The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has recently issued two significant decisions that expand its jurisprudence on copyright law, specifically addressing issues of copyrightability and fair use. These rulings stem from distinct disputes: one involving the copyrightability of a car dealership’s customer intake form and the other examining whether using a popular meme constitutes fair use. These decisions collectively contribute to a limited yet evolving body of just seven copyright law rulings by this appellate court over the past five years.
The court’s decision on the car dealership case determined that the simple customer intake form in question did not meet the requirements for copyright protection, emphasizing that its straightforward and functional nature precluded it from being considered a protectable work. In a separate case, the court ruled against the fair use defense for the use of a meme, highlighting that the unauthorized use did not qualify under the fair use doctrine.
For a more detailed analysis, you can read the original article here.