Journal Home Browse Issues Search Articles Submissions About the Journal Copyright Fixation Podcast Subscribe Go back to Issues A BRIEF HISTORY OF COPYRIGHT REVISION 73 J. Copyright Soc'y 75 (2026) Justin Hughes Hon. William Matthew Byrne, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law Fulbright-Hanken Distinguished Chair in Business and Economics, Loyola Law School Molly Shaffer Van Houweling Harold C. Hohbach Distinguished Professor of Patent Law and Intellectual Property Co-Director, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, UC Berkeley Law Eric Schwartz Partner, MSK Table of Contents I. PRELIMINARY PANEL INTRODUCTION 76 II. MODERATOR OPENING: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION 76 III. HISTORY OF BARBARA RINGER 79 IV. THE STUDIES 82 A. Study Number One 83 B. The Other Studies: The Writings of Barbara Ringer 84 1. Study Number 31: Renewal 84 2. Study Number 26: The Unauthorized Duplication of Sound Recordings 85 V. THE NEW 1976 COPYRIGHT ACT 86 A. Author-centric 86 B. The Dark Side 88 C. Unfinished Business 89 VI. CLOSING REFLECTIONS AND Q&A 92 A. Closing Reflections 92 B. Q&A 93 Abstract This panel will briefly recount the 21-year saga that shaped modern copyright law with the enactment of the Copyright Act of 1976. The panelists will revisit some of the major battles, stakeholder positions, and legislative challenges that culminated in the landmark Copyright Act. This is part one of a two-part program by the Copyright Society to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Act with special commemorative programming. A second panel will present related issues at the Annual Meeting in June 2026. Be part of this milestone anniversary as we honor the legacy that continues to shape creativity and innovation today. Full Article 73 J. Copyright Soc'y 75 (2026) (2)Download Related Content Journal May 1, 2026 THE COPYRIGHT ACT NEVER GOES OUT OF FASHION 73 J. Copyright Soc'y 53 (2026) (2)Download David Nimmer Copyright Conversations in Congress Law, Cases & Policy Journal May 1, 2026 REFLECTIONS ON THE USE AND MISUSE OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS IN COPYRIGHT 73 J. Copyright Soc'y 185-2Download Glynn S. Lunney, Jr. Law, Cases & Policy The 1976 Act @ 50 Journal September 28, 2025 “BEAM ME A BOOK, SCOTTY:” VIRTUAL ACCESS ROOMS UNDER SECTION 108 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 72 J. Copyright Soc'y 831Download Kyle Courtney Copyright Conversations in Congress Ethics, Equity & Access
