Useful articles are excluded from copyright protection by United States Copyright Law to the degree that ornamental features can be distinguished from functional features. If the ornamental features of a useful article can be separated from the functional features of a useful article than the ornamental features can be copyrighted. For several decades there was disagreement between the different Federal Circuit Courts with respect to how the useful article standard applied to apparel. The United States Supreme Court resolved the disagreement when it issued its opinion in STAR ATHLETICA, L.L.C. v. VARSITY BRANDS, INC., No. 15–866 (U.S. 2017). In that case the Plaintiff designed cheerleader uniforms and the Defendant copied the designs. The Plaintiff sued for copyright infringement. The Defendant claimed that clothing is a useful article and therefore copyright protection is not available.