SEITZ DECISION Meaning and
Definition
-
The "Seitz decision" refers to a landmark ruling made by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in the case of In Re Seitz. This decision, issued in 1973, established the legal framework for determining whether a work is considered a "work made for hire" under the Copyright Act of 1976.
The Seitz decision defined a "work made for hire" as a work created by an employee within the scope of their employment or a specially commissioned work falling within one of the nine enumerated categories specified in the Copyright Act. This ruling was significant as it clarified the distinction between an independent contractor and an employee with regard to copyright ownership.
The court set forth two critical factors for determining whether an employment relationship exists: control and supervision exercised by the hiring party and the specific nature of the hired work. The decision further emphasized that if a work fell outside the categories listed in the Copyright Act's definition of "work made for hire" and was created by an independent contractor, the copyright ownership would vest with the creator rather than the employer or commissioning party.
The Seitz decision provided a framework that has been widely followed in subsequent court cases and has become an essential reference point for determining copyright ownership in works created by individuals on behalf of others. Its impact has been significant in guiding the legal interpretation of the Copyright Act and resolving disputes related to copyright ownership in various industries, particularly in the realm of creative works.
Etymology of SEITZ DECISION
The term Seitz decision refers to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Seitz v. Brewers' Home, Inc. The etymology of this term can be traced back to the last names of the parties involved in the case. The plaintiff, Mary Ann Seitz, brought a lawsuit against Brewers' Home, Inc., a liquor establishment in Pennsylvania. The case revolved around the issue of a discriminatory gender-based drinking age, where men were allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages at the age of 18, while women had to be 21. The decision rendered by the Supreme Court in 1976, which declared the gender-based drinking age requirements unconstitutional, is commonly referred to as the Seitz decision.
