This course offers a comprehensive survey of U.S. copyright law and theory. Among other things, we will explore the substantive requirements that literary, musical, artistic, and other works of authorship must meet to qualify for copyright protection, the procedures for obtaining copyright protection, the scope and duration of protection, the elements of a copyright infringement claim, fair use and other defenses, and remedies for infringement. The course will also focus on copyright’s role in the digital age, including its relationship with generative AI.

During this semester, you will learn the basics of copyright doctrine and develop a sense of the kinds of legal issues that creators, distributors, and others in today’s information ecosystem face. This introduction to copyright law will help you advise clients on their rights and possibilities. In addition, this course will help you think about the legal regulation of creativity at a more general level. We will discuss when and how the law should establish rights for certain kinds of creative works and the nature of the tradeoffs at stake when the law does so.

Recommended for the Following Professional Pathways: IP/Copyright and Trademark; Media, Entertainment, Sports, Fashion; Tech/Privacy

3 Credits