<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">As I recall, part of the idea behind the concept of "publication" is an attempt to assess when copies of a work have moved outside the author's control. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">If I write a play and toss it in my bottom drawer, we'd say the work is clearly unpublished. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">If I write a play and give my mom a copy, and also give one copy each to three actors so we can have a public read-through of the play, we'd probably still say the work was unpublished (at least in part because I could easily get my copies back from everybody if I asked). </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">But if I write a play, and we perform the play for an audience, and I make copies of my play available for purchase in the lobby and 10 people I don't know buy copies, then that sounds a lot more like publication. </div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Sincerely,</font></div><div><font face="georgia, serif" size="2"><br></font></div><div><div style="font-size:small"><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Ed Timberlake </font></div><div style="font-size:small"><font face="georgia, serif" size="2"><i><a href="https://www.nclawspecialists.gov/for-the-public/find-a-board-certified-specialist/results/detail/?id=29473" target="_blank">Board Certified Specialist in Trademark Law</a></i></font></div><div style="font-size:small"><font face="georgia, serif" size="2"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:small"><div style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="http://timberlakelaw.com/" target="_blank"><b>Timberlake Law</b></a></div><div style="font-family:georgia,serif">Chapel Hill, NC<br></div><div style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://clarity.fm/edtimberlake" target="_blank">Schedule a call on Clarity</a><br></div><div style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="mailto:ed@timberlakelaw.com" target="_blank">ed@timberlakelaw.com</a><br></div><div style="font-family:georgia,serif">919.960.1950<br></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><img width="96" height="96" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zUm0zjuSoSf91b85RXakFjrbAqMcNkJek2_S8VO9eHNz9mDAX5u3RBN0aEhVODltVLqRN-NYsDzt7A"><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Jun 18, 2024 at 1:54 PM Nancy Prager via Copyright <<a href="mailto:copyright@oppedahl-lists.com">copyright@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div></div>
<div dir="ltr">Section 1908</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><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">Elsewhere they say distributing copies does not necessarily mean something has been published. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">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 <<a href="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com" target="_blank">jrfriedman@litproplaw.com</a>> wrote:
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<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(10,47,65)">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>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(10,47,65)"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(10,47,65)">Does the Copyright Compendium have anything to say on this question?</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)">Jessica R. Friedman</span><span style="font-family:"New serif";color:black"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)">Attorney at Law</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)">300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)">New York, NY 10022</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"New serif";color:black"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)">Phone: 212-220-0900</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"New serif";color:black"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)">Cell: 917-647-1884</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"New serif";color:black"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)">E-mail:</span><span style="font-size:8pt;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:rgb(5,99,193)">jrfriedman@litproplaw.com</span></a></u></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"New serif";color:black"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)">URL: </span><u><span style="font-size:8pt;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:rgb(5,99,193)">www.literarypropertylaw.com</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"New serif";color:black"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(0,51,102)"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"New serif";color:black"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:blue"><img id="m_-180634409198288273ydp3a7a7a1yiv1583777352Picture_x0020_1" border="0" style="width: 184px; max-width: 164px;" src="cid:ii_1902c876d9e4cff311" alt="1479430908386_PastedImage"></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"New serif";color:black"></span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:12pt"><b><span style="color:black">From:
</span></b><span style="color:black">Copyright <<a href="mailto:copyright-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">copyright-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> on behalf of Nancy Prager via Copyright <<a href="mailto:copyright@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">copyright@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><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. <<a href="mailto:copyright@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">copyright@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>, Elizabeth Russell <<a href="mailto:beth@erklaw.com" target="_blank">beth@erklaw.com</a>><br clear="none">
<b>Cc: </b>Nancy Prager <<a href="mailto:nancyprager@yahoo.com" target="_blank">nancyprager@yahoo.com</a>><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><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:1pt none windowtext;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:rgb(33,33,33);border:1pt none windowtext;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><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:black">§ 7:3. Publication considerations, Copyright Registration Practice § 7:3</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)">On Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 12:56:59 PM EDT, Elizabeth Russell <<a href="mailto:beth@erklaw.com" target="_blank">beth@erklaw.com</a>> wrote:
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<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)">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:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)">Elizabeth T Russell</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"><a href="mailto:beth@erklaw.com" target="_blank">beth@erklaw.com</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)"> Copyright <<a href="mailto:copyright-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">copyright-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<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 <<a href="mailto:copyright@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">copyright@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br clear="none">
<b>Cc:</b> Nancy Prager <<a href="mailto:nancyprager@yahoo.com" target="_blank">nancyprager@yahoo.com</a>><br clear="none">
<b>Subject:</b> [Copyright] Publication of a Play for purposes of a copyright application</span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)">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:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
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If not, what is considered publication of a play?</span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)">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:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)"><br clear="none">
Nancy </span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(38,40,42)"></span></p>
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