Rural's. When refused license its listings 11 different areas, extracted it needed Rural's without consent. Although altered many listings, were identical The District Court granted summary judgment copyright infringement suit, holding are copyrightable. Appeals affirmed. Held: not entitled copyright, therefore Feist's use them does constitute infringement. Pp. 344-364. (a) Article I, § 8, cl. Constitution mandates originality prerequisite protection. constitutional requirement necessitates independent creation plus modicum creativity. Since facts do owe origin an act authorship, they original and, thus, compilation may possess requisite because author typically chooses which include, what order place them, how arrange so readers effectively, protection extends only those components work author, themselves. This fact/expression dichotomy severely limits scope fact-based works. 344-351. (b) Copyright Act 1976 predecessor, 1909, leave no doubt touchstone other explains "original works authorship," 17 U.S.C. 102(a), there can be facts, 102(b). A copyrightable per se, but if have been "selected, coordinated, or arranged way resulting whole constitutes authorship." 101 (emphasis added). Thus, statute envisions some ways selecting, coordinating, arranging sufficiently trigger Even receives limited protection, extend contained compilation. 103(b). Lower courts adopted "sweat brow" "industrious collection" test extended compilation's beyond selection arrangement themselves—misconstrued 1909 eschewed fundamental axiom law one ideas. 351-361. (c) meet statutory requirements While has valid contains forward text material pages, nothing raw uncopyrightable selected, any way. listings—subscribers' names, towns, numbers—could more obvious lacks creativity necessary transform mere into expression. In fact, plausible conclude did truly "select" publish subscribers' numbers, since was required by law. Moreover, remotely creative about alphabetically directory. age-old practice, firmly rooted tradition commonplace come expected matter course. 361-364. 916 F.2d 718 (CA 10 1990), reversed. O'CONNOR J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., WHITE, MARSHALL, STEVENS, SCALIA, KENNEDY, SOUTER, JJ., joined. BLACKMUN, concurred judgment. Kyler Knobbe, Cimarron, Kan., petitioner. James M. Caplinger, Jr., Topeka, respondent. Justice Court. 1 case requires us clarify extent available 2 * provides northwest subject regulation all companies operating Kansas issue annually updated Accordingly, condition monopoly franchise, list alphabetical together with towns numbers. business subscribers category feature classified advertisements various sizes. distributes free charge earns revenue selling advertisements. 3 directories. Unlike covers particular calling area, cover geographical range, reducing need call assistance consult multiple this litigation areas 15 counties 46,878 listings—compared approximately 7,700 listings. Like distributed includes both compete vigorously advertising. 4 As sole provider subscriber information quite easily. Persons desiring apply addresses; then assigns number. company, let alone status, access information. To approached each offered pay right 5 Of companies, Feist. refusal created problem Feist, omitting these would left gaping hole rendering less attractive potential advertisers. decision subsequent we review here, determined precisely reason motivated unlawful purpose "to advertising." Co. v. 737 F.Supp. 610, 622 (Kan.1990). 6 Unable used began removing thousand fell outside hired personnel investigate 4,935 remained. These employeesveri fied reported sought additional result, listing individual's street address; most not. Notwithstanding additions, however,1,309 1983 1982-1983 App. 54 (¶ 15-16), 57. Four fictitious had inserted detect copying. 7 sued taking position compiling own could asserted employees obliged travel door-to-door conduct survey discover same responded efforts economically impractical event, unnecessary copied Rural, explaining "[c]ourts consistently held copyrightable" citing string lower court decisions. 663 214, 218 (1987). unpublished opinion, Tenth Circuit affirmed "for substantially reasons given district court." Pet. Cert. 4a, judgt. at (1990). We certiorari, 498 808, 40, 112 (1990), determine whether protects numbers II A. 8 concerns interaction two well-established propositions. first copyrightable; other, compilations generally are. Each propositions possesses impeccable pedigree. That universally understood. "[n]o his ideas he narrates." Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. Nation Enterprises, 471 539, 556, 105 2218, 2228, 85 588 (1985). wisely concedes point, noting brief "[f]acts discoveries, course, themselves protection." Brief 24. At time, however, dispute within copyright. Compilations expressly mentioned again 1976. 9 There undeniable tension between Many consist i.e., wholly factual accompanied written On basis claim work? Common sense tells 100 magically change status when gathered place. Yet seems contemplate exclusively potentially scope. key resolving lies understanding why sine qua non originality. qualify author. See supra, 547-549, S.Ct., 2223-2224. Original, term means independently (as opposed works), least minimal degree Nimmer D. Nimmer, §§ 2.01[A], [B] (1990) (hereinafter Nimmer). sure, level extremely low; even slight amount will suffice. vast majority make grade easily, spark, "no crude, humble obvious" might be. Id., 1.08[C][1]. Originality signify novelty; though closely resembles long similarity fortuitous, result illustrate, assume poets, ignorant compose poems. Neither novel, yet hence, Sheldon Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corp., 81 49, (CA2 1936). requirement. source Congress' power enact laws Constitution, authorizes Congress "secur[e] Times Authors . exclusive Right respective Writings." decisions late 19th century Trade-Mark Cases, 82, 25 L.Ed. 550 (1879); Burrow-Giles Lithographic Sarony, 53, 279, 28 349 (1884)—this defined crucial terms "authors" "writings." doing, made unmistakably clear presuppose 12 addressed For "under head writings authors," determined, "originality required." U.S., 94. explained creativity: "[W]hile word liberally construed, been, include designs engraving, prints, &c., original, founded powers mind. protected fruits intellectual labor, embodied form books, engravings, like." Ibid. original). 13 Burrow-Giles, distilled Constitution's "authors." "author," sense, mean "he whom anything owes origin; originator; maker." 58, 281 (internal quotation marks omitted). emphasized component described being conceptions author," 281, stressed importance requiring accuses another prove "the existence originality, production, thought, conception." 59-60, 281-282. 14 articulated Cases remains today. Goldstein California, 412 546, 561-562, 93 2303, 2312, 37 163 (1973). very "premise law." Miller Universal City Studios, 650 1365, 1368 (CA5 1981). Leading scholars agree on point. pair commentators succinctly puts it: "The constitutionally mandated works." Patterson Joyce, Monopolizing Law: Scope Protection Law Reports Statutory Compilations, 36 UCLA L.Rev. 719, 763, n. 155 (1989) original) Joyce). Accord, id., 759-760, 140; 1.06[A] ("[O]riginality well requirement"); 1.08[C][1] ("[A] labor clearly essential element"). bedrock principle law's seemingly disparate treatment compilations. "No facts." 2.11[A], p. 2-157. authorship. distinction discovery: person find report fact fact; she merely discovered existence. borrow discovers "maker" "originator." 281. discoverer finds records." 2.03[E]. Census takers, example, "create" population figures emerge efforts; copy world around them. Denicola, Collections Facts: Theory Nonfiction Literary Works, Colum.L.Rev. 516, 525 (1981) Denicola). "original" sense. true facts—scientific, historical, biographical, news day. "[T]hey copyrighted part domain every person." Miller, 1369. 16 Factual compilations, hand, collected effectively readers. choices arrangement, compiler entail creativity, protect through laws. 2.11[D], 3.03; Denicola 523, 38. absolutely protectible expression, meets minimum features arrangement. 547, 2223. 3.03. important limitation. element protected. copyright; accordingly, Joyce 800-802; Ginsburg, Creation Commercial Value: Works Information, 90 1865, 1868, Ginsburg). clothes collocation words, able Others underlying publication, precise words present President Ford prevent others copying bare historical autobiography, see 556-557, 2228-2229, "subjective descriptions portraits figures." 563, 2232. Where adds expression rather lets speak themselves, expressive elusive. conceivable manner selected facts. elements eligible Patry, Facts (or Why "White Pages" Are Not Copyrightable), Com. 37, 64 (Dec. 1990) Patry). No format, become association. 776. 18 inevitably thin. another's publication aid preparing competing work, commentator "[N]o authorship displays, exposes taking. [T]he divorced context imposed restated reshuffled second comers, propose ideas." Ginsburg 1868. 19 seem unfair fruit compiler's compensation. Brennan correctly observed, "some unforeseen byproduct scheme." 589, 2245 (dissenting opinion). is, rather, essence copyright," ibid., primary objective reward authors, "[t]o promote Progress Science useful Arts." Art. 8. Twentieth Century Music Corp. Aiken, 422 151, 156, 95 2040, 2044, 45 84 (1975). end, assures authors encourages build freely upon conveyed work. 2228-2229. principle, known idea/expression dichotomy, applies applied compilation, assuming absence protected; will. neither nor unfortunate. advances progress science art. 20 recognized More ago, observed: object book arts communicate knowledge contains. But frustrated incurring guilt piracy book." Baker Selden, 99, 103, 841 (1880). reiterated point Row: 21 aspects work—termed 'expression'—that display stamp author's 22 "[C]opyright users prior constituent original—for example materials domain—as unfairly appropriate contributions." 547-548, 2223-2224 (citation 23 This, then, resolves doctrinal tension: treats consistent manner. Facts, copyrighted. event B 24 explained, Court's announcing rule predate ambiguous language caused temporarily lose sight requirement, have. 2.01. set out Act. Section stated "all author." 35 Stat. 1076. By using "writings" "author"—the Burrow-Giles—the necessarily incorporated implicitly, thereby leaving room error. 26 similarly ambiguous. parts work." thus failed identify specific characteristic originality—that 27 Most construed correctly, notwithstanding less-than-perfect language. They understood 760-761. treatise: 'original' command However, uniformly inferred claimed 'authors'. reasoned 'the creator, originator' follows product unless original." 2.01 (footnotes omitted) (citing cases). misunderstood statute. See, e.g., Leon Pacific Telegraph Co., 91 484 (CA9 1937); Jeweler's Circular Publishing Keystone F. 83 1922). ignored 4, focusing attention instead 5, purely technical nature: provided seeking register should indicate application type listed categories under fall. One "[b]ooks, including composite cyclopaedic works, directories, gazetteers, compilations." 5(a). purport say automatically Indeed, disclaimed function, pointing subject-matter [i]s section four." Nevertheless, specifically led infer erroneously like "without further showing original—personal—authorship." 1895. 29 Making matters worse, developed new theory justify Known alternatively collection," notion hard went classic formulation doctrine appeared F., 88: 30 expended preparation depend publici juris, show literary skill either thought language, industrious collection. man goes streets town down inhabitants, occupations number, acquires author" 31 numerous flaws, glaring arrangement—the contributions—to Under doctrine, defense creation. "not take previously published," "independently wor[k] himself, arrive common sources information." 88-89 quotations "Sweat law—that F.2d, 1372 (criticizing "ensur[ing] later writers matter, clearthat protection"). 32 Decisions applying permit approach. best International News Associated Press, 248 215, 39 68, 63 211 (1918). decision, unambiguously conferred conceded Press newspapers. Recognizing " 'periodicals, newspapers,' 5(b), acknowledged articles 234, 70. flatly rejected, article contained: "[T]he element—the respecting current events production—is writer, ordinarily juris; history day." Ibid.* 33 Without doubt, flouted basic principles. Throughout history, "recognize[d] greater disseminate fiction fantasy." Gorman, Fact Fancy: Implications Copyright, J. Soc. 560, 563 (1982). took contrary view; handed proprietary interests declared precluded saving time effort relying truth, "[i]t just wasted proscription against [is] designed prevent." Rosemont Random House, 366 303, 310 1966), cert. denied 385 1009, 87 714, 546 (1967). "Protection research certain circumstances competition. accord distorts principles creates justification protecting encouraging 'writings' 'authors.' 3.04, 3-23 (footnote C 34 escape Office. decided overhaul asked Office study existing problems, Mills Music, Snyder, 469 153, 159, 638, 642, 556 (1985), promptly recommended up confusion standards copyrightability. Register Copyrights "originality" "basic requisit[e]" Act, reference [originality] misconceptions matter." Report General Revision Law, 87th Cong., 1st Sess., (H. Judiciary Comm. Print 1961). suggested making explicit. Register's advice. enacting 1976, dropped replaced phrase 102(a). explicit announced clarifying law: criteria [are] fixation tangible form. 'original authorship,' purposely undefined, intended incorporate standard established [1909] statute." H.R.Rep. 94-1476, 51 (1976) added) H.R.Rep.); S.Rep. 94-473, 50 (1975), U.S.Code Cong. Admin.News pp. 5659, 5664 S.Rep.). sentiment echoed Office: "Our intention here maintain ." Supplementary 89th pt. 6, 1965) ensure mistakes repeated, measures. "copyrightable parts" identified distinguishing deleted 102(b), identifies available: "In idea, procedure, process, system, method operation, concept, discovery, regardless described, illustrated, 102(b) prohibit 2223, 2228. 2.03[E] (equating "discoveries"). law, clarified "Section enlarges contracts Its restate idea unchanged." H.R.Rep., 57; S.Rep., 54, 5670. step minimize deleting mention "directories compilations" mentioned, se place, enacted provisions. First, definition "compilation." Second, 103. 38 "compilation" found defines "a formed collection assembling preexisting authorship" emphasize collections se. conveys message tripartite structure, above italics. three distinct met compilation: (1) assembly pre-existing material, data; (2) selection, coordination, materials; (3) creation, virtue "[T]his conjunctive structure self-evident, assumed 'accurately express legislative purpose.' Patry 51, quoting 164, 645. 40 glance, tell much. describes normally thinks compilation—a data. What makes significant enough purposes collects assembles satisfy definition, get over hurdles. way, plain indicates Otherwise, period after "data." 41 third also illuminating. emphasizes satisfies ("an authorship"). 102 states plainly regard repeat mistake concluding treated differently measured standard. it, goal "make full force containing material." 55, 42 instructs that, determining focus arranged. straightforward never all, presented. dictates principal merit 43 pass muster. "in way" render original. implies "ways" 57, 76. meaningless simply arranged." dispositive. accordance give effect, possible, clause statute," Moskal United States, 109-110, 461, 466, 449 omitted), 44 discussed earlier, particularly stringent. settle used; novelty required. (i.e., work), Presumably, test, narrow spark utterly lacking trivial virtually nonexistent. Bleistein Donaldson Lithographing 188 239, 251, 298, 300, 47 460 (1903) (referring narrowest limits"). Such incapable sustaining 2.01[B]. qualifies 103 "[t]he compilations," 103(a), contributions—not conveyed: 46 contributed distinguished employed imply clear, tool keep collected. commonly today: effect Admin. require, mistakenly assumed, start scratch undertaken another. 88-89. Rather, compiler—the 48 summary, revisions brow," Nor direct response Office's concern misconstrued repeatedly clarify, change, explain painstaking clarity 102(a); 102(b); contains, 103(b); 101. 49 proven largely successful steering direction. good 1369-1370: "A properly viewed resting industriousness develop substantial format infringement" Additionally, Second Circuit, almost 70 years ago issued now fully repudiated reasoning decision. Financial Moody's Investors Service, 808 204, 207 1986), denied, 820, 108 79, 98 (1987); 751 501, 510 1984) (Newman, concurring); Hoehling 618 972, 979 1980). believe rewarded recognize 516 ("[T]he vocabulary ill suited analyzing property rights nonfiction"); 520-521, 525; 1867, 1870. III minimum, 1,309 subscribers. copying, establish infringement, proven: ownership 548, 2224. here; appears concede considered whole, foreword text, 18; 9. question proved element. Rural? Certainly, 'ow[e] origin' Rural. bits facts; existed before continued exist published "rule[s] addresses, plaintiff stretch imagination called 52 essentially referring "preexisting 17. 103(b) explicitly 53 stringent standard; require presented innovative surprising equally true, cannot mechanical routine whatsoever. low, exist. 760, 144 ("While sometimes characterized modest, low threshold, effect") omitted; citations 94; claims outset, entirely typical. area fill issues takes lists surname. end garden-variety devoid slightest trace 55 obvious: information—name, town, number—about "selection" sort, sufficientef fort useful, insufficient 56 note passing featured fail reason. points subscribers; Corporation Commission franchise. F.Supp., 612. plausibly dictated 57 coordination order. may, technically speaking, Rural; disputes undertook task alphabetizing itself. Information Industry Association et al. Amici Curiae (alphabetical "is observed local exchange companies"). unoriginal, practically inevitable. time-honored Constitution. 58 combined de minimis quantum alphabetically, fall short mark. afford Given fail, imagine likely candidate. hold muster, fail. 59 Because lack demeaning rewards effort. noted 'great praise due plaintiffs industry enterprise paper, way.' 105. 60 Reversed. 61 BLACKMUN concurs ultimately rendered noncopyright grounds relevant here. 235, 241-242, 71, 73-74.

Classification Label: 7