Brandon Butler
@bb.usefairuse.com
Copyright lawyer at Jaszi Butler PLLC, Exec Director @recreatecoalition.bsky.social, dad. Press inquiries: press@recreatecoalition.com.
Pinned
Brandon Butler
@bb.usefairuse.com
· Feb 5
🖊️As the new administration finalizes its policy agenda, Executive Director @bbutler.bsky.social sent a letter to Congress outlining the best policies to support a balanced copyright system. Read the letter here: www.recreatecoalition.org/advancing-a-...
Advancing a Pro-Innovation, Pro-Creator, Pro-Consumer Copyright Agenda - Re:Create
Re:Create is a coalition founded to engage policymakers and the public on how balanced copyright enables free expression, creativity, and innovation. Collectively, the members of Re:Create represent o...
www.recreatecoalition.org
Our policy priorities for 2025! Read on for a thread with the high points, or follow the link for the full New Congress Letter, released today.
YES
Let's be clear about the CLEAR Act: it's 1) premature at best, purposeless at worst; 2) certain to chill gen AI development; and 3) a new nuclear option © owners could use to literally block the release of a new gen AI model without proving any violation of the Copyright Act:🧵👀
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 PM
YES
Love everything about this.
Charity fight between Mayor Jackson and Muhammed Ali.
“Those trunks he had saved him because he had them too high," Ali said. "He came with the trunks up to his breast, therefore I couldn’t hit him in the effective spots ‘cause he’s so big, he’s like a balloon, and if you hit him he’ll bust."
“Those trunks he had saved him because he had them too high," Ali said. "He came with the trunks up to his breast, therefore I couldn’t hit him in the effective spots ‘cause he’s so big, he’s like a balloon, and if you hit him he’ll bust."
My favorite Atlanta photo ever
February 11, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Love everything about this.
Odds of an AI company buying this are 100%!
February 11, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Odds of an AI company buying this are 100%!
Reposted by Brandon Butler
The CLEAR Act would stifle America’s competitive advantage in AI. Creating an overburdensome “disclosure” requirement for legal activity would:
🔎Chill academic and non-profit research
💡Drain resources from startups
📉Dismantle our innovation ecosystem
Read the full statement from @bb.usefairuse.com:
🔎Chill academic and non-profit research
💡Drain resources from startups
📉Dismantle our innovation ecosystem
Read the full statement from @bb.usefairuse.com:
Re:Create Opposes the Introduction of the Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting (CLEAR) Act - Re:Create
Washington, D.C. – Today, following the introduction of the Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting (CLEAR) Act by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and John Curtis (R-UT), Re:Create Executive Dire...
recreatecoalition.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:55 PM
The CLEAR Act would stifle America’s competitive advantage in AI. Creating an overburdensome “disclosure” requirement for legal activity would:
🔎Chill academic and non-profit research
💡Drain resources from startups
📉Dismantle our innovation ecosystem
Read the full statement from @bb.usefairuse.com:
🔎Chill academic and non-profit research
💡Drain resources from startups
📉Dismantle our innovation ecosystem
Read the full statement from @bb.usefairuse.com:
The same is true of fair use. Subjecting AI training to copyright control won't necessarily deter big companies, but it will squash everybody else. Lorenz gets this fundamentally, and does an amazing job explaining it, IMO.
February 10, 2026 at 1:40 PM
The same is true of fair use. Subjecting AI training to copyright control won't necessarily deter big companies, but it will squash everybody else. Lorenz gets this fundamentally, and does an amazing job explaining it, IMO.
focusing instead on moral panics and false promises that destroying these protections for free speech will somehow hurt the companies and people that you dislike. Lorenz explains why killing 230 protection would actually help "Big Tech" and harm small and independent voices.
February 10, 2026 at 1:40 PM
focusing instead on moral panics and false promises that destroying these protections for free speech will somehow hurt the companies and people that you dislike. Lorenz explains why killing 230 protection would actually help "Big Tech" and harm small and independent voices.
The threat to 230 is clearly more grave at the moment, but there is absolutely a similar movement afoot to undermine fair use in the context of AI. And it uses the same rhetorical strategy as attacks on 230, ignoring the deep principals of free speech and
February 10, 2026 at 1:40 PM
The threat to 230 is clearly more grave at the moment, but there is absolutely a similar movement afoot to undermine fair use in the context of AI. And it uses the same rhetorical strategy as attacks on 230, ignoring the deep principals of free speech and
There are obvious parallels between Section 230 and fair use. Both are vital to the protection of a thriving information ecosystem, and both are under attack because they enable speech and technologies that some ppl don't like.
February 10, 2026 at 1:40 PM
There are obvious parallels between Section 230 and fair use. Both are vital to the protection of a thriving information ecosystem, and both are under attack because they enable speech and technologies that some ppl don't like.
I love @TaylorLorenz.bsky.social's combination of passion and erudition about Section 230 in this video. If you don't know the 230 story (or you just want a refresher), this series looks like a must-watch. Episode 1 is live here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eq...
They Are Trying To Kill The Internet
🚨 URGENT: Section 230 is under attack and it affects EVERY person who uses the internet. This is part 1 of my deep-dive series exposing the truth about the ...
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:40 PM
I love @TaylorLorenz.bsky.social's combination of passion and erudition about Section 230 in this video. If you don't know the 230 story (or you just want a refresher), this series looks like a must-watch. Episode 1 is live here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eq...
Reposted by Brandon Butler
Don't miss next week's Re:Create recap where Executive Director @bb.usefairuse.com breaks down the latest copyright policy developments. Sign up here: mailchi.mp/recreatecoal...
Re:Create Recap
mailchi.mp
February 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Don't miss next week's Re:Create recap where Executive Director @bb.usefairuse.com breaks down the latest copyright policy developments. Sign up here: mailchi.mp/recreatecoal...
Reposted by Brandon Butler
Exact copies can be transformative, politician edition
I’m Analilia Mejia and I approve this message.
February 8, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Exact copies can be transformative, politician edition
Reposted by Brandon Butler
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is supporting The Heritage Foundation's tech policy agenda, boosting a proposed law by Lindsey Graham that would mass deplatform LGBTQ people and censor abortion content from the internet. And he's trying to frame it as progressive!
Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Capitol Hill Disaster
YouTube video by Taylor Lorenz Livestreams
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is supporting The Heritage Foundation's tech policy agenda, boosting a proposed law by Lindsey Graham that would mass deplatform LGBTQ people and censor abortion content from the internet. And he's trying to frame it as progressive!
Reposted by Brandon Butler
Join ARL & @recreatecoalition.bsky.social for a congressional staff briefing during #FairUseWeek, Wed Feb 25 in DC, on #AI & #FairUse!
RSVP: bit.ly/FUW26briefing
@authorsalliance.bsky.social @nyulaw.bsky.social @eff.org @bb.usefairuse.com @davehansen.bsky.social @ktrendacosta.bsky.social
RSVP: bit.ly/FUW26briefing
@authorsalliance.bsky.social @nyulaw.bsky.social @eff.org @bb.usefairuse.com @davehansen.bsky.social @ktrendacosta.bsky.social
Fair Use Week Congressional Briefing Hosted by ARL and Re:Create — Association of Research Libraries
Join the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and Re:Create Coalition for a congressional staff briefing in Washington, DC, during Fair Use Week. The briefing will highlight perspectives on AI and....
www.arl.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Join ARL & @recreatecoalition.bsky.social for a congressional staff briefing during #FairUseWeek, Wed Feb 25 in DC, on #AI & #FairUse!
RSVP: bit.ly/FUW26briefing
@authorsalliance.bsky.social @nyulaw.bsky.social @eff.org @bb.usefairuse.com @davehansen.bsky.social @ktrendacosta.bsky.social
RSVP: bit.ly/FUW26briefing
@authorsalliance.bsky.social @nyulaw.bsky.social @eff.org @bb.usefairuse.com @davehansen.bsky.social @ktrendacosta.bsky.social
Of course the biggest shared cultural event of the year is also massively fueled by fair use! Happy #fairusefriday!
This year, some brands couldn’t wait for the Big Game (ahem) to drop their Big Ads, and everybody’s already talking about it — with fair use screenshots and clips galore. Check out this great example from @arstechnica.com: arstechnica.com/information-...
OpenAI is hoppin' mad about Anthropic's new Super Bowl TV ads
Sam Altman calls AI competitor "dishonest" and "authoritarian" in lengthy post on X.
arstechnica.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Of course the biggest shared cultural event of the year is also massively fueled by fair use! Happy #fairusefriday!
What matters for fair use is the transformative purpose of the tool, and taking reasonable security steps to prevent its misuse. AI models generally pass these tests with flying colors. Read more: recreatecoalition.org/a-note-from...
February 4, 2026 at 3:49 PM
What matters for fair use is the transformative purpose of the tool, and taking reasonable security steps to prevent its misuse. AI models generally pass these tests with flying colors. Read more: recreatecoalition.org/a-note-from...
In that case, the Google Books database undoubtedly "contained" millions of books. And you didn't need a computer science degree to trick the interface into spitting out portions of the works in the database. Judge Leval was not deterred from finding fair use.
February 4, 2026 at 3:49 PM
In that case, the Google Books database undoubtedly "contained" millions of books. And you didn't need a computer science degree to trick the interface into spitting out portions of the works in the database. Judge Leval was not deterred from finding fair use.
In the latest Re:Create Recap note, I explain how the work of computer science researchers tricking AI models into spitting out copies of training data doesn't have the dire legal consequences some commentators advertise. We know because the 2nd Circuit said so in Google Books.
February 4, 2026 at 3:49 PM
In the latest Re:Create Recap note, I explain how the work of computer science researchers tricking AI models into spitting out copies of training data doesn't have the dire legal consequences some commentators advertise. We know because the 2nd Circuit said so in Google Books.
This is your biweekly reminder that if you're not signed up for the Re:Create ReCap, you should be! Commentary from me, copyright news and events, and every issue includes a recommended longread! This week's is Ed Lee on the Constitutional infirmity of "market dilution" theory.
Don’t miss insights from @bb.usefairuse.com in today’s Re:Create recap. Today’s edition includes:
📚The Google Book’s case AI application
❌Opposition to VACRA
📅The countdown to fair use week
Read more: mailchi.mp/recreatecoal...
📚The Google Book’s case AI application
❌Opposition to VACRA
📅The countdown to fair use week
Read more: mailchi.mp/recreatecoal...
ReCreate Recap February 3, 2026
mailchi.mp
February 4, 2026 at 2:38 PM
This is your biweekly reminder that if you're not signed up for the Re:Create ReCap, you should be! Commentary from me, copyright news and events, and every issue includes a recommended longread! This week's is Ed Lee on the Constitutional infirmity of "market dilution" theory.
Reposted by Brandon Butler
Journalists don’t just report from the web anymore—they report on it 🕵️♀️
Learn 9 Ways Web Archives Are Used In Digital Investigations on how reporters track deleted pages, uncover hidden connections, document edits & follow what vanishes,
Read FOLLOW THE CHANGES ➡️ blog.archive.org/2026/02/02/f...
Learn 9 Ways Web Archives Are Used In Digital Investigations on how reporters track deleted pages, uncover hidden connections, document edits & follow what vanishes,
Read FOLLOW THE CHANGES ➡️ blog.archive.org/2026/02/02/f...
February 3, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Journalists don’t just report from the web anymore—they report on it 🕵️♀️
Learn 9 Ways Web Archives Are Used In Digital Investigations on how reporters track deleted pages, uncover hidden connections, document edits & follow what vanishes,
Read FOLLOW THE CHANGES ➡️ blog.archive.org/2026/02/02/f...
Learn 9 Ways Web Archives Are Used In Digital Investigations on how reporters track deleted pages, uncover hidden connections, document edits & follow what vanishes,
Read FOLLOW THE CHANGES ➡️ blog.archive.org/2026/02/02/f...
Reposted by Brandon Butler
Don’t miss insights from @bb.usefairuse.com in today’s Re:Create recap. Today’s edition includes:
📚The Google Book’s case AI application
❌Opposition to VACRA
📅The countdown to fair use week
Read more: mailchi.mp/recreatecoal...
📚The Google Book’s case AI application
❌Opposition to VACRA
📅The countdown to fair use week
Read more: mailchi.mp/recreatecoal...
ReCreate Recap February 3, 2026
mailchi.mp
February 3, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Don’t miss insights from @bb.usefairuse.com in today’s Re:Create recap. Today’s edition includes:
📚The Google Book’s case AI application
❌Opposition to VACRA
📅The countdown to fair use week
Read more: mailchi.mp/recreatecoal...
📚The Google Book’s case AI application
❌Opposition to VACRA
📅The countdown to fair use week
Read more: mailchi.mp/recreatecoal...
They don't even have a sponsor, yet, much less any momentum on the Hill, so this is mostly just a useful glimpse into the fantasy world of the IAB. It looks like this:
February 3, 2026 at 5:05 PM
They don't even have a sponsor, yet, much less any momentum on the Hill, so this is mostly just a useful glimpse into the fantasy world of the IAB. It looks like this:
The IAB proposal would nullify both fair use and the fact/expression dichotomy, which the Supreme Court has said are the "traditional contours of copyright" that ensure First Amendment values are preserved; it would trigger strict scrutiny, and fail.
www.mediapost.com/publication...
www.mediapost.com/publication...
MediaDailyNews: IAB Unveils Draft Bill Aimed At AI Scraping
"If we keep the status quo where AI bots can leverage publisher content at will, the internet will become a shadow of itself," IAB CEO David Cohen said Monday at the group's annual meeting.
www.mediapost.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:05 PM
The IAB proposal would nullify both fair use and the fact/expression dichotomy, which the Supreme Court has said are the "traditional contours of copyright" that ensure First Amendment values are preserved; it would trigger strict scrutiny, and fail.
www.mediapost.com/publication...
www.mediapost.com/publication...
from Clockwork Orange where they strap Alex to a chair and wedge his eyelids open. You don't decide what information you see online, when or how, we do!
February 3, 2026 at 5:05 PM
from Clockwork Orange where they strap Alex to a chair and wedge his eyelids open. You don't decide what information you see online, when or how, we do!
It's no accident that when lobbyists for online advertisers (Big Pop Up?) write their dream bill to turn the internet into a wholly monetized hellscape where they decide how you browse, the first thing they do is kill fair use. It's One Weird Trick to turn the Web into that scene
February 3, 2026 at 5:05 PM
It's no accident that when lobbyists for online advertisers (Big Pop Up?) write their dream bill to turn the internet into a wholly monetized hellscape where they decide how you browse, the first thing they do is kill fair use. It's One Weird Trick to turn the Web into that scene
Reposted by Brandon Butler
#FairUseFriday Fair use plays an essential role in preserving art forms from one generation to the next.
January 30, 2026 at 3:42 PM
#FairUseFriday Fair use plays an essential role in preserving art forms from one generation to the next.