Court Opinion

ID: 9490404
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 13:42:48.69397+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:54:05.088027
License: Public Domain

SCHROEDER, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
I dissent from the majority’s conclusion that this use of Fred Astaire’s legendary film performances, to preface a videotape having nothing to do with Fred Astaire, is exempt under the California statute. I dissent with respect, however, because the statute is not as clear as judges would like.
First I assume, without needing to decide, that the majority is correct in holding that subsection (n)(l) of Cal. Civ.Code § 990 exempts uses in videotapes, as well as in films, plays and other forms of expression, even though the statute does not expressly refer to videotapes. In my view, the majority goes wrong when it holds that this use of the Astaire footage is exempt as an “advertisement or commercial announcement” of an exempt use.
The majority reasons that the language of subsection (n)(4) exempts all advertisements or commercial announcements for plays, films, videotapes, etc. This is incorrect. That subsection exempts only advertisements or commercial announcements for uses permitted in the earlier paragraphs. The relevant exemption in this case must be the exemption in paragraph (1) for use of an image or likeness in a videotape, film, play or other expressive form. This footage of Astaire, however, is not used in the dance instruction video. The clips are used to promote the accompanying videotape of dance instruction that does not use Astaire’s image. Had the clips been used in an announcement physically separated from the rest of the video, the use of the clips would clearly not have been exempt. The fact that Best chose to attach the clips to the dance instruction video in the form of a prefatory announcement does not change its essential nature: a commercial announcement of something unrelated to any exempted use of a photograph or likeness. The clips are therefore not advertising or announcing a “use permitted by paragraph (1),” and thus they are not exempt under paragraph (4).
Under the majority’s reasoning one could with impunity hawk a videotape on fashion for the next century by introducing it with footage of Jacqueline Kennedy. The statute was intended to prevent such exploitation, not immunize it. I therefore must respectfully dissent.