It Walks Like a Duck, Talks Like a Duck, . . . But Is It a Duck? Making Sense of Substantial Similarity Law as It Applies to User Interfaces

Authors

Ellen M. Bierman

Abstract

This Comment recommends how courts should apply the substantial similarity analysis to user interfaces. Specifically, this Comment (1) delineates the state of the law in the Ninth Circuit and explains how the recent changes should be interpreted with respect to user interfaces; (2) establishes an analytic framework for evaluating proposed substantial similarity tests through the enumeration of a set of goals specific to user interfaces; and (3) uses this analytic framework to evaluate and endorse a test that applies traditional copyright doctrine to a logical and consistent manner.

Recommended Citation

Ellen M. Bierman, It Walks Like a Duck, Talks Like a Duck, . . . But Is It a Duck? Making Sense of Substantial Similarity Law as It Applies to User Interfaces , 16 SEATTLE U. L. REV. 319 (1992).