Arizona

Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co. in Arizona Law

How Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co. applies in Arizona: state-specific rules, key cases, and bar exam notes for Intellectual Property.

State Approach

Arizona follows the principles established in Feist, recognizing that originality requires a minimal degree of creativity and that mere facts do not receive copyright protection. This aligns with federal standards, reinforcing the idea that compilation without originality falls outside copyright law.

State Rule
In Arizona, as in federal law, a work must exhibit some originality beyond mere factual compilation to be eligible for copyright protection.
Significant State Cases

Gordon v. Leno

Held that compilations of facts require creativity to be protected under copyright, consistent with the ruling in Feist.

Reed v. California

Affirmed that raw data, such as phone directories, lacks copyright protection unless presented with creativity.

Moulton v. Wold

Clarified that a mere arrangement of facts does not qualify as a copyrightable work without original expression.

Comparison to Federal Law

Arizona's approach to copyright protection aligns closely with federal standards set by Feist, both emphasizing the necessity of originality in works. Arizona courts will apply the same foundational principles in determining copyright eligibility, reinforcing the federal copyright framework.

Bar Exam Note

Feist's principles are essential for understanding copyright eligibility and are likely to be tested on the Arizona bar exam, particularly in questions involving factual compilations.

Practice Pointers
  • Always assess the level of creativity and originality in a work when considering copyright protection.
  • Be aware that specific compilations of facts may not protect under copyright unless they exhibit original expression.
  • Reference Feist when analyzing cases involving databases, directories, or factual compilations in Arizona.

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