About the Annual Meeting Join the copyright community in Louisville, Kentucky, from June 14–16 for a special doubleheader celebration: the Copyright Society’s 50th Annual Meeting and the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Copyright Act. This dynamic two-and-a-half-day event brings together copyright professionals and enthusiasts from around the world to connect, collaborate, and stay informed on the latest developments in copyright law. Whether you’re attending for the first time or returning for your fiftieth, you’ll find valuable insights, meaningful networking opportunities, and plenty of memorable moments in the heart of the Derby City. Hotel Accommodations The 2026 Annual Meeting will be at The Galt House in Louisville, KY. Reserve your room online here or by calling toll-free 1-800-843-4258 and mentioning the group code 061226CPY. Our group block ends Friday, May 22. Getting to the Meeting: Hotel’s Address: The Galt House, 140 N Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40202 The hotel is a 15-minute drive from Louisville International Airport. Registration Attendee Type Early-Bird thru 5/15 After 5/15 Member (In Person + Virtual) $1,145 $1,345 Non-Member (In Person + Virtual) $1,745 $1,945 First-time Attendee (In Person + Virtual) $1,045 $1,245 Academic/Gov’t Member (In Person + Virtual) $945 $1,145 Student Member In Person $745 $745 Student Member Virtual Free Free Single Day Pass* (In Person + Virtual) $675 $675 *Meals are not included with single-day registration. Please purchase a la carte guest tickets to attend the conference meals or receptions. Please note: in-person registration will close Monday, June 8, 2026. At-the-door tickets will be increased by $100. Sponsorship Interested in sponsoring the Copyright Society’s 50th Annual Meeting? Explore our sponsorship & marketing opportunities here. CLE Credit Details The Copyright Society is an accredited provider in California, New York, and Pennsylvania. MCLE Credits will be available for those jurisdictions, and requests for credit in other jurisdictions may be made when registering. While credit in other jurisdictions is not guaranteed, Copyright Society staff will submit applications for accreditation and notify attorneys upon approval. This intermediate program is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys. Total minutes of instruction: 405 minutes. For more information about CLE, please visit copyrightsociety.org/am26-cle. Please email cle@copyrightsociety.org for CLE related questions. Useful Links Sponsorship & Marketing Opportunities Financial Aid Volunteer Opportunities CLE FAQ Cancellation Policy Agenda 6/14 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Copyright Society Programming Committee Meeting 6/14 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Copyright Society Board of Trustees Meeting 6/14 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm ARCHIBALD FOYER – 3rd Floor West Tower Registration Desk Open Grab your conference badge and goodies! Copyright Society volunteers will be available to answer any questions. 6/14 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm Muhammad Ali Center – Bingham Gallery Special Bourbon Tasting with Master Distiller Chris Morris Bourbon enthusiasts rejoice–Master Distiller Chris Morris will provide a special tasting of select bourbon varietals. Chris will talk through tasting notes and answer any questions. Don’t Miss it! 6:30-7:00pm only Courtesy of Diamond Sponsor McBrayer 6/14 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Muhammad Ali Center Welcome Reception Join Copyright Society members and guests for pre-dinner cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and networking outdoors at the Muhammad Ali Center. The welcome reception is included in your registration fee and guest tickets are available for purchase. Courtesy of Diamond Sponsor McBrayer 6/14 7:30 am – 10:00 pm Muhammad Ali Center, View Pointe Hall Dinner Reception Our knockout evening at the Muhammad Ali Center continues with a Louisville-inspired dinner menu, bluegrass music, and a tour of the museum. Courtesy of Diamond Sponsor McBrayer 6/15 7:00 am – 12:00 pm ARCHIBALD FOYER – 3rd Floor West Tower Registration Desk Open Grab your conference badge and goodies! Copyright Society volunteers will be available to answer any questions. 6/15 7:30 am – 8:30 am WALKER’S EXCHANGE – 2nd Floor West Tower, Galt House Breakfast Join us in Walker’s Exchange Restaurant for a breakfast buffet before sessions. 6/15 8:45 am – 9:00 am ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower Welcome 6/15 9:00 am – 10:00 am ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower View from the U.S. Copyright Office Our not-to-be-missed annual update on recent developments and upcoming initiatives at the U.S. Copyright Office from the Register of Copyrights. 6/15 10:00 am – 10:20 am CONSVERATORY – 3rd Floor Between West and East Towers 20-Minute Coffee Break If you need a mid-morning pick-me-up, head to the Conservatory down the hall for light refreshments. 6/15 10:25 am – 11:25 am ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower Vetting Vetter: Berne, Termination, and the Novel Theory That Could Change Everything Copyright termination has long been understood as a domestic remedy, a mechanism for U.S. creators to reclaim rights granted under U.S. law. The Vetter litigation has upended that assumption, with the Fifth Circuit now holding that a valid termination notice may reach not just domestic rights but a creator’s copyright interests worldwide. That result has drawn sharp criticism, but the critics’ argument rests on a prior question about international copyright architecture that neither the courts nor the commentators have fully resolved. This panel will work through what the Fifth Circuit actually held, where the analysis is strong, where it remains vulnerable, and what are the practical implications that practitioners need to be thinking about right now. 6/15 11:25 am – 11:35 am ARCHIBALD FOYER – 3rd Floor West Tower 10-Minute Break Coffee, tea, and water will be available outside of the general session space. 6/15 11:40 am – 12:40 pm ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower Politicization of Copyright For years, the copyright landscape was seen as a largely apolitical and technocratic terrain, with the relevant axis for division not being liberal versus conservative, but rather “copyright” versus “copyleft,” terms which did not neatly correlate with party affiliation. In recent years, the traditional axes of debate have been somewhat reconfigured, with copyright increasingly entangled in broader ideological and partisan conflicts. This panel will examine how these conflicts have manifested—including through the Trump Administration’s engagement with copyright in the context of AI policy and its interest in the institutional positioning of the Copyright Office and Library of Congress—and ask whether this signals a more enduring shift. It will also explore the degree to which this is a uniquely American phenomenon, or whether battles over the DSM Copyright Directive and the AI Act in Europe tell a similar story. 6/15 12:45 pm – 2:00 pm COCHRAN BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower Luncheon and Annual Members’ Meeting 6/15 2:15 pm – 5:30 pm Kentucky Derby Museum 704 Central Ave, Louisville, KY 40208 Private Tour of the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs Want to learn what it takes to make a champion racehorse? Join this exclusive tour of Churchill Downs and a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum. Itinerary includes a film in the Great Hall, a tour of the gardens and grounds with Matt Bizzell from the Greenhouse, visit to the Museum Stable to see a miniature horse and resident thoroughbred, plus time to explore the exhibits and Museum Store. Anticipate at least one hour of walking and standing–comfortable shoes recommended. Tickets: $65 per person (includes transportation) Limited to 50 people. Tour departs at 2:15pm from the ground-floor West Tower Lobby. Return shuttle departs the Museum at 5:00pm and arrives back to the Galt House at 5:30pm. 6/15 2:45 pm – 6:00 pm 38th Annual Kate McKay Tennis Tournament Grab your rackets and get ready to play in this fun and friendly tennis tournament. A tennis pro will be onsite to help arrange brackets and keep score. Tickets: $125 per person (includes transportation and professional tennis instructor) Shuttle bus departs at 2:45pm from the ground-floor West Tower Lobby. 5:45pm Return shuttle to the Galt House. Sponsored by Shades of Gray Law Group, P.C. 6/15 2:45 pm – 5:30 pm Peerless Distillery, 120 N 10th St, Louisville, KY 40202 Tour and Bourbon Tasting at Peerless Distillery Originally operating as Worsham Distilling Company, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company began in Henderson, Kentucky in the early 1880s. The Peerless distillery houses six fermentation tanks, a 3,800-gallon beer well, and a one-of-a-kind 26-foot continuous copper still made locally by Vendome Copper & Brass Works. The 2,500-gallon Peerless cooker holds the finest corn, rye, barley, and Kentucky limestone water. Enjoy behind-the-scenes access with this distillery tour and experience how Peerless Distilling Company crafts some of the finest bourbon and rye whiskey from grain to bottle. Tickets: $65 per person (includes transportation and tasting). Must be 21+ to participate. Limited to 26 people. Shuttle bus departs at 2:45pm from the ground-floor West Tower Lobby. Return shuttle to the Galt House at 4:30pm. 6/15 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Red Fern Riding Center located at Shelby Trails Park, 5063 Aiken Rd, Simpsonville, KY 40067 Horseback Ride at Red Fern Riding Center Enjoy the great outdoors on a group horseback trail ride led by Red Fern Riding Center. The trail ride will last about one hour and everything needed for the ride will be provided. Must wear comfortable clothing and close-toed shoes. Tickets: $110 per person (includes transportation) Limited to 10 people. Shuttle bus departs at 3:00pm from the ground-floor West Tower Lobby with a 3:45pm arrival at the Riding Center. Shuttle is estimated to arrive back at the Galt House at 5:45pm. Sponsored by Cowan DeBaets Arahams & Seppard LLP 6/15 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Misfits & Mayhem Walking Tour Enjoy a private guided walking tour through downtown Louisville—a city rife with stories of misfits and mayhem with your friendly poet-guide. Highlights include: * Signature welcome cocktail and complimentary souvenirs * Secrets of famous hotels such as 21c and the Seelbach * History of Whiskey Row and Fourth Street * Founders Square and City Hall * River views from the Belvedere * Photo opportunities at iconic city landmarks * Downtown’s most visited attractions and architectural gems * Monuments for pivotal moments in Derby City history * Loads of cheesy poems Tickets: $65 per person. Limited to 30 people. Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Meet at 3:15pm at the ground-floor West Tower Lobby. Tour departs at 3:30pm and will return to the Galt House at around 5:30pm. 6/15 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Old Louisville Historic Walking Tour Enjoy a private guided walking tour through Old Louisville—America’s Grandest Victorian Neighborhood with an expert guide. Highlights include: * Historic Ormsby Avenue and Floral Terrace * Charming cottages of Park Avenue * A famous local legend at the Witches’ Tree * Central Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted * The main residential enclave of the neighborhood, St. James Court * Photo opportunity at the iconic St. James Court Fountain * Hidden gas-lit walking courts such as Belgravia Court * Monument for the Southern Exposition of 1883 and Louisville’s first suburb * Grand homes built by bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and titans of tobacco * Complimentary souvenirs Tickets: $65 per person (includes transportation) Limited to 30 people. Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Meet at 3:15pm at the ground-floor West Tower Lobby. Tour bus departs 3:30pm. Anticipated return to the Galt House at 6:00pm. 6/15 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Private Tour of the Louisville Sluggers Museum & Factory No trip to Louisville would be complete without a visit to the Sluggers Museum and Bat Factory! Includes a 35-minute guided tour through the factory, a trip into the Bat Vault, Heart of the Game film in the Museum Theater, plus an 18-inch souvenir bat at the end of the tour. 3:00pm – Meet at ground floor West Tower Lobby for 15-minute walk to Sluggers Museum 3:20pm – Arrive and check-in 3:40pm – Tour begins 5:30pm – Anticipated end time, 15-minute walk back to Galt House Tickets: $25 per person. Limited to 45 people. Please wear comfortable shoes. 6/15 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Optional Dine-Arounds Connect with fellow conference attendees and experience local Louisville flavors at select restaurants around the city. Sign-ups will open June 1st. 6/15 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm Afterparty Join us after dine-arounds for a casual afterparty. More details coming soon. 6/16 7:00 am – 12:00 pm ARCHIBALD FOYER – 3rd Floor West Tower Registration Desk Open Grab your conference badge and goodies! Copyright Society volunteers will be available to answer any questions. 6/16 7:30 am – 8:30 am WALKER’S EXCHANGE – 2nd Floor West Tower, Galt House Breakfast Join us in Walker’s Exchange Restaurant for a breakfast buffet before sessions. 6/16 8:45 am – 9:00 am ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower Welcome 6/16 9:00 am – 10:00 am ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower The Lessons on Copyright Revision 50 Years On Fifty years after the landmark 1976 Copyright Act, what still holds up—and what’s been left behind? Professors Jeanne Fromer (NYU) and Bob Brauneis (George Washington University) revisit the key decisions that shaped modern copyright law, exploring which principles remain relevant and which have been overtaken by technological change and evolving business models. The discussion also looks back at the collaborative legislative process that made sweeping reform possible—and how that process has shifted over time. In today’s AI-driven landscape, they’ll examine whether modern policymaking can keep pace with innovation and what that means for the future of copyright. 6/16 10:00 am – 10:20 am CONSERVATORY – 3rd Floor Between West and East Towers 20-Minute Coffee Break If you need a mid-morning pick-me-up, head to the Conservatory down the hall for light refreshments. 6/16 10:30 am – 12:00 pm ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower Recent Developments in Copyright Join us for a fast-paced, action-packed review of the year’s most important copyright developments worldwide. A highlight of every Annual Meeting! 6/16 12:00 pm – 12:15 pm ARCHIBALD FOYER – 3rd Floor West Tower 15-Minute Break Coffee, tea, and water will be available in the registration area outside the general session space. 6/16 12:15 pm – 12:25 pm ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower Photo Contest Awards Presentation 6/16 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm ARCHIBALD BALLROOM – 3rd Floor West Tower Decoding Cox v. Sony and the New Era of Secondary Copyright Infringement On March 25, 2026, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment, reversing a $1 billion judgment and clarifying the standards for contributory copyright infringement. In a unanimous opinion, the Court held that providing internet access to known repeat infringers does not, by itself, constitute contributory liability. Instead, plaintiffs must now prove specific intent by demonstrating that a service provider either affirmatively induced infringement or provided a service specifically “tailored” to it. Join our panel of experts as they explore the real world implications of this decision. Is this the end of contributory infringement liability in copyright cases? How does vicarious liability fit in? And where do rights holders go from here when facing large-scale online infringement?
