Copryright video course

[Bridgewater1]

I put out a Power Point course, I now see someone has created another course on the exact same topic with the same outline. Can I do something about that even if they used different words and images?

 

[FlyingRon]

You didn't indicate the name of your state.

Unless they somehow copied or transformed YOUR work, they are free to create their own course. Copyright only bars copying the expression, not the facts, nor does it give you any exclusivity to the subject matter.

 

[quincy]

I put out a Power Point course, I now see someone has created another course on the exact same topic with the same outline. Can I do something about that even if they used different words and images?

Are you located in the US? If so, what state?

Whether there is infringement depends on many factors, one of which is the topic of the Power Point.

 

[Zigner]

He didn't bother telling us his state last time he posted either.

 

[quincy]

He didn't bother telling us his state last time he posted either.

I saw that.

The state name is not as vital as the country name.

 

[Bridgewater1]

I am a US resident in Washington State. I don't know where the person who made a similar course is at somewhere in the US I think.

 

[quincy]

I am a US resident in Washington State. I don't know where the person who made a similar course is at somewhere in the US I think.

Creating a similar course would not necessarily be a problem. What can be infringement is if one course copies the selection of points/facts and the ordering of points/facts, and/or copies the way these points/facts are expressed.

An example: If the course is about the alphabet, a selection of A through Z is going to appear in all courses and the natural ordering will be A, B, C, etc. However, if the course does not have standard points/facts or a natural order, selection and ordering can be copyright-protected.

So ... the Power Point topic can be important.

 

[FlyingRon]

"Facts" can not be protected by copyright. I have no idea about what you mean by "point."

The closest thing he's going to get (other than if they copied some of his expression) is whether copying the "outline" makes it transformative. I've got my doubts about that one.

 

[quincy]

"Facts" can not be protected by copyright. I have no idea about what you mean by "point."

The closest thing he's going to get (other than if they copied some of his expression) is whether copying the "outline" makes it transformative. I've got my doubts about that one.

Transformative is okay. Derivative is not okay.

Facts can be protectable, by the way - although the protection is generally provided through contracts and not copyright law. I have case examples that I can locate but they are not relevant here.

As to points/facts - the specific selection and ordering of either can be copyright protected if the selection and ordering is creative and original. If there is a natural selection and ordering (such as with the alphabet or the phone book), there is no copyright protection offered.