Associated Management Services, Inc. v. Ruff, Case Number DA 17-0102, Cit. 2018 MT 182

Copyright and Common law-protected ideas:

Apart from conversion, the common law further recognizes two related but distinct theories of misappropriation of intellectual property―contract-based misappropriation and property right-based tortious misappropriation. See Apfel v. Prudential-Bache Securities Inc., 616 N.E.2d 1095, 1097-98 (N.Y. 1993) (distinguishing breach of non-disclosure agreement, contract misappropriation of intellectual property, and tortious misappropriation of property right-based intellectual property). Accord Nadel v. Play-by-Play Toys & Novelties, Inc., 208 F.3d 368, 374-78 (2nd Cir. 2000) (construing Apfel).

See also Paul v. Haley, 588 N.Y.S.2d 897, 902-04 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992) (distinguishing common law-protected ideas from federal law-copyrightable expressions of ideas).

(Montana Supreme Court, July 24, 2018, Associated Management Services, Inc. v. Ruff, Case Number DA 17-0102, Cit. 2018 MT 182, J. Sandefur)

Distinction entre la protection fédérale conférée à l’expression d’une idée par le mécanisme du copyright, et la protection conférée par la Common law à certaines idées.