COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

Copyright law is governed by Title XVII of the United States Code. It provides the author or creator of a work an exclusive right to use the item for the life of the author plus 50 years. It is necessary that an appropriate notice of the copyright is placed on the protected work when published. Items that can be copyrighted include books, maps, charts, engravings, etchings, prints, printed dramas, musical compositions, paintings, drawings, chromos, statuettes, models intended as works of fine art, lectures, sermons and other similar items.  

Attorney Cabaniss successfully obtained a preliminary injunction on behalf of the Ralph Marlin Fish Tie Company against an Arizona corporation for copyright infringement. The Ralph marlin company conceived of the idea of selling "fish ties." It copyrighted its design and began successfully selling its ties. The defendant attempted to knock-off the product by taking Ralph Marlin's idea. In creating its own ties, the defendant copied the design of the tail of Ralph Marlin's fish. The court granted Ralph Marlin's motion for preliminary injunction finding that the defendant had stolen Ralph Marlin's tail.