Copyright Syllabus (Fisher).
Spring 2013
Prof. William Fisher
All of the reading materials for this course are available from the syllabus, below. The title of each reading links to a PDF version of the document in question.
The lecture notes for the course, in the form of an interactive PDF "maps," may be downloaded from the Resources page.
Lecture: The Foundations of Copyright Law
Lecture: Fairness and Personality Theories
Readings:
- Justin Hughes, "The Philosophy of Intellectual Property," 77 Georgetown L.J. 287 (1988)
- A.A. Hoehling v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 618 F.2d 972 (2d Cir. 1980)
Event (Feb. 6, 7:00 p.m. EST): The Interests of Authors
- Speaker: Dale Cendali
Lecture: The Subject Matter of Copyright
Readings:
- Pivot Point, Int'l v. Charlene Products, 372 F.3d 913 (7th Cir. 2004)
- Intervest Construction v. Canterbury Estate Homes, 554 F.3d 914 (CA11 2008)
- Lotus Development Corporation v. Borland International, Inc., 49 F.3d 807 (1st Cir. 1995)
Event (Feb. 13, 7:00 p.m. EST): IP Protection for Fashion
- Speakers: Jeannie Suk& Chris Sprigman
Lecture: Welfare Theory
Readings:
Lecture: Authorship
Readings:
- 17 U.S.C. 201
- Lindsay v. The Wrecked and Abandoned Vessel R.M.S. Titanic, 52 U.S.P.Q.2d 1609 (S.D.N.Y. 1999)
- Aalmuhammed v. Lee, 202 F.3d 1227 (9th Cir. 1999)
- Community for Creative Non-Violence v. Reid, 490 U.S. 730 (1989)
Event (Feburary 27, 7:00 p.m. EST): Extralegal Norms
- Speakers: Dotan Oliar& Jim Mendrinos
Lecture: The Mechanics of Copyright
Readings:
Lecture: The Rights to Reproduce and Modify
Readings:
- Three Boys Music Corp. v. Michael Bolton, 212 F.3d 477 (9th Cir. 2000)
- Steinberg v. Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., 663 F.Supp. 706 (S.D.N.Y. 1987)
- Swirsky v. Carey, 376 F.3d 841 (9th Cir. 2004)
- Castle Rock Entertainment, Inc. v. Carol Publishing Group, Inc., 150 F.3d 132 (2d Cir. 1998) [Parts I & II]
- Lee v. A.R.T. Company, 125 F.3d 580 (7th Cir. 1997)
Lecture: The Rights to Distribute, Perform, and Display
Readings:
- Vernor v. Autodesk, 2010 U.S.App. Lexis 18957 (Sept. 10, 2010)
- Kirtsaeng (forthcoming 2013)
- Cartoon Network LP v. CSC Holdings, Inc., 536 F.3d 121 (2d Cir. 2008) [Part III]
- Perfect 10 v. Amazon.com. 508 F.3d 1146 (9th Cir. 2007) [Parts I, II, III.A., and III.B.]
Lecture: Fair Use and Misuse
Readings:
- 17 U.S.C. 107
- Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., 510 U.S. 569 (1994)
- Castle Rock Entertainment v. Carol Publishing Group, Inc., 150 F.3d 132 (2d Cir. 1998) [Part III]
- Blanch v. Koons, 467 F.3d 244 (2d Cir. 2006)
- Perfect 10 v. Amazon.com. 508 F.3d 1146 (CA9 2007) [Part III.C.]
Event (April 3, 7:00 p.m. EST): Appropriation Art
- Speakers: Shepard Fairey, Marita Sturken & Geoffrey Stewart
Lecture: Cultural Theory
Readings:
Lecture: Supplements to Copyright: Secondary Liability and Para-copyright
Readings:
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. v. Grokster, 545 U.S. 913 (2005)
- Perfect 10 v. Amazon.com. 508 F.3d 1146 (CA9 2007) [Part IV]
- Viacom v. YouTube, 676 F.3d 19 (CA2 2012)
- Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Corley, 273 F.3d 429 (2d Cir. 2001)
Event (April 17, 7:00 p.m. EST): Free Culture
- Speaker: Larry Lessig
Lecture: Remedies
Readings:
- 17 U.S.C. 501-506
- Frank Music Corp. v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., 886 F.2d 1545 (9th Cir. 1989)
- Fantasy, Inc. v. Fogerty, 94 F.3d 553 (9th Cir. 1996)
- Salinger v. Colting, 607 F.3d 68 (2d Cir. 2010)
- United States v. Moran, 757 F.Supp. 1046 (D.Neb. 1991)
Event (April 24, 7:00 p.m. EST): Orphan Works and Digital Libraries
- Speakers: Robert Darnton, John Palfrey, Brewster Kahle
Version 1.1
Last modified: January 14, 2013