The United States Supreme Court famously labeled copyright "the engine of free expression" because it provides a vital economic incentive for much of the literature, commentary, music, art, and film that makes up our public discourse.

In Copyright's Paradox, Neil Weinstock Netanel explores the tensions between copyright law and free speech, revealing how copyright can impose unacceptable burdens on expression. Netanel provides concrete illustrations of how copyright often prevents speakers from conveying their message, tracing this conflict across both traditional and digital media and considering current controversies such as copying culture rampant on YouTube and MySpace, digital sampling, and the Google Book Search litigation.