|
Prof. Michael J. Madison: Copyright Law (Spring 2008) | ||||||||||||
|
Prof. Michael J. Madison
|
Class Meeting Time and Place Class will meet Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in Room 111. The room location is subject to change. Check the boards on the Second Floor for the most up-to-date information. Contacting Prof. Madison I have learned that few students ever appear during scheduled office hours, so I don't schedule them. I am happy to meet with you at your convenience. My office is Room 303. Make an appointment via e-mail at madison@pitt.edu or michael.j.madison@gmail.com. Required Course Materials
Optional Course Materials There is a vast secondary literature on copyright law. Here are
three of the best sources:
Benjamin Kaplan, An Unhurried View of Copyright (originally
published 1967)
Marshall Leaffer, Understanding Copyright Law (4th ed. 2005) Melville B. Nimmer & David Nimmer, Nimmer on Copyright
(the authoritative multi-volume treatise) (available on the Law Library
shelves and electronically, via the
Law Library electronic resources page) The optional law review articles listed on
the
course syllabus are available online via a TWEN page at Westlaw. Slides Slides used in class will be posted afterward on this page. All of the files below are rendered in pdf format. Grading
The grade for this course will be based on three short open research
memos. The first two memos will each be worth 30% of the final
grade. The final memo will be worth 40% of the final grade. The
substance and format of the memos, their timing, and their
due dates will be discussed in class as the semester progresses.
Memorandum Requirements Overview Each memorandum will be based on a written problem distributed in class. There will be an opportunity to discuss the problem and ask questions about it after it is distributed. Each problem will be based on the readings and classroom discussions. The problems are designed so that they can be completed without independent research, but these will be open problems; there are no limits on the resources that students may bring to bear on their work. Format Memoranda must be typed or printed using a computer. Unless I tell you otherwise, each memorandum must be not longer than four [4] typewritten or printed pages, double-spaced, with 1" minimum margins on all sides. No footnotes are permitted. Twelve [12] point proportional-width font (such as Times New Roman) must be used. Grading Memoranda will be graded based on form, format, and writing quality as well as on content. The problems are designed so as not to have any single correct or even best solution. Each problem will present a range of issues that the memorandum should identify, analyze, and solve in a creative way. Due dates Hard copies of all memos will be required and will be due at the office of Professor Madison's secretary, in Room 314, not later than 4:30 p.m. on their respective due dates. Electronic (e-mailed) copies are not acceptable. There will be no extensions or exceptions to memo deadlines. Memoranda that do not conform to the format instructions above, or that are turned in late, are subject to grade reductions; in extreme cases, I may disregard them. The Memorandum Assignments are posted here. Email policy Course announcements will be posted from time to time via email and will be posted online. You may send substantive questions about copyright law to me at my email address. In general, however, my practice is to respond to questions during class. Last updated: April 21, 2008 |
