| Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Court | United States District Court for the Southern District of New York |
| Full case name | The Bridgeman Art Library, Ltd. v. Corel Corporation |
| Decided | February 18, 1999 |
| Citation | 36 F. Supp. 2d 191, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1731, 50 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1110 |
| Case history | |
| Prior actions | Judgment for defendants, 25 F. Supp. 2d 421 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) |
| Holding | |
| Photographic reproductions of visual works in the public domain were not copyrightable because the reproductions involved no originality. Upon reconsideration and reargument, judgment was again entered for defendants. | |
Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp., 36 F. Supp. 2d 191 (S.D.N.Y. 1999), was a decision by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which ruled that exact photographic copies of public domain images could not be protected by copyright in the United States because the copies lack originality. Even though accurate reproductions might require a great deal of skill, experience, and effort, the key element to determine whether a work is copyrightable under US law is originality.