Advance Announcement of Decision Day

[Conkle, Daniel O.]

As noted below, beneath my signature information, the 9th Circuit rendered
its decision in the Napster case today, as the court had announced over the
weekend that it would do.  My question relates to the advance
announcement--to the media and others--that the decision would be coming
down today.  If I recall correctly, the Florida Supreme Court may have done
something similar at one or more stages of the Bush-Gore litigation.

Why isn't this practice more common than it is?  In the context of a
high-profile case, it would seem to help the media in providing informed
coverage.  It also would seem a courtesy to the lawyers in the case,
permitting them to be ready to advise their clients of the decision's
meaning, etc.  Why don't we see more of this?  Would it be a good idea for
the U.S. Supreme Court?  Are there problems I haven't thought of?  For
example, would it somehow increase the risk of leaks?

Dan Conkle
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Daniel O. Conkle
Professor of Law
Indiana University School of Law
Bloomington, Indiana  47405
(812) 855-4331
fax (812) 855-0555
mailto:conkle at indiana.edu
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Court Says Napster Must Stop

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  - A federal appeals court ruled Monday that the
music-swapping service Napster must stop trading in copyrighted material and
may be held liable for ``vicarious copyright infringement.''

The full story can be found at

http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/high_tech/1700/2-12-2001/2001021218153662
0.html