LF logo
by learnformula
search
Log in
search
Courses/Law/Intellectual Property Law

Is Copyright Law Racist and Sexist?

This copyright program for any generalist, or IP practitioner, is a fascinating walk on the wild side of copyright, asking if copyright law operates systematically to be sexist or racist.

Created byNew Media Legal Publishing, Inc.
IntermediateUpdated Oct 23, 2025
Is Copyright Law Racist and Sexist?

What You'll Learn

check_circleAnalyze copyright law's impact on race and gender.
check_circleExplore the definition of “author” and the intent behind co-authorship rules.
check_circleExamine landmark cases such as the 1860s slave photograph case and the Erin Andrews case.
check_circleStudy derivative works through the Hitler/Mein Kampf case.
check_circleEvaluate proposed reforms aimed at improving the copyright system.
check_circleIdentify and address systemic biases embedded in copyright legislation.

About This Course

Did you know that Hitler’s publisher sued in 1939 in an American federal court to obtain a copyright injunction to stop a version of his book Mein Kampf? This copyright program, for any generalist or IP practitioner, is a fascinating walk on the wild side of copyright, asking whether copyright law operates systematically in a way that is sexist or racist.

Featuring an interview with John Tehranian about his book The Secret Life of Copyright, the program examines fascinating and unusual copyright cases—from Harvard claiming copyright in an 1860s photograph of an enslaved person, to Hitler invoking equity jurisdiction, to victims of illegally recorded nude videos not owning their copyrights and therefore being unable to stop online copies, to a suicide note posted online, which the deceased’s wife had removed using copyright law.

Through our interview, we explore copyright authorship standards, co-ownership rules, and derivative work rules, along with a general copyright overview so the program is accessible to anyone, to see where these laws may not be working or may be operating to the disadvantage of minority groups. The interview also offers proposals for reform.

Your Instructors

New Media Legal Publishing, Inc.
New Media Legal Publishing, Inc.

Legal Technology & Education

menu_book216 courses
star1,491 reviews

New Media Legal Publishing, Inc. is a legal publishing company based in Los Angeles, California, that develops, produces, markets, and distributes innovative legal education content for law firms and companies. For more information about NMLP and its products, please visit  http://www.newmedialegal.com .

Peter  Afrasiabi
Peter Afrasiabi

Founding Partner at One, LLP

Peter Afrasiabi is a founding partner at One LLP and focuses his practice on copyright, patent, trademark, and entertainment litigation. In addition, Peter is a professor and the Director of the Appellate Clinic at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. Peter graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Credit Information

What Students Are Saying

0.0
Student's Choice
0 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.