October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1150
Can Georgia copyright its official code annotations?
Georgia claims copyright over code annotations. Public.Resource.Org argues these notes belong to the public.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
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.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Georgia wants to own the copyright to its code annotations. Public.Resource.Org wants these notes to remain public domain.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-21
What each side wants
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-17
What each side says
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-17
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the significance of official references in annotations.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the state holds copyright as the hiring party.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
Why it matters
This case determines who controls access to official legal explanations. It affects how citizens and lawyers use state law materials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-17
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 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
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 20, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-17
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.