The Court Speaks

     I thought those on this list would be interested to know that the Supreme Court handed down its opinion in Campbell v. Acuff-Ross Music (the "Pretty Woman" case) today.

     The unanimous opinion by Justice Souter holds that the Court of Appeals erred in finding the 2 Live Crew parody to be an infringement of the Orbison original. The opinion rejects the argument that the commercial nature of a parody deprives it of a claim to fair use, criticizing the Court of Appeals for elevated a single sentence in the Sony opinion to the status of a per se rule.

     I'm sure the opinion will engender lots of discussion

                           PROF. ROGER E. SCHECHTER
                         George Washington University
                             Voice: 202-994-3702
                              Fax: 202-994-9446
                   Internet:  rschechter[_at_]main.nlc.gwu.edu


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