Tufenkian Import/Export Ventures, Inc. v. Einstein Moomjy, Inc.

Tufenkian (plaintiff) created his Heriz carpet design by selectively adapting and combining elements from two public-domain designs, producing a distinctively cleaner, asymmetrical look through deliberate artistic choices; a former Tufenkian employee later designed Bashian's (defendant) Bromley carpet, copying the same public-domain sources but replicating Tufenkian's specific structural layout and selective eliminations, and the district court found copying occurred but no infringement since the copied elements were unprotectable public-domain material.