Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.

Definition

Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. is a landmark Supreme Court case from 1994 that clarified the fair use doctrine in copyright law. This case involved rapper 2 Live Crew's parody of Roy Orbison's song 'Oh, Pretty Woman,' which raised important questions about whether transformative works could be considered fair use, especially in the context of commercial products. The decision reinforced the idea that not all commercial uses are automatically unfair and emphasized the significance of transformative nature in assessing fair use.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Supreme Court ruled that 2 Live Crew's parody was transformative enough to qualify for fair use despite being a commercial product.
2. The case established that parody is a form of commentary or criticism, which can fall under fair use even when it involves commercial gain.
3. The decision emphasized that the purpose and character of the use are crucial factors in determining fair use, not just whether it is commercial or non-commercial.
4. The ruling overturned lower court decisions that had ruled against 2 Live Crew, highlighting a more flexible interpretation of fair use in creative works.
5. This case has since served as a precedent for subsequent fair use cases involving music, art, and other creative expressions.

Review Questions

• How did the Supreme Court's ruling in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. redefine the understanding of transformative use within the fair use doctrine?
  • The Supreme Court's ruling in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. redefined transformative use by establishing that a work can be considered transformative if it adds new expression or meaning to the original work, even if it is used for commercial purposes. The court recognized that parody has an inherent commentary aspect, making it eligible for fair use. This shifted the focus from merely assessing whether the use was commercial to evaluating how much transformation occurred.
• Discuss how Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. impacted future interpretations of fair use in copyright cases, especially concerning music and parody.
  • Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. significantly impacted future interpretations of fair use by establishing clear guidelines on how courts should evaluate cases involving parody and music. The ruling allowed courts to consider the transformative nature of a work rather than just its commercial aspect when determining fair use. This has encouraged artists to create parodies and other transformative works without fear of copyright infringement, fostering greater creativity while navigating copyright laws.
• Evaluate the implications of Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. on the balance between protecting copyright holders and encouraging creative expression in the digital age.
  • The implications of Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. highlight a delicate balance between protecting copyright holders' rights and encouraging creative expression, particularly in the digital age where content creation is widespread. The ruling supports creators' freedom to innovate through parody and transformation without facing legal repercussions solely based on commercial intent. However, it also raises questions about how far this protection extends and how copyright holders can defend their works while promoting artistic creativity in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Related terms

Fair Use: A legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the rights holders, provided it meets certain criteria.

Transformative Use: A type of fair use where a new work adds something new, with a further purpose or different character, altering the original with new expression or meaning.

Copyright Infringement: The unauthorized use of copyrighted material in a way that violates the rights of the copyright holder.