October Term 2011 · Docket 10-545
Can Congress restore copyright to foreign works in the public domain?
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.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
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.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
What each side says
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
What the justices asked
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-33
Why it matters
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-33
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.