July 18, 2025
SDNY dismisses Trump copyright lawsuit against Woodward, protecting journalists' interview rights
Courts protect press freedom as Trump attempts to silence recorded words
📜Constitutional Law📰Media Literacy⚖️Justice
U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe dismissed Trump's $49.98 million copyright lawsuit against 
Bob Woodward on Jul. 18, 2025
Trump sued over 'The Trump Tapes' audiobook containing recordings from 19 interviews conducted Dec. 2019 to Aug. 2020
The court ruled Woodward owns the copyright because he initiated, recorded, and fixed the interviews in tangible form
Trump's original complaint stated he 'never sought to create a work of joint authorship' contradicting his later joint-author claims
Simon & Schuster credited Trump only as a 'reader' while listing Woodward as sole author of the audiobook
Federal copyright law preempted all of Trump's state-law claims including breach of contract
No president in American history had previously demanded royalties for publishing presidential interviews
Judge Gardephe, a George W. Bush appointee, gave Trump until Aug. 18, 2025 to amend but called success 'unlikely'
📜Constitutional Law📰Media Literacy⚖️Justice
Test Your Knowledge
10
Q1
Which federal judge dismissed Trump's lawsuit against Bob Woodward on July 18, 2025?
Q2
Trump gave Woodward permission to record their interviews when they occurred.
Q3
What is the name of Woodward's audiobook that sparked Trump's lawsuit?
Q4
Trump claimed he had copyright ownership of his responses to Woodward's interview questions.
Q5
How much money did Trump seek in damages from Woodward and his publisher?
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Start QuizPeople, bills, and sources
Paul G. Gardephe
U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York
Bob Woodward
Washington Post Associate Editor and Author
Donald Trump
President of the United States
Simon & Schuster
Publisher
Paramount Global
Former Parent Company of Simon & Schuster