The Briefing: Vampires, Love Triangles, but No Infringement

What happens when two fantasy stories share the same DNA? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman break down a major copyright decision involving the Crave series and what it means for substantial similarity in fiction.

In this episode, they cover:

• Why common genre tropes like love triangles, supernatural powers, and chosen one narratives are not protectable
• How courts filter out unprotectable elements using the “more discerning ordinary observer” test
• Why combining familiar elements is not enough to prove copyright infringement

Tune in for a clear look at where copyright law draws the line between inspiration and infringement.

Watch this episode on our YouTube or listen to the podcast here.