如果物体外观的某一方面与它的实用功能是分离的(比如用于储钱罐的迪斯尼人物形象)，那么这一方面就可受版权法的保护。
If an aspect of the appearance of an object is separable from its utilitarian purpose (such as a figure of a Disney character that is used as a saving bank) that aspect can be protected under copyright law.
受版权法保护的优点
Advantages of a Copyrighted Product
受版权法保护可以带来很多好处。首先，版权并不是权利人为了获得保护而必须申请。一旦作品以有形的表达媒介体现出来，版权保护就得以实现。也就是说，在版权诉讼中，原告必须先申请版权登记注册，在对涉嫌侵权人提起诉讼之前，由版权局决定是否予以登记。但是，在原告提起诉讼之前，版权局并不必须予以登记。他们可以拒绝，在这种情况下，原告有责任在诉讼过程中证明作品的版权是其所有的。
Copyright law comes with a number of advantages. First, a copyright is not something that rights holders actually have to apply for in order to obtain protection. Copyright protection vests as soon as a work is embodied in a tangible medium of expression. That said, a plaintiff in a copyright litigation must file for a copyright registration, and obtain a decision regarding the registration from the Copyright Office before filing suit against an alleged infringer. However, the Copyright Office doesnot need to grant the registration before the plaintiff files suit. They can reject the registration, in which case the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the work is copyrightable and owned by the plaintiff during thecourse of the litigation.
有力的救济措施
Powerful Remedies
针对版权侵权的法律救济也很充分的。如果版权所有者在控诉的侵权行为发生前，已经为该作品登记了版权，版权所有者可能有权获得律师费和（按每件侵权作品算）最高15万美元的赔偿。版权所有者还可以向美国海关登记版权。这表明允许海关人员可没收在美入关的侵权货物。
The remedies for copyright infringement are powerful as well. If a copyright owner had obtained a copyright registration for the product before the alleged infringement occurred, the copyright owner might be entitled to an award of attorney's fees and up to $150,000 per copyrighted work that was infringed. Copyright owners can also register their copyright with United States Customs. This will allow customs agents to seize infringing goods as they are being imported in the United States.
直到最近，版权法才被广泛用于产品配置保护。然而，最近最高法院对Star公司与 Varsity公司一案的判决（137S.Ct.1002 (2017)）中，扩大了含实用功能部分的艺术作品的保护范围。
如果作品的特征如以下几点，则可受版权保护：
（1）与实用功能相分离的平面的艺术作品；
（2）该特征可单独成为受保护的绘画，图象或雕塑作品，或固定在其他有形的媒体上；
（3）在观念上该部分与具实用功能部分相分离。
Until recently, copyright law was not as commonly used for product configuration protection. However, the Supreme Court's recent decision in Star Athletica v Varsity Brands, 137S.Ct.1002 (2017) broadened copyright protection for works of art that are incorporated into a useful article. The work of art is eligible for copyright protection, if the feature can be perceived as:
a two-dimensional work of art, separable from the useful article;
the feature would qualify as a protectable pictorial, graphic or sculptural work either on its own, or fixed in some other tangible medium of expression; and
if it were imagined separately from the useful article into which it is incorporated.
保护期
Protection
版权的保护期限直至作者死后的70年。
The duration of the protection lasts for the life time of the author plus 70 years.