Question 1

Copyright law protects all forms of intellectual property.

Accepted Answer

Copyright law specifically protects original works of authorship such as books, music, and films, but not all forms of intellectual property, which also include patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Question 2

If someone wants to legally use the copyright-protected work of another, one way is to get permission.

Accepted Answer

Obtaining permission from the copyright holder allows for the legal use of their work, typically through a license agreement.

Question 3

The assignment of rights is just another way to describe the granting of permission to use copyrighted work.

Accepted Answer

The assignment of rights involves transferring ownership or rights from one party to another, while granting permission to use copyrighted work typically refers to licensing, where the copyright holder allows others to use the work under specific conditions without transferring ownership.

Question 4

Any theft of copyright-protected work is called copy-banditry..

Accepted Answer

The correct term for the theft of copyright-protected work is "copyright infringement," not "copy-banditry."

Question 5

The theft of copyright-protected material for the purpose of making money is called copy-larceny..

Accepted Answer

The correct term for the theft of copyright-protected material, especially for commercial gain, is typically referred to as copyright infringement or piracy, not copy-larceny.

Question 6

The assignment of rights is the transfer of ownership interest in a piece of intellectual property.

Accepted Answer

The assignment of rights involves transferring the ownership interest in intellectual property from one party to another, effectively changing who holds the rights to the property.

Question 7

An infringement is a violation of copyright.

Accepted Answer

An infringement occurs when someone uses copyrighted material without permission, violating the copyright holder's exclusive rights.

Question 8

Grokster started a project to digitize books for an online index.

Accepted Answer

Grokster was a peer-to-peer file-sharing company and did not start a project to digitize books for an online index.

Question 9

The Google Print Library Project would digitize and index all newspapers, magazines and books of the 20^th Century.

Accepted Answer

The Google Print Library Project, now known as Google Books, aimed to digitize books and make them searchable online, but it did not specifically target newspapers and magazines, nor is it focused on materials from the "20^th Century," which appears to be a typographical error.

Question 10

The Recording Industry Association of America has decided not to pursue legal action against college students who illegally download music.

Accepted Answer

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has pursued legal action against college students and others for illegally downloading music as part of its efforts to combat piracy.

Question 11

It is estimated that more than half of all college students illegally download music and movies.

Accepted Answer

Studies and surveys have shown that a significant portion of college students engage in the illegal downloading of music and movies, with some estimates suggesting that over half of college students participate in this activity. This is attributed to factors such as the ease of access to illegal download sites, the high cost of legal alternatives, and a lack of enforcement or perceived consequences.

Question 12

The Recording Industry Association of America is e-mailing individuals to inform them of their legal liability for violating federal copyright laws by unlawfully downloading or sharing music.

Accepted Answer

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the interests of the major record labels in the United States. The RIAA has been actively involved in the fight against music piracy, and has filed lawsuits against individuals who have illegally downloaded or shared music.

Question 13

People who are known to have illegally downloaded music are receiving pre-litigation notices from the music industry warning them to pay an out-of-court settlement of several thousand dollars now or be sued in court for copyright violation.

Accepted Answer

The music industry has been known to send pre-litigation notices to individuals suspected of illegally downloading music, offering them the option to settle out of court for a sum of money to avoid being sued for copyright infringement. This practice aims to combat piracy and recover losses due to illegal downloads.

Question 14

The First Amendment brought the United States into line with nations worldwide in guaranteeing free expression.

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment, adopted in 1791, was among the first legal guarantees of free expression and press freedoms, setting a precedent rather than bringing the U.S. into line with existing global standards at the time.

Question 15

News media are called the third branch of government.

Accepted Answer

The news media are often referred to as the "fourth estate," not the third branch of government. The three branches of government are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Question 16

The Alien and Sedition acts made it illegal to criticize government leaders and policies.

Accepted Answer

The Alien and Sedition Acts, passed in 1798, included provisions that made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials, effectively making it illegal to criticize government leaders and policies.

Question 17

Charles Schenck and Elizabeth Baer were arrested for distributing anti-war pamphlets about the Vietnam War.

Accepted Answer

Charles Schenck was arrested for distributing anti-war pamphlets during World War I, not the Vietnam War. Elizabeth Baer is not associated with this case; Schenck's case led to the 1919 Supreme Court decision Schenck v. United States.

Question 18

In the Supreme Court's ruling on Near v. Minnesota, prior restraint was banned except in extraordinary circumstances such as life-or-death situations or wartime.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court's ruling in Near v. Minnesota (1931) established that prior restraint—government action to prohibit speech or publication before it occurs—is generally unconstitutional, except under extraordinary circumstances, such as issues involving national security during wartime or situations that could lead to immediate violence or harm.

Question 19

Prior restraint is prohibiting expression in advance.

Accepted Answer

Prior restraint refers to government actions that prevent speech or expression before it occurs, typically seen as a violation of free speech rights under the First Amendment in the U.S.

Question 20

Clarence Brandenburg spoke at a Ku Klux Klan rally and was arrested because he said hateful and threatening things. His conviction was later overturned because his speech was far-fetched and not considered an imminent threat.

Accepted Answer

Clarence Brandenburg's conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), which established that speech is protected under the First Amendment unless it incites imminent lawless action. His speech was deemed not to pose an imminent threat.

Quiz 16: Media Law