Eldred v. Ashcroft, 537 U.S. 186, 123 S. Ct. 769 (U.S. 2003)
Background: Various entities that were using works that had become part of the “public domain†brought suit challenging the constitutionality of the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 (CTEA).
Issue: Does the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 create a perpetual copyright and violate the constitutional provision that copyright protection is afforded for a limited time?
Holding: The Supreme Court ruled that the Copyright Term Extension Act does not create a perpetual copyright and Congress did not exceed its power in extending copyright protection for an additional 20 years.
Background: Various entities that were using works that had become part of the “public domain†brought suit challenging the constitutionality of the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 (CTEA).
Issue: Does the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 create a perpetual copyright and violate the constitutional provision that copyright protection is afforded for a limited time?
Holding: The Supreme Court ruled that the Copyright Term Extension Act does not create a perpetual copyright and Congress did not exceed its power in extending copyright protection for an additional 20 years.