Andy Warhol silkscreen of Prince faces Supreme Court scrutiny in copyright dispute
CBSN
Washington — The Supreme Court on Wednesday wrestled with a copyright fight between rock-and-roll photographer Lynn Goldsmith and the Andy Warhol Foundation over the late artist's use of her 1981 photo of Prince as the basis for a silkscreen image.
The case could have ramifications for the entertainment industry and creators drawing inspiration from pre-existing works, and across more than 90 minutes of oral arguments, the justices invoked a number of cultural references, from "Lord of the Rings" to Norman Lear television shows to the Mona Lisa.
The court is weighing the foundation's claims that Warhol did not violate federal copyright law when he based a set of 16 silkscreens and sketches on Goldsmith's photo of Prince (who Justice Clarence Thomas revealed he was a fan of in the 1980s).
