In order to qualify for protection, a work must be an expression with a degree of originality, and it must be in a fixed medium, such as written down on paper or recorded digitally. The idea itself is not protected. That is, a copy of someone else's original idea is not infringing unless it copies that person's unique, tangible expression of the idea. Some of these limitations, especially regarding what qualifies as original, are embodied only in case law (judicial precedent), rather than in statutes. COUNT 4
QSN1 If a work must include a degree of originality, what else must it contain to be protected? ANS1 in a fixed medium QSN2 What is NOT protected? ANS2 The idea itself QSN3 What makes a copy of an original idea infringing? ANS3 it copies that person's unique, tangible expression of the idea QSN4 What limitation is only embodied in case law, rather than statues? ANS4 what qualifies as original