Copyright board ruffles AA's feathers by rejecting logo copyright again

Even after a go-around, American Airlines couldn’t clear the relatively low threshold to copyright its logo adopted in 2013, the US Copyright Office’s review board has ruled. “A mere simplistic arrangement of non-protectable elements does not demonstrate the level of creativity necessary to warrant protection,” Catherine Zaller Rowland, senior adviser to the register of copyrights, said in a five-page explanation called “the final decision in this matter.” The airline already has the image trademarked, to prevent another US carrier or tourism entity from using the image in its marketing. But a copyright would have offered longer and broader protection internationally, if it were approved. "We have reviewed the copyright office’s decision and are working to determine our next steps,” airline spokesman Matt Miller said. The logo looks like a white eagle’s head poking through a diagonal swoosh with blue on top and red on the bottom. The carrier adopted the image after combining with US Airways to become the world’s largest airline. <br/>