Re: Use of copyrighted business form

[John Mitchell <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree with Lori, adding the suggestion that the focus be on copying the
non-copyrightable elements. That is, asking for data (name, address, etc.) is
not copyrightable, but there could be elements that give it some creative wow
factor that you might want to avoid.

Your inquiry was not clear as to how the form was to be used. If the idea is
to teach a class on how to make good forms, then the teaching exception fits
well. If the idea is to create a new form for borrowing AV equipment within
the department, don't even try to squeeze it into the educational purpose, and
it sounds like this "operational department" is needing the latter.

John

On Jan 21, 2010, at 12:09 PM, Williamson, Lori D. wrote:

> Well, just in general, forms are not copyrightable.  There would have to
> be some really original input for this form to be covered.
>
> Lori Wiliamson
> CAC Committee Member
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Anderson, Gerald [mailto:ganderso@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 10:52 AM
> To: digital-copyright@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Use of copyrighted business form
>
> Greetings:
>
>
>
> A current employee at our 501(c) 3 college would like to adapt and use a
> business form here in an operational department. They acquired it at
> while working former employer. The form has the word "copyright" and
> date at the bottom.
>
>
>
> In your opinion, would educational copyright apply to their proposal to
> adapt the form for business  use here? If the form was used exclusively
> here, without harm to the market, assuming there is one, would the
> adapted form be  considered fair use? Or, is the safer coarse here
> asking for permission from the company?
>
>
>
>
>
> Jerry Anderson
>
> Library Coordinator
>
> Joliet Junior College
>
> ganderso@xxxxxxx