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Supreme Court Rules Against Andy Warhol Foundation in Copyright Case Over Photograph of Prince

  • The US Supreme Court ruled that Andy Warhol infringed on photographer Lynn Goldsmith's copyright when he created a series of silk screen images based on a photograph Goldsmith shot of the late musician Prince in 1981.
  • The court rejected arguments that Warhol didn't violate copyright laws because he transformed Goldsmith's original shot.
  • The ruling cracks down on "fair use" and protects photographers' rights to their work, even against famous artists.
  • Justice Elena Kagan warned that the decision could stifle creativity and impede new art, music, literature, and ideas.
  • The decision could set a precedent for cases involving the fair use doctrine, which allows limited appropriation of intellectual property for purposes such as scholarship, news reporting, and commentary.
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