Scott Malcomson v. Topps, Inc.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent*
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision**
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
SCOTT MALCOMSON,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
v.
TOPPS, INC.,
Defendant - Appellee.
No. 10-15540
D.C. No. 2:08-cv-02306-GMS
MEMORANDUM*
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Arizona
G. Murray Snow, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted November 21, 2011**
Before: TASHIMA, BERZON, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.
Scott Malcomson appeals pro se from the district court’s summary judgment
in his action alleging joint ownership of a copyright under 17 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.
We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the grant of
summary judgment, Aalmuhammed v. Lee, 202 F.3d 1227, 1230 (9th Cir. 2000),
FILED
NOV 28 2011
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U .S. C OU R T OF APPE ALS

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10-15540 2
and for an abuse of discretion the denial of reconsideration, Zimmerman v. City of
Oakland, 255 F.3d 734, 737 (9th Cir. 2001). We affirm.
The district court properly granted summary judgment because Malcomson
failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether his periodic written
contributions to a small portion of a popular science fiction gaming franchise
satisfied the test for joint ownership of the entire work. See Aalmuhammed, 202
F.3d at 1234 (listing factors to determine whether a work is jointly authored in the
absence of a contract for purposes of a copyright claim of joint ownership).
The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying reconsideration
because Malcomson failed to establish that it committed “clear error” or made a
decision that was “manifestly unjust.” Zimmerman, 255 F.3d at 740.
Malcomson’s remaining contentions are unpersuasive.
We decline to consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal. See
MacDonald v. Grace Church Seattle, 457 F.3d 1079, 1086 (9th Cir. 2006).
AFFIRMED.

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