"When you think of sports and creativity, you might think of cool moves on the field, or maybe you think of music, books, photos, or movies about a sport, team, or famous athlete. While athletic moves or goal celebrations are creative, they are not protected by copyright law. According to section 805.5(B)(3) of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Practices, Third Edition, “The Office cannot register claims to copyright in athletic activities or competitive maneuvers as such, because they do not constitute copyrightable subject matter under section 102(a)(4) of the Copyright Act.” Section 805.5(B)(3) also states that football plays, slam dunking maneuvers, and skateboarding or snowboarding activities are not protected by copyright.
Other works inspired by sports, however, may be protected by copyright."
