New Jersey
How Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co. applies in New Jersey: state-specific rules, key cases, and bar exam notes for Intellectual Property.
New Jersey follows the federal standard established in Feist by emphasizing the necessity of originality in copyrightable works. The state courts enforce the idea that mere compilation or arrangement of facts does not meet the originality threshold required for copyright protection.
In New Jersey, originality remains a key determinant for copyright eligibility; mere organization or presentation of data, without creative input, is insufficient for protection.
The court ruled that factual compilations, like game scores, lack the requisite originality and are thus not entitled to copyright protection.
The court affirmed that mere aggregation of facts or information does not meet the originality requirement for copyright under New Jersey law.
This case underscored that even a thin layer of originality could suffice for copyright, but it did not alter the fundamental tenets from Feist that originality is crucial.
New Jersey's interpretation aligns closely with the federal standard but emphasizes state-specific case law where courts have explicitly found compilations lacking in originality as non-copyrightable. The line remains consistent that only original expressions are protected, and mere facts or data are not.
Expect questions on copyright and originality per the Feist standard, as well as how New Jersey cases illustrate these principles.