James Joyce Estate to Pay Scholar's $240K Legal Bill in Fair Use Battle
In a settlement that may encourage other academics to push for their right to make fair use of excerpts of published material in their scholarly writing, the estate of famed author James Joyce has agreed to pay a $240,000 legal bill racked up by an English professor at Stanford University during a decade-long battle over her book on James’ daughter.
However, Greg Castanias, a Jones Day partner who represented the estate in an appeal of a $326,000 federal district court attorney fee award, characterized the settlement as something of a victory for the estate. It is, he points out, for substantially less than the May award and the cost of an appeal, reports the National Law Journal.
“This is a breakthrough for all scholars,” says professor Carol Schloss in a written statement. “In the past we haven’t had easy access to the legal system, or the means to vindicate our rights in the face of legal threats. Now it turns out maybe we do.”
She was represented in the Northern District of California case by lawyers from Stanford Law School’s Fair Use Project, Keker & Van Nest and Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin.
Additional coverage:
The Human Experience: “Carol Schloss: On Fair Use Rights”
Center for Internet and Society: “Joyce Estate Pays $240,000 In Attorneys’ Fees To Shloss And Her Counsel”
