Bibbero Systems, Inc. v. Colwell Systems, Inc.

893 F.2d 1104 1990 Copr.L.Dec. P 26,520 , 13 U.S.P.Q.2d 1634 BIBBERO SYSTEMS, INC., a California corporation, Plaintiff-Appellant-Cross-Appellee, v. COLWELL SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation, Defendant-Appellee-Cross-Appellant. Nos. 88-1925, 88-2440. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted Aug. 17, 1989. Decided Jan. 12, 1990. As Amended on Denial of Rehearing Feb. 20, 1990. Anthony B. Diepenbrock, Katherine C. Spellman, John A. Hughes, San Francisco, Cal., for plaintiff-appellant-cross-appellee Bibbero Systems, Inc. Matthew D. Powers, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, San Francisco, Cal., for defendant-appellee-cross-appellant Colwell Systems, Inc. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Before GOODWIN, Chief Judge, PREGERSON and REINHARDT, Circuit Judges. GOODWIN, Chief Judge: 1 This case requires us to examine the scope of the blank forms rule, 37 C.F.R. Sec. 202.1(c) (1982), which provides that blank forms are not copyrightable. Plaintiff Bibbero Systems, Inc. (Bibbero) contends that Colwell Systems, Inc. (Colwell) infringed upon its copyright by duplicating its medical insurance claim form. The…