Conrad v. AM Community Credit Union Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: An entertainer in a banana costume sued for copyright infringement after audience members photographed her un-copyrighted performance. The court affirmed dismissal, holding that a live performance not “fixed” in a tangible medium is not protectable under copyright law, even if it features copyrighted elements.
Legal Significance: This case reinforces the fundamental “fixation” requirement of 17 U.S.C. § 102(a), clarifying that an unscripted, unrecorded live performance is not copyrightable. It distinguishes between a non-copyrightable performance and potentially copyrightable components within it, such as a costume or choreography.
Conrad v. AM Community Credit Union Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Plaintiff Catherine Conrad, a self-employed entertainer known as the “Banana Lady,” performs in a banana costume. She holds registered copyrights on photographs and sculptures of herself in the costume, as well as on the costume itself, though the court noted the latter’s validity was doubtful. Defendants, several credit unions, hired Conrad to perform a “singing telegram” at a trade association event. Conrad alleged she granted a limited license for audience members to take photos or videos for “personal use” only, which she claimed did not permit posting them on the internet. She further alleged that event organizers failed to communicate this restriction until after the performance had concluded. During the performance, audience members took photos and videos and subsequently posted them online. Conrad’s live performance was not recorded beforehand nor transcribed into dance or choreographic notation, and was therefore not “fixed in any tangible medium of expression.” Conrad filed suit for copyright infringement, alleging the online photos were unauthorized reproductions or derivative works of her copyrighted costume.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does the unauthorized photography of a live, unscripted performance and subsequent online posting of the images constitute copyright infringement when the performance itself is not fixed in a tangible medium, even if elements within the performance, such as a costume, are copyrighted?
No. The court affirmed the dismissal of the copyright claim, holding that Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi
IRAC Legal Analysis
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Legal Issue
Does the unauthorized photography of a live, unscripted performance and subsequent online posting of the images constitute copyright infringement when the performance itself is not fixed in a tangible medium, even if elements within the performance, such as a costume, are copyrighted?
Conclusion
This case serves as a clear illustration of the Copyright Act's strict Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute i
Legal Rule
Under the Copyright Act, a work must be "fixed in any tangible Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea
Legal Analysis
The court's analysis centered on the foundational copyright principle of "fixation" as Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A live performance is not copyrightable unless it is fixed in