Pennsylvania Court Rules Posting Copyrighted Technical Standards as Fair Use, Impacting Future Access to Codes

A Pennsylvania federal judge has delivered a significant ruling in favor of a website hosting ASTM’s copyrighted technical standards, asserting that posting these building codes falls under fair use. The case arose when the American Society for Testing and Materials aimed to prevent the distribution of their standards online, arguing copyright infringement. However, the judge determined the use was justified, allowing the website to continue its activities. This ruling has implications for how legal frameworks surrounding technical standards are interpreted and could influence future copyright cases involving public access to technical documents.