Legal Definitions - blank form

A blank form refers to a standardized document designed to be completed with specific information, typically for administrative, record-keeping, or transactional purposes. Its primary function is to serve as a template for collecting data, rather than to convey original information or creative expression on its own. Until it is filled in, a blank form does not communicate substantive details. Because its content is generic and its value lies in its utility for recording user-provided data, a blank form generally does not qualify for copyright protection.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Job Application Form: Imagine a company's standard job application form. It contains fields for an applicant's name, contact information, educational background, and work history. When this form is empty, it provides no unique information about any specific individual; it's merely a structure for collecting data. The design of the boxes and lines, or the generic questions like "Previous Employer," are considered functional and not original enough to be protected by copyright. Only once an applicant fills it out does it become a unique document containing personal information.

• Rental Agreement Template: A landlord uses a pre-printed rental agreement form that includes blank spaces for the tenant's name, the property address, the monthly rent amount, and the lease start and end dates. In its blank state, this form is a generic legal template. It doesn't convey the specific terms of any particular tenancy until the parties involved complete it with their unique details. The standardized clauses and blank fields are considered functional tools for creating a contract, not original literary or artistic works eligible for copyright protection.

• Restaurant Order Pad: A server at a restaurant uses a small pad with pre-printed lines and columns for writing down customer orders, such as "Table Number," "Item," "Quantity," and "Special Instructions." When the pad is new and blank, it contains no information about specific food orders or customers. It's simply a tool designed to facilitate the recording of information. The layout of these generic fields is functional for business operations and therefore not subject to copyright protection.