Walter v. Lane
Walter v. Lane [1900] AC 539, (House of Lords) — a precedent in the Commonwealth countries that recognized fixation could be a determining factor in copyright determinations.
Facts: A speech is given in public by a politician. A newspaper hires skilled shorthand note-takers to record it, and publishes the speech. Some time later, another book publisher prints a collection of the politician's speeches. The newspaper sues the book publisher.
Result: Copyright is held by reporters who put politician's speech in material form.
Reasoning: The note-takers were skilled participants placing the work in material form, the politican was not involved in the case and the court awarded the copyright to the newspaper.
Referenced By
Copyright case law | Court case | List of Judicial Committees of the Privy Council & House of Lords cases | List of court cases | List of leading legal cases in copyright law | List of leading legal cases in copyright law (various jurisdictions) | List of legal leading legal cases in copyright law (various jurisdictions)
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