Politics: January 2003 Archives

January 15, 2003

Supreme Court: No Free Mickey

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So the Supreme Court has ruled on the Eldred case. Unfortunately for pretty much everyone, they ruled that the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act stands.

Their arguments seem fairly weak, personally. They make entirely too much of the necessity of bringing our copyright terms in line with Europe's. I don't see why Europe's views on copyrights should trump the intent of the Framers, myself. Both dissenting Justices wrote opinions; of the two, I think Breyer's is the more compelling.

Hopefully this ruling will help to stir up the war over copyright; even the Supreme Court can change its mind.

Lessig has three posts on the subject: start here and scroll down.