A Question of Ethics—Copyright Infringement.

Custom Copies, Inc., prepares and sells coursepacks, which contain compilations of readings for college courses. A teacher selects the readings and delivers a syllabus to the copy shop, which obtains the materials from a library, copies them, and binds the copies.

Blackwell Publishing, Inc., which owns the copyright to some of the materials, filed a suit, alleging copyright infringement.

[Blackwell Publishing, Inc. v. Custom Copies, Inc., 2006 WL 152950

(N.D.Fla. 2006)] (See pages 142–144.)

1. Custom Copies argued, in part, that it did not “distribute”

the coursepacks. Does a copy shop violate copyright law if it only copies materials for coursepacks? Does the fair use doctrine apply in these circumstances? Discuss.

2. What is the potential impact if copies of a book or journal are created and sold without the permission of, and the payment of royalties or a fee to, the copyright owner? Explain.