HAMILTON'S COPYRIGHT AND THE ELECTION OF 1800.

The article tells the story of the confidential, copyrighted pamphlet authored by statesman Alexander Hamilton aimed at unseating then U.S. President John Adams from the Federalist Party, but which was leaked to the political opposition during the 1800 election. Topics discussed include First Amendment protections for political speech, infringement or permitted political speech, and implications of Hamilton's copyrighted pamphlet for copyright doctrine and constitutional interpretation.