How The New York Times Covered It

"Supreme Court to Revisit a Case on Breach of Copyright," reads the headline in the business section of today's New York Times. The full story by reporter Adam Liptak can be viewed at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/business/03bizcourt.html?_r=1&ref=business.

The Times notes that the 2001 Supreme Court decision, Tasini v. Times, "seemed to contemplate and even encourage a settlement of the case, saying that the parties 'may enter into an agreement allowing continued electronic reproduction of the authors’ works.'"

What an odd and out-of-context quote. Here is exactly what the Court said:

The Publishers’ warning that a ruling for the Authors will have ‘devastating’ consequences, punching gaping holes in the electronic record of history, is unavailing.... The Authors and Publishers may enter into an agreement allowing continued reproduction of the Authors’ works; they, and if necessary the courts and Congress, may draw on numerous models for distributing copyrighted works and remunerating authors for their distribution.