Can You Copyright a Magic Trick?

A recent article talks briefly about the many issues of protecting a magic trick that includes: categorizing a presentation as a "literary work," treating tricks as trade secrets and patenting an idea. Magician and intellectual rights lawyer Guy Hollingsworth is featured in the story.

The article says that patenting a magic trick causes problems because once a trick is patented, it is revealed and competitors can discern the method. The article concludes that "seeking to protect a magic trick by law ends up being counter-productive, on the basis that anyone can suddenly find out how it's done."

Another area that's explored is the law of confidence - trade secrets. "A lot of magic tricks are available outside magic clubs," says Hollingworth in the article. "Fortunately most people aren't sufficiently motivated to go and find out how they are done. But it is difficult to for a magician to argue that they have maintained a trade secret."

You can read the entire article by clicking here.

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