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
Readings:
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
- Literary Works (and software)
- Dramatic Works (and choreography)
- Music
- Audiovisual Works
- Fictional Characters
- Visual and Architectural Works
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:
- 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)
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:
Lecture: The Rights to Distribute, Perform, and Display
Readings:
Lecture: Fair Use and Misuse
Readings:
- 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)
- Viacom v. YouTube, 676 F.3d 19 (CA2 2012)
Event (April 17, 7:00 p.m. EST): Free Culture
- Speaker: Larry Lessig
Lecture: Remedies
Readings:
- 17 U.S.C. 501-506
- 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
William Fisher