As it stands at the moment, the bodywork of a car is considered by the law to be functional, and therefore not protected by copyright law. While it's clearly a load of bull that a car's bodywork isn't considered sculpture, it's great for the whole host of companies that make the replica and reproduction of classic cars for us to enjoy.
That might all be in jeopardy now. DC Comics is suing Gotham Garage, a company that makes replica Batmobiles. DC Comics claims that its copyright protection extends to the "look and feel" of the Batmobile, while Gotham Garage's lawyer says that the law states that automobiles "do not qualify as sculptural works and are thus not eligible for copyright protection."
Related: The 25 Coolest Retro, Reproduction, and Replica Cars
Related: 10 Awesome American Cars You Might Not Know About
[via Autoblog]
