Commons:To be utilitarian or not to be utilitarian
Isn't every product copyrighted by someone? What about cars? Or kitchen chairs? My computer case?
A "useful article" is defined as "an article having an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not merely to portray the appearance of the article or to convey information."
More information can be found there, but here I want to focus on some examples that may aid to clarify what is and is not utilitarian in a visual way. Note that "utilitarian" also varies from country to country, but here I'll try to explain the most common interpretation.
The non-utilitarian examples here have expired copyright, are covered by FoP, too simple to be eligible for copyright protection or not protected by copyright for another reason.
See also: utilitarian objects protected by copyright
Case studies
[edit]Utilitarian | Reason | Not utilitarian | Reason |
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Formula 1 car. It may not be street-legal, but it has a purpose. Decals can be copyrighted though. | Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article A toy car. For more detailed information see Elcobbola's essay. You can play with a toy car, but it has no function. | |
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Game console and controller. The casing is utilitarian as it protects the components inside and keeps them together. The controller is simply an input device like a mouse or keyboard. Also note that game consoles are typically not limited to playing games. They can also be used as a media player or training simulator. | ||
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A book (not its contents) is utilitarian. It can be used to store information that may be protected by copyright. It is also an object made to keep many pages of paper together. | ![]() |
Function is merely to convey information Books, instruction manuals, etc. While not always entertaining, they merely convey information, thus, can be protected by copyright. |
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A physical DVD is a utilitarian storage medium for information. | ![]() |
Function is merely to convey information Unlike the movie on it.. |
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Electronics. Some particular layouts may be protected by patents (which Commons doesn't care about), but not by copyright. | ![]() |
Function is merely to convey information But this diagram only conveys information. |
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A baseball bat is not just a toy, it's also a potential weapon. Toys that are used and also don't depend on the fantasy of the player are typically utilitarian. | ![]() |
Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article Another baseball bat, but this one isn't utilitarian. You can't swing this one. |
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Similarly, a pool table. It does not merely portray the appearance of the article or convey information. | ||
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A kite is also more than just a toy. You fly a kite and you can also fight them. | ![]() |
Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article Prints on a kite can be protected by copyright though! (now all I have to do is find a kite with the Mona Lisa printed on it..) |
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Utilitarian does not equal useful. This makeup box is perfectly utilitarian, even if it isn't a requirement to survive. | ||
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While worn by many people like jewellery, in its essence it remains a utilitarian timekeeping device. | ![]() |
Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article But an object that is nothing but jewellery has no utilitarian function. |
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A hat is just a piece of headgear. Keeps your head (somewhat) warm and your hair dry when it rains. | ![]() |
Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article At some point, the utilitarian function may be lost.. |
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An empty canvas, like an empty book, is a utilitarian object to paint something on. | ![]() |
Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article When it's no longer empty, it will be eligible for copyright. |
Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article Statues have no intrinsic utilitarian function. | |||
Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article A stuffed animal. This one was knitted by a Commons user! So the Creative Commons license applies to both the photograph and the stuffed animal. | |||
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This IS a pipe. Actually it's a photo of a pipe but nevermind that. | "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" | Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article Ceci n'est pas une pipe or This is not a pipe. And indeed, it isn't. It's a painting of une pipe and protected by copyright! |
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Function is merely to portray the appearance of the article (when fully transformed) This Transformer toy is |