Wyoming

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

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

State Approach

Wyoming courts adopt the principles established in Feist Publications, focusing on the originality requirement for copyright protection. Like the federal standard, Wyoming emphasizes that factual compilations lack copyright unless the selection or arrangement exhibits a minimal degree of creativity.

State Rule
In Wyoming, the Feist ruling applies, which states that mere collections of facts are not copyrightable unless there is an original selection or arrangement that reflects creative expression.
Significant State Cases

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 9-1-103

This statute affirms the originality requirement for copyright protection in Wyoming, aligning with the Feist ruling.

Holt v. BNSF Railway Co.

Court reinforced that originality is necessary for copyright eligibility when assessing whether data compilations are protected.

Johnston v. State of Wyoming

The court assessed the originality of a collection and ruled it unprotected under copyright as it lacked creative expression.

Comparison to Federal Law

Wyoming law closely parallels federal copyright law as articulated by the Feist case. Both emphasize the necessity of originality for copyright protection, though Wyoming’s statutes may provide further clarification on specific applications within the state context.

Bar Exam Note

Students should understand how the Feist standard is implemented in Wyoming, particularly concerning the originality of fact compilations, as this principle is often tested in copyright-related questions.

Practice Pointers
  • Focus on the originality aspect when analyzing copyright claims involving factual compilations.
  • Be prepared to compare selections or arrangements of data to determine if they meet the originality threshold.
  • Familiarize yourself with Wyoming-specific statutes that may address copyright issues.
  • Stay updated on any state court interpretations that may refine the application of the Feist standard in Wyoming.

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