How is Stanford Law Schools Fair Use Project shaping the copyright debate?
A. The Center for Internet and Society’s Fair Use Project (FUP) provides legal support to projects designed to clarify—and extend—the boundaries of “fair use” in order to enhance creative freedom. Since being established in 2006, the FUP has scored several major victories. In March, it announced that it settled a copyright case against the Estate of James Joyce for its client, Stanford University Acting Professor of English Carol Shloss. The case sought to establish Shloss’s right to use copyrighted materials in her writing under the fair use doctrine. This May, FUP won the dismissal of a copyright infringement action brought against its client, musician Brian Transeau. Additionally, FUP formed a unique partnership with Media/Professional Insurance and intellectual property attorney Michael Donaldson to provide legal support for documentary filmmakers who rely on the fair use of copyrighted material. The initiative was announced at the International Documentary Association’s 25th Annua
