Legal Opinion
Superior Form Builders, Inc. v. Dan Chase Taxidermy Supply Company, Incorporated Dan Chase, and Lilly Chase
Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Decided January 29, 1996No. 94-2139PublishedCited by 70 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Affirmed by published opinion. Judge NIEMEYER wrote the opinion, in which Judge MICHAEL and Judge MOTZ joined.
OPINION
NIEMEYER, Circuit Judge:
The principal issue presented in this appeal is whether animal mannequins used by taxidermists to mount animal skins are copyrightable. The controversy centers around whether these mannequins are “useful articles” or “sculptural works” within the meaning of the Copyright Act, and if useful, whether their sculptural features are conceptually separable and thus copyrightable. We also must decide evidentiary and damage issues arising from the trial in the…
2Cases cited16 opinions
- Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1991
- Fogerty v. Fantasy, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1994
- Mazer v. SteinSupreme Court of the United States · 1954
- F. W. Woolworth Co. v. Contemporary Arts, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1952
- Bleistein v. Donaldson Lithographing Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1903
11 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by70 opinions
- Lyons Partnership, L.P., a Texas Limited Partnership v. Morris Costumes, Incorporated Philip Morris Amy Morris SmithCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · 2001
- Ford Motor Co. v. CrossDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan · 2006
- Barboza v. New Form, Inc. (In Re Barboza)Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 2008
- Figg v. SchroederCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · 2002
- Coquico, Inc. v. Rodriguez-MirandaCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit · 2009
65 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.