In 2021 and 2022, the United States Supreme Court made several important decisions related to copyright law. These decisions have significant implications for creators, publishers, and users of copyrighted works.
One of the most closely watched cases was Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc., which concerned the copyrightability of application programming interfaces (APIs). In a 6-2 decision, the Court held that Google's use of certain Java APIs in its Android operating system was a fair use and therefore not infringing [1]. The Court's decision is likely to have a significant impact on the software industry and the way APIs are developed and used.
Another important case was Van Buren v. United States, which concerned the scope of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The Court held that an individual who accesses a computer system for an improper purpose does not violate the CFAA if they have permission to access the system in question [2]. The decision is likely to have significant implications for the way that companies and individuals protect their computer systems and data.
In addition to these cases, the Court also issued decisions related to copyright registration requirements [3], the availability of attorney's fees in copyright cases [4], and the scope of the fair use doctrine [5]. Each of these decisions has important implications for the way that copyright law is interpreted and applied in the United States.
Overall, the recent decisions from the United States Supreme Court demonstrate the importance of staying up to date on developments in copyright law. Whether you are a creator, publisher, or user of copyrighted works, it is important to understand the legal landscape and how it may impact your rights and obligations.