No. 24-734

Strategic Technology Institute, Incorporated v. MGMTL, L.L.C.

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-01-13
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: circuit-split computer-program copyright-law fair-use menu-command potential-market
Key Terms:
Antitrust Copyright TradeSecret Patent JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2025-02-21
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the scope of protectable matter in a computer program is a question for the Court or for a jury, and whether a computer program's menu command hierarchy and input forms are copyrightable

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

1. Whether the scope of protectable matter in a computer program is a questi on for the Court, as the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, and Federal Circuits have held, or for jury, as the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits and, in the decision below, the Fifth Circuit have held. 2. Whether a computer program’s menu command hierarchy and input forms are copyrightable. 3. Whether the fourth fair use factor – “the effect of the use upon the potentia l market for or value of the copyrighted work” – favors a finding of fair use as a matter of law when there is only one potential buyer – the Government – neither the copyright owner nor the alleged infringer ever sold the copyrighted work, and, as the jury found, the copyright owner suffered no actual harm from the infringement. And, if so, whether the Petitioner’s use was a fair use.

Docket Entries

2025-02-24
Petition DENIED.
2025-01-22
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/21/2025.
2025-01-17
Waiver of MGMTL, LLC of right to respond submitted.
2025-01-17
Waiver of right of respondent MGMTL, LLC to respond filed.
2025-01-06
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 12, 2025)

Attorneys

MGMTL, LLC
Thomas More FlanaganFlanagan Partners LLP, Respondent
Thomas More FlanaganFlanagan Partners LLP, Respondent
Strategic Technology Institute, Inc.
Micah J. FincherFincher Law, Petitioner
Micah J. FincherFincher Law, Petitioner