Module 7 Practice: Copyright Law in Action – Case Studies & Application

Complete During Live Class

You do not need to complete this practice activity ahead of time. We will work through the case studies and application activities together during our live class session.

This will give you an opportunity to ask questions, discuss your reasoning with the class, and apply the copyright concepts we have covered in real time.

Guidelines

Part 1: Case Summaries

Choose three cases from the list provided. For each:

Identify the main legal issue.
Summarize the court’s decision.
Explain the lesson the case teaches about copyright law.

Part 2: Comparative Analysis

Select two cases involving fair use (e.g., Campbell v. Acuff-Rose, h3h3Productions v. Hosseinzadeh, Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith). Compare and contrast:

How the courts applied the four fair use factors.
Which factors were most influential in each decision.
Why one case succeeded under fair use while the other did not.

Part 3: Real-World Application

You are advising a small online business owner who:

Wants to sell T-shirts featuring altered versions of popular movie characters.
Plans to use short clips from music videos in social media ads.

For each activity:

Assess whether it’s likely to be legal under copyright law.
Identify relevant cases from the list that support your reasoning.
Recommend steps the business could take to reduce infringement risk.

Part 4: Reflection

In 150–200 words, discuss one case from the list that you believe had the biggest impact on shaping modern copyright law. Explain why, using reasoning from the case facts, outcome, and broader implications for creators, platforms, or consumers.