Eldred v. Ashcroft

Introduction

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This site collects material related to the constitutional challenge of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which extended by 20 years both existing copyrights and future copyrights.

Eric Eldred is the lead plaintiff on the case (for other plaintiffs, click here), and on May 20, 2002, opening briefs were filed in the Supreme Court. Arguments will be heard October 9th, 2002, and a decision is expected next spring. Watch here for the latest news, and click on "how you can help" to join our (e) campaign.

Latest News

• January 15, 2003 - We have failed in our effort to get the Sonny Bono Act declared unconstitutional. Press calls should be directed to Jonathan Zittrain, at 617-571-1846.
• January 03, 2003 - We filed our complaint in this case on January 11, 1999. The Court won't rule on our case before January 11, 2003, but if the Supreme Court strikes down the Sonny Bono Act, then next year we will be allowed to sing Happy Birthday To You! in public without paying royalty fees!
• December 20, 2002 - More support for the public domain: Check out Jason Schultz's final report about the effect of invalidating the 1976 Copyright Act's extension of copyrights.
• December 18, 2002 - Top question we get: "When will the court decide the case?" It is impossible to know. But we do know this: No decisions are scheduled to be released till the middle of January. 'Tis the season to wait, or give some creative work away under a CC license.
• December 18, 2002 - The amazing Lisa Rein has posted her movies from the night they spent waiting to get seats at the argument in Eldred.
• November 29, 2002 - Martin Goodman in Animation World magazine looks at how our case affects toondom.
• November 28, 2002 - Here is the full Posner speech, in PDF.
• November 26, 2002 - A Right trifecta: A sane and sensible Ayn Randian view on the Sonny Bono Act, Declan and Drew Clark's reports about Judge Posner's view of the "absurd" Sonny Bono Act, and as reported below, a brilliantly clear post in the National Review on the Sonny Bono Act. Thinking souls on the Right everywhere!
• November 24, 2002 - A plea for Calling off the copyright war by Jonathan Zittrain in The Boston Globe.
• November 22, 2002 - National Review online has a commentary by John Bloom that stimulated a Slashdot discussion.