This Day in Legal History: February 10th

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Hey legal eagles! Let's take a trip down memory lane and explore some significant legal events that happened on February 10th.

• 1964: The Beatles' First Appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (and Copyright Law): While not strictly a legal case, the Beatles' arrival in America and their appearance on Ed Sullivan's show had a massive impact on copyright law. The sheer scale of their popularity and the explosion of Beatlemania brought music copyright and licensing into sharper focus, influencing future legislation and business practices within the entertainment industry. Think about it: how different would music licensing be today without the "British Invasion" and the legal issues it spawned?
• 1996: The Communications Decency Act (CDA) is Passed (and Partially Struck Down): This date marks the passage of the CDA, a controversial piece of legislation aimed at regulating online content, particularly regarding obscenity and indecency. However, key provisions of the CDA were quickly challenged and later struck down by the Supreme Court in Reno v. ACLU (1997). This case was a landmark victory for free speech online, establishing that the internet is a forum worthy of First Amendment protection. It's a crucial case for anyone interested in internet law and the ongoing debate about online regulation.
• 2016: Justice Antonin Scalia's Death: A giant in the legal world, Justice Scalia's passing on this day had a profound impact on the Supreme Court and American jurisprudence. His staunchly conservative views and his powerful writing style made him a highly influential figure. His death created a vacancy on the Court that led to a prolonged and politically charged nomination process. Scalia's legacy continues to be debated and analyzed, particularly his originalist interpretation of the Constitution.

Bonus Legal Trivia: Did anything else important happen on February 10th in legal history? Let us know in the comments!