Not knowing anything about what agreements Gabrielsson or her publishers might have with Larsson’s estate or his publishers – and I know there have been legal conflicts between Gabrielsson and Larsson’s estate – does this strike anyone as potentially a copyright infringement or a trade dress issue?
The designs are very similar and Larsson’s name is in stark black font on both books so one might easily think he is the author of the new book and that it is potentially the fourth book in his series.
Anyone have any background on this or any thoughts?
IMO, more than enough difference exists.
Seems to me like a very common typeface/design. I’ve seen it in movies and various titles. Not sure a strong trade dress claim would exist here–I don’t see the link between the text and source identification, particularly in light of my prior point.
It find it interesting because it certainly seems she is making a referential use of the typeface and design. Maybe it’s a nominative referential use. In any event, this month’s Vanity Fair had an adapted excerpt of her book, which was substantively (if not legally) interesting: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/07/stieg-larsson-201107.
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