Fair Use and Legal Futurism

Fair Use and Legal Futurism, 24 Law & Literature __ (2012)

NYU School of Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 12-32

16 Pages Posted: 14 Jun 2012

See all articles by Barton Beebe

Barton Beebe

New York University School of Law

Date Written: June 12, 2012

Abstract

Legal futurism is a mode of legal discourse that forecasts the future and law’s role in it. The primary goal of legal futurist discourse is not, however, to formulate an accurate prediction of the future. Rather, its primary goal is to assert the continuing authority of law and the legal field of knowledge in the future, whatever form that future may eventually take. In copyright law discourse, and more specifically, in commentary and case law concerning the copyright law concept of fair use, the legal futurist mode typically takes the form of predictions of failure that are intended to be self-defeating. This brief essay argues that copyright discourse’s persistent practice of engaging in self-defeating prophecy is ill-advised. Due to the circular nature of copyright commentary and doctrine, such prophecies risk becoming self-fulfilling.

Suggested Citation

Beebe, Barton, Fair Use and Legal Futurism (June 12, 2012). Fair Use and Legal Futurism, 24 Law & Literature __ (2012), NYU School of Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 12-32, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2083318

Barton Beebe (Contact Author)

New York University School of Law ( email )

40 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012-1099
United States

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