Chapter 300
COPYRIGHTABLE MATTER:
NONDRAMATIC LITERARY WORKS
301
Applicability of this chapter. This chapter concerns itself solely with nondramatic literary works.
302
Definition: literary works. Literary works are defined as works, other than audiovisual works, expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia, regardless of the nature of the material objects, such as books, periodicals, manuscripts, phonorecords, film, tapes, disks, or cards, in which they are embodied. 17 U.S.C. 101.
303
Definition: nondramatic literary works. A nondramatic literary work is one that explains, describes, or narrates a particular idea, theme, or subject: it does not usually employ dialog or action to represent or give directions for representing all or a substantial portion of a story as actually occurring.
304
Copyrightable literary expression. To be registrable, a nondramatic literary work must contain at least a certain minimum amount of literary expression owing its origin to the author. See Chapter 200: COPYRIGHTABLE MATTER - IN GENERAL.
305
Noncopyrightable material. The following are not copyr1ghtable and therefore cannot serve as a basis for registration.
305.01
Names, titles, slogans, and other short phrases. Names, titles, slogans, and other short phrases or expressions are not copy rightable, even if such expressions are novel, distinctive, or lend themselves to a play on words. Similarly, a mere listing of ingredients or contents is not copyrightable. See 37 C.F.R. 202.1(a).
300-1
[1984]
