Copyright Syllabus

Fall 2008

I. Objectives

A. To introduce students to fundamental principles of U.S. copyright law:
- 1. included and excluded subject matter
- 2. administrative requirements
- 3. rights, remedies, defenses and federalism.
B. To help students learn to use key cases, statutes and Restatements.
- 1. Considerable attention will be given to statutory construction and the extent to which courts have contributed and will continue to contribute outside of the statutory scheme.
- 2. Detailed knowledge of the Copyright Act is not expected.
C. Students who have completed Fundamentals of IP will have seen many topics covered in this course, but here they will be covered in more depth.

II. Materials

A. Joyce, et al., Copyright Law (7th ed.) (LexisNexis)
B. A statutory supplement. You need to have the Act at hand in most classes.
- 1. Those who have Selected IP & Unfair Competitions Statutes (West) should find it adequate for this and other IP courses.
- 2. The cumulative supplement to the casebook is recommended for those with strong interest in copyright.
C. For very basic copyright information, see the several discussions listed under IP Basics.

III. Evaluation

An open-book(s) final will constitute at least 70% of the grade.
Depending on enrollment, optional exercises, or perhaps a mid-term, may be offered for up to 30% of the grade.

IV. Attendance, Methodology, Preparation

Prompt attendance is expected. Anyone who misses more than two classes without medical documentation can be "disenrolled" without further warning.
Thoughtful preparation is expected.
Students are asked to brief cases and open discussion is encouraged.

VI. Assignments (by class number)

1 -- Chapter 1: The Landscape -- 1-26, 49-61; skim, 26-49
2 -- Chapter 2: Prerequisites -- 63-94
3 -- 98-128, skim 128-32
4 -- Chapter 3: Works of authorship -- 133-60, 165-67, skim 160-65
5 -- 167-89, 193-99, skim 201-07
6 -- 213-48, skim 248-50
7 -- Chapter 4: Ownership & transfers -- 251-87
8 -- 287-305, skim 305-12
9 -- Chapter 5: Duration & termination -- 313-32, 340-57, skim 332-40
10 -- 357-70, skim 370-81
11 -- Chapter 6: Publication & formalities -- 387-99, 403-11, 416-30
12 -- Chapter 7: Exclusive rights & limitations -- 435-55, skim 456-64
13 -- 464-91, skim 491-94
14 -- 495-505, 513-24, skim 505-13
15 -- 531-41, skim 525-31, 541-48
16 -- 548-73, substitute 459 F.3d 128 for 556-66 (but see photo in book)
17 -- Chapter 8: Infringement -- 575-99
18 -- 599-608, 616-46, skim 608-16
19 -- 646-74, skim 674-90
20 -- Chapter 9: Secondary liability -- 691-714
21 -- 714-16, 721-47, 749-66, skim 716-21, 747-49, 766-71
22 -- Chapter 10: Fair use & other defenses -- 773-99
23 -- 799-833
24 838-49, skim 833-38
25 -- 849-58, 863-65, skim 859-63, 865-74 (note thumbnail list of defenses)
26 -- Chapter 11: Remedies, preemption and related law -- 875-87, 889-912, skim 887-89, 912-17
27 -- 917-44, skim 944-56
28 -- Review and overflow