Pre-FeistProtectionofCompilationsunderU.S.CopyrightLaw.docVIP

Pre-Feist Protection of Compilations under U.S. Copyright Law by Caleb Groos INTRODUCTION 2 I. AMERICAN COPYRIGHT LAW HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THE REQUIREMENT OF ORIGINALITY FOR THE GRANT OF COPYRIGHT 3 II. PRIOR TO THE SUPREME COURT’S FEIST DECISION, MAJORITY CIRCUITS USED A “CREATIVE ORIGINALITY” STANDARD TO DETERMINE THE COPYRIGHTABILITY OF COMPILATIONS OF INFORMATION 4 a. Prior to the Feist Decision, the Second Circuit Explicitly Repudiated “Sweat of the Brow” Protection of Compilations in Favor of the “Creative Originality” Requirement 4 b. Prior to Feist, the Eleventh, Ninth, and Fifth Circui