Rochester Post Bulletin Quotes Prof. Cotter on Copyright and Ice Sculptures

The February 29, 2020 Rochester Post Bulletin “Answer Man” column responds to a reader’s question whether the vendors at Rochester’s SocialICE Festival need permission to make ice sculptures of copyrighted characters, such as Disney’s Winnie-the-Pooh. The column quotes Professor Tom Cotter, who states that, while in theory there could be copyright issues, the sculptures may not be sufficiently similar to the origins, or may be protected by fair use; and that, in any event, he “would be somewhat surprised, given the sort of ephemeral nature of ice, (if someone) would be really concerned about that.”