Landmark Copyright Cases

Landmark copyright cases shape our understanding of intellectual property by defining key concepts like originality and fair use. These rulings balance creators' rights with public access, influencing how we interact with creative works in a digital age.

1. Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co. (1991)

   • Established that mere compilation of facts does not qualify for copyright protection.
   • Introduced the "originality" requirement, emphasizing that creative expression is necessary for copyright.
   • Ruled that the white pages of a phone directory were not copyrightable as they lacked originality.

2. Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc. (1984)

   • Affirmed the legality of time-shifting, allowing consumers to record television shows for personal use.
   • Established the "fair use" doctrine in the context of home video recording.
   • Determined that the sale of VCRs did not constitute contributory infringement.

3. Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. (1994)

   • Clarified the fair use doctrine, particularly in relation to transformative use.
   • Held that parody can qualify as fair use, even if it competes with the original work.
   • Emphasized the importance of context in determining fair use.

4. Harper & Row Publishers, Inc. v. Nation Enterprises (1985)

   • Addressed the limits of fair use in relation to unpublished works.
   • Ruled that the unauthorized use of excerpts from a memoir was not fair use due to the commercial nature of the use.
   • Highlighted the significance of the author's right to control the first publication of their work.

5. Eldred v. Ashcroft (2003)

   • Upheld the constitutionality of the Copyright Term Extension Act.
   • Affirmed Congress's power to extend copyright terms without violating the First Amendment.
   • Discussed the balance between copyright protection and public access to creative works.

6. MGM Studios, Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd. (2005)

   • Held that companies can be liable for copyright infringement if they induce users to infringe.
   • Established the concept of "inducement" as a basis for contributory infringement.
   • Emphasized the role of intent in determining liability for copyright infringement.

7. Authors Guild v. Google, Inc. (2015)

   • Addressed the legality of Google's book scanning project under the fair use doctrine.
   • Ruled that the project constituted transformative use, benefiting the public by increasing access to information.
   • Highlighted the importance of digital libraries in the context of copyright law.

8. Oracle America, Inc. v. Google LLC (2021)

   • Examined the copyrightability of software interfaces and APIs.
   • Ruled that Google's use of Java APIs in Android was fair use, emphasizing transformative use.
   • Addressed the balance between innovation in technology and copyright protection.

9. Nichols v. Universal Pictures Corporation (1930)

   • Established the "substantial similarity" test for copyright infringement.
   • Determined that a film based on a play did not infringe because it was not substantially similar.
   • Highlighted the importance of originality in determining copyright protection.

10. Rogers v. Koons (1992)

    • Addressed the intersection of copyright and artistic expression in the context of parody.
    • Ruled that the use of a copyrighted photograph in a sculpture was not fair use due to lack of transformative purpose.
    • Emphasized the need for artists to respect existing copyrights while creating new works.