Wendy's points about Corel's ethics and the deserving nature of Bridgeman's work are well taken. The problem is that not everything is protected by intellectual property laws. I believe that scope that Bridgeman applies its own case--limiting the decision to the jurisdiction of a single court--is too narrow. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver reached the same conclusion in 2008 in Meshwerks, Inc. v. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc

The case cites Bridgeman along with many other cases to say that originality has been established as a key component of copyright, and that reproductions are not covered by copyright.

The case is about computer modeling, but applies the history of photography copyright to the new medium. Referring to cases involving photos of Oscar Wilde and of a whiskey bottle, it is interesting reading for anyone interested in photography copyright. It is also educational for anyone who believes that car ads actually show real cars.

Steve

Steve Tatum

Visual Resources Curator

Art and Architecture Library

100 Cowgill Hall (0206)

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA 24062