No. 20-142

Michael Skidmore, as Trustee for the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust v. Led Zeppelin, et al.

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2020-08-11
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (4)Response WaivedRelisted (2)
Tags: copyright-act copyright-act-of-1909 copyright-protection deposit-requirement musical-works ninth-circuit originality selection-and-arrangement sheet-music tangible-medium
Latest Conference: 2020-12-04 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (from Petition)

Whether or not the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sitting en banc correctly held that musical copyright protection under the Copyright Act of 1909 is limited to sheet music deposits—and only sheet music deposits—or whether songs under the 1909 Act are protected as created and fixed in a tangible medium?

Whether Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was permitted to fundamentally alter wide swaths copyright precedent regarding the extrinsic test—namely originality, and selection and arrangement—in a way that directly challenges binding Supreme Court precedent to the contrary?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether musical works under the Copyright Act of 1909 are protected as created and fixed in a tangible medium, or limited to sheet music deposits

Docket Entries

2020-12-07
Rehearing DENIED.
2020-11-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/4/2020.
2020-10-30
2020-10-05
Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by The Pullman Group, LLC, et al. GRANTED.
2020-10-05
Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by California Society of Entertainment Lawyers GRANTED.
2020-10-05
Petition DENIED.
2020-09-10
Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by California Society of Entertainment Lawyers.(Distributed)
2020-09-10
Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by The Pullman Group, LLC, et al. (Distributed)
2020-08-19
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2020.
2020-08-17
Waiver of right of respondent James Patrick Page, Robert Anthony Plant, John Paul Jones, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Atlantic Recording Corporation, Rhino Entertainment Company, Super Hype Publishing, Inc., and Warner Music Group Corp. to respond filed.
2020-08-06
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 10, 2020)

Attorneys

California Society of Entertainment Lawyers
Steven T. LoweLowe & Associates. P.C., Amicus
James Patrick Page, Robert Anthony Plant, John Paul Jones, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Atlantic Recording Corporation, Rhino Entertainment Company, Super Hype Publishing, Inc., and Warner Music Group Corp.
Peter J. AndersonDavis Wright Tremaine LLP, Respondent
Skidmore, Michael
Alfred Joseph FluehrFrancis Alexander LLC, Petitioner
The Pullman Group, LLC, et al.
William Michael HensleyAlvaradoSmith, A.P.C., Amicus