{"argument_date":"2019-12-02T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2019-12-02T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","paragraphs":["Joshua Johnson argued the Eleventh Circuit misapplied the Copyright Act text.","He stated Sections 101 and 103 expressly provide copyright for annotations.","He distinguished editors' notes from other code portions to support his claim.","David Citron argued the government edicts doctrine extends to non-binding documents."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 55-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 47-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-11"}]}],"caption":"Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.500483Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.513389Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Georgia claims copyright over code annotations. Public.Resource.Org argues these notes belong to the public.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 47-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2019-12-02T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/18-1150.html","primary_docket":"18-1150","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:40:36.457654Z","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":["Georgia wants to own the copyright to its code annotations. Public.Resource.Org wants these notes to remain public domain."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 47-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2019."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Georgia wants the Court to allow copyright protection for its code annotations.","Public.Resource.Org wants the Court to keep these annotations in the public domain."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 47-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Georgia argues the Copyright Act explicitly allows copyright for derivative works like annotations.","Public.Resource.Org argues the government edicts doctrine bars copyright for official legal documents."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 47-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked about the significance of official references in annotations.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the state holds copyright as the hiring party."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 55-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-11"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines who controls access to official legal explanations. It affects how citizens and lawyers use state law materials."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 47-17"}]},{"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 11, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 55-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-11"}]}],"slug":"2019-18-1150-georgia-v-public-resource-org-inc","term":"2019","title":"Can Georgia copyright its official code annotations?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1150_b0n2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 47-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}