{"argument_date":"2011-10-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-10-05T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","paragraphs":["Anthony Falzone argued Section 514 took millions of works out of the public domain.","He claimed this unprecedented action violated the Copyright Clause and the First Amendment.","General Verrilli responded by addressing the concept of setting the copyright term at zero.","He argued this approach distinguishes the statute from standard copyright term extensions."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"}]}],"caption":"Golan v. Holder","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:36.485369Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case argue Section 514 violates the Constitution by removing works from the public domain. The government defends the statute as a valid exercise of legislative power.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-10-05T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/10-545.html","primary_docket":"10-545","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:49:28.674442Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["This case tests the limits of congressional power over copyright terms. It asks whether the Copyright Clause permits restoring protection to works that previously lacked it."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2011."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down Section 514 as unconstitutional.","The government wants the Court to uphold Section 514 as valid law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the statute violates the Copyright Clause by taking works from the public domain.","The government argues Congress validly set the initial copyright term at zero for foreign works."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if a U.S. author published in the same year as De Tocqueville holds copyright today.","Justice Sotomayor asked if the lack of initial protection distinguishes these works from standard term extensions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the scope of public domain rights. It determines whether Congress can retroactively restore copyright to foreign works. This affects access to cultural and historical materials for all Americans."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-545-golan-v-holder","term":"2011","title":"Can Congress restore copyright to foreign works in the public domain?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-545.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}