Comprehensive nonliteral similarity

Definition[]

U.S. copyright law[]

Comprehensive non-literal similarity may occur even in the absence of verbatim copying of copyrighted elements when one work appropriates "the fundamental structure or pattern" of another.^[1] A court may find copyright infringement under the doctrine of "comprehensive non-literal similarity" if "the pattern or sequence of the two works is similar."^[2]

References[]

↑ J. Thomas McCarthy, Roger E. Schecter & David J. Franklyn, McCarthy's Desk Encyclopedia of Intellectual Property 576–77 (3rd ed. 2004).
↑ Arica Inst., Inc. v. Palmer, 970 F.2d 1067 (2d Cir. 1992) (full-text).

[1] J. Thomas McCarthy, Roger E. Schecter & David J. Franklyn, McCarthy's Desk Encyclopedia of Intellectual Property 576–77 (3rd ed. 2004).

[2] Arica Inst., Inc. v. Palmer, 970 F.2d 1067 (2d Cir. 1992) (full-text).

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