Tiseo Architects, Inc v. B & B Pools Serv. & Supply Co.

Tiseo Architects, Inc., alleged that another architect, Gary Olson, copied a design and site plan drawings that Tiseo Architects had prepared for B&B Pools Service and Supply Company. After a bench trial, the district court ruled in favor of the defendants, B&B Pools and Olson. Tiseo Architects now appeals, arguing that the district court applied the wrong legal standard in reaching its conclusion that Olson’s design and construction drawings were not substantially similar to Tiseo Architects’ design and site plan drawings. Because the district court properly analyzed the similarity of the works after filtering out the unprotectable elements of Tiseo Architects’ drawings, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.

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