Copyright Law (JD Academic Unit)

Study content for Copyright Law (JD Academic Unit): notes, practice MCQs and flashcards across 11 syllabus topics. This is AI-generated draft content — citations have not yet been independently verified.

Syllabus

• Foundations & HistoryTopic

  Constitutional basis (Art. I §8 cl.8) · History of US copyright legislation (1790 Act → 1976 Act → DMCA) · Theories of copyright (utilitarian, natural rights, author's rights)

• Subject Matter & CopyrightabilityTopic

  Originality requirement (Feist v. Rural Telephone) · Fixation requirement (17 USC §102(a)) · Categories of protected works (literary, musical, dramatic, pictorial, audiovisual, sound recordings, architectural)

• Exclusive RightsTopic

  Reproduction right (§106(1)) · Derivative works right (§106(2)) · Distribution right (§106(3)); first-sale doctrine (§109)

• Ownership & TransferTopic

  Initial ownership; authorship (§201) · Works made for hire (§101, §101 definition; CCNV v. Reid) · Joint works (§101, §101 definition; Childress v. Taylor)

• Duration & FormalitiesTopic

  Duration under 1976 Act: life+70 (§302) · Works for hire duration (95/120 years) · Pre-1978 works; renewal; public domain

• InfringementTopic

  Direct infringement: copying and improper appropriation (substantial similarity) · Contributory infringement (Sony v. Universal City Studios; Grokster) · Vicarious liability (right and ability to supervise + direct financial benefit)

• Fair Use & LimitationsTopic

  Four-factor fair use test (§107): purpose, nature, amount, market effect · Transformative use doctrine (Campbell v. Acuff-Rose) · Parody vs. satire

• DMCA & Technological MeasuresTopic

  Anti-circumvention (§1201): TPMs, access controls vs. copy controls · Copyright management information (§1202) · Online service provider safe harbors (§512): notice-and-takedown

• Moral RightsTopic

  Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA §106A) · Berne Convention moral rights; US approach vs. EU

• RemediesTopic

  Injunctive relief (eBay v. MercExchange standard in copyright) · Statutory damages (§504): $750–$30,000; up to $150,000 willful · Actual damages and profits (§504(b))

• International & Emerging IssuesTopic

  Berne Convention; TRIPS; WIPO Copyright Treaty · Choice of law; extraterritoriality · AI-generated works and authorship debates (2025–2026 developments)

• Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co.

  What is the originality requirement for copyright protection?

  499 U.S. 340 (1991)
• 17 U.S.C. §102(a) statutory requirement

  Define 'fixation' in copyright law.

  17 U.S.C. §102(a)
• Baker v. Selden

  Explain the idea-expression dichotomy in copyright law.

  101 U.S. 99 (1879)