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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Section 1908</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div>Examples of performances and displays that do not in themselves constitute publication
include the following: .... Performing a play, a pantomime, or a choreographic work in a
theater.</div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Elsewhere they say distributing copies does not necessarily mean something has been published. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Would love to find something definitive that supports your approach because it is the situation here... lots of people have copies of the play. </div><div><br></div>
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On Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 01:43:39 PM EDT, Jessica R. Friedman <jrfriedman@litproplaw.com> wrote:
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#0A2F41;">I still think they would be considered to be within the overall organization that is producing the play, even if they literally work for a different company,
so I don’t think it would even be a limited publication.</span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#0A2F41;">Does the Copyright Compendium have anything to say on this question?</span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;">Jessica R. Friedman</span><span style="font-family:New serif;color:black;"></span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;">Attorney at Law</span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;">300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406</span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;">New York, NY 10022</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:New serif;color:black;"></span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;">Phone: 212-220-0900</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:New serif;color:black;"></span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;">Cell: 917-647-1884</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:New serif;color:black;"></span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;">E-mail:</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:blue;"> <u><a shape="rect" href="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com" title="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563C1;">jrfriedman@litproplaw.com</span></a></u></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:New serif;color:black;"></span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;">URL: </span><u><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:blue;"><a shape="rect" href="http://www.literarypropertylaw.com" title="http://www.literarypropertylaw.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563C1;">www.literarypropertylaw.com</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:New serif;color:black;"></span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#003366;"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:New serif;color:black;"></span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:blue;"><img id="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352Picture_x0020_1" border="0" style="width: 184px; max-width: 164px;" src="cid:2NPUUtHMtrWWx5dzsIfb" alt="1479430908386_PastedImage" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:New serif;color:black;"></span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;" class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black;">From:
</span></b><span style="color:black;">Copyright <copyright-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com> on behalf of Nancy Prager via Copyright <copyright@oppedahl-lists.com><br clear="none">
<b>Date: </b>Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 1:06</span><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:black;"> </span><span style="color:black;">PM<br clear="none">
<b>To: </b>For copyright practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <copyright@oppedahl-lists.com>, Elizabeth Russell <beth@erklaw.com><br clear="none">
<b>Cc: </b>Nancy Prager <nancyprager@yahoo.com><br clear="none">
<b>Subject: </b>Re: [Copyright] Publication of a Play for purposes of a copyright application</span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span>Great question. Distributing the copies to the talent and production personnel should count but it would likely be considered a distribution to a limited audience. </span><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:black;">A <span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;">publication</span> is
deemed “limited” where “copies of the work are distributed both (1) to a ‘definitely selected group,’ and (2) for a limited purpose, without </span><em><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:#212121;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;">the
right of further reproduction, distribution or sale.</span></em><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:black;">” (emphasis added)</span><span style="font-family:sans-serif;">Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences v. Creative House Promotions,
Inc., 944 F.2d 1446, 19 U.S.P.Q.2d 1491 (9th Cir. 1991).</span><span></span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:black;">§ 7:3. Publication considerations, Copyright Registration Practice § 7:3</span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;">On Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 12:56:59 PM EDT, Elizabeth Russell <beth@erklaw.com> wrote:
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;"> </span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352ydp296a5adcyiv9398350971msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#26282A;">What about the distribution of printed scripts to production personnel? The rehearsal hall is at least a semi public place; the personnel
are not a social circle; and the distribution is for “the purpose of” public performance.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;"></span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352ydp296a5adcyiv9398350971msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;">Elizabeth T Russell</span></p>
<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352ydp296a5adcyiv9398350971msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;">beth@erklaw.com</span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352ydp296a5adcyiv9398350971msonormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#26282A;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#26282A;"> Copyright <copyright-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Nancy Prager via Copyright<br clear="none">
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, June 18, 2024 12:44 PM<br clear="none">
<b>To:</b> for Copyright Practitioners <copyright@oppedahl-lists.com><br clear="none">
<b>Cc:</b> Nancy Prager <nancyprager@yahoo.com><br clear="none">
<b>Subject:</b> [Copyright] Publication of a Play for purposes of a copyright application</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;"></span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352ydp296a5adcyiv9398350971msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#26282A;">Dear colleagues....<br clear="none">
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A client has a play in production. The iniital performance date is not the date of publication since public performance is not considered publication. So what is?
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Is a play considered unpublished until someone literally publishes the play (most likely through a licensing arrangement)? </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;"></span></p>
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If not, what is considered publication of a play?</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;"></span></p>
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<p class="ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352ydp296a5adcyiv9398350971msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:#26282A;">I feel like I have dealt with this before and ended up advising the client to file as an unpublished work but that boggles my mind. <br clear="none">
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Thanks in advance!<br clear="none">
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best,</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;"></span></p>
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Nancy </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A;"></span></p>
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