The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments this week over the constitutionality of a 1998 law that extended copyright protection by 20 years. Experts on both sides of the closely watched case say that its outcome could reshape the way cultural products are consumed and how their profits are divided. Lawrence Lessig will argue that copyright law touches everyone who has an Internet connection, which makes it more important than ever to adhere to the limits the Constitution intended to place on the duration of copyrights. The government will say that no one, including the Supreme Court, can impose an arbitrary definition of "limited times." Jack Valenti: "Who is going to digitize these public domain movies? To digitize a movie costs a huge amount of money." The case has attracted 38 friend-of-the-court briefs. In an elaborate demonstration, Brewster Kahle, the founder of the nonprofit Internet Archive in San Francisco, is driving across the country in a van that has an Internet-linked satellite antenna on top and a laser printer inside. Lawrence Lessig goes to Washington. Be sure to tune in this week for what should be a good Court session. NPR generally has very good coverage of Supreme Court hearings. The hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, October 9. The docket number is 01-618. Court to Review Copyright Law | 
