Copyright extension

Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Copyright Term Extension Act, which extends the term of copyrights by 20 years. The Court also rejected the claim that such an extension violated the First Amendment. Geoffrey Hull, attorney and professor of recording industry, says, "All of Music Row and all authors, songwriters, publishers, movie companies and other copyright owners can breathe a sigh of relief. What the majority of the Court did was to look at historical precedent back to 1790 and conclude that Congress had often extended copyright protection ... extensions had never been challenged ... and they were built on the basis of treating existing and future copyrights the same."

Contact Hull at 615-898-5516.
ghull@mtsu.edu

The debate's not over

Matthew O'Brien, attorney and associate professor of recording industry, says that while the result was not surprising, "the fact that two justices would have found the extension unconstitutional is worth noting. Both the majority and dissenting opinions spend quite a bit of time articulating the values and policies underlying copyright law and considering the balance between public and private interests," he noted. This case is significant, he adds, because this same analysis will frame and determine the outcome of other more important and contentious debates brought on by the digital revolution.

Contact O'Brien at 615-898-5017.
mobrien@mtsu.edu

Fun first

Kids need to have fun while playing in competitive sports--they have a right to a rewarding and pleasant experience, says Dr. Mark Anshel, sports psychologist and author of the book Sport Psychology: From Theory to Practice (Fourth Edition). "Will someone please tell me why parents and coaches get upset with child athletes for not performing complex sport skills flawlessly?" he asks. "Why criticize a child 8 years old after he or she makes an error? Don't professionals make mistakes?" Sport is supposed to create lifelong memories and build positive attitudes toward physical activity, he adds.

Contact Anshel at 615-898-2812.
manshel@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA:
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, Jan. 18-19, 8:30 a.m., Tennessee Athletic Trainers' Society meeting, Business and Aerospace Building, S102, contact Dr. Malissa Martin, 615-904-8187. Media welcomed.
THROUGH FEB. 27--New York-based photographer Arlene Gottfried's exhibit "The Eternal Light," Baldwin Photographic Gallery. The images feature gospel singers in Harlem. Free and open. For information, call Tom Jimison, gallery director, at 615-898-2085. Media welcomed.