Public Domain Works Can Be Copyrighted Anew, Supreme Court Rules

"The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a federal law that restored copyright protection to works that had entered the public domain.

By a 6-to-2 vote, the justices rejected arguments based on the First Amendment and the Constitution’s copyright clause, saying that the public domain was not “a category of constitutional significance” and that copyright protections might be expanded even if they did not create incentives for new works to be created."

For the full story, please see http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/business/public-domain-works-can-be-copyrighted-anew-justices-rule.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss">The New York Times

Europe Extends Copyright on Music

"In a victory for the financially troubled recording industry, the European Union on Monday extended the term of copyright on sound recordings to 70 years from 50, while declining to include provisions that would allow artists in Britain and elsewhere in Europe to recoup ownership of their music easily. Had the Council of the European Union not acted, many of the most famous and popular recordings of the British Invasion of the 1960s, including albums by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Yardbirds, would have fallen into the public domain in the coming years. For example, the Beatles’ first hit record, “Love Me Do,” which was released in 1962, could have been treated next year in much the same way as works by classical composers whose exclusive ownership of their music has expired. With multiple versions available at cheaper prices, the four major record labels would be deprived of one of their biggest sources of income."

For the full story, please see the New York Times.

A Village Person Tests the Copyright Law

"The prefab, gaudily costumed 1970s group the Village People and its big hit “Y.M.C.A.” are enduring symbols of the disco era. But now this campy and eternally popular song has become the centerpiece of what could be a significant test of copyright law."

For the full story, please see the New York Times.

Musician seeks support to solve serious problems with SGAE

"Santiago Auserón, the former frontman of Spanish band Radio Futura, is trying to find support from fellow musicians to address the situation of SGAE, the copyright-management organization that was plunged into chaos when police raided the headquarters and arrested nine of its leaders on embezzlement charges."

For the full story, please see elpais.com.

Hip-Hop and Copyright Law in the Classroom

For the full story, see The Chronicle of Higher Education.