tool for managing structured data about legal authority
Project description
AuthoritySpoke
AuthoritySpoke is the first open source legal authority automation tool.
Installing AuthoritySpoke
AuthoritySpoke is a Python package available on PyPI, so you can install it with pip:
$ pip install authorityspoke
AuthoritySpoke is tested on Python 3.7 and is not yet working on Python 3.8.
Trying it Out
Here's an example that discovers contradictory legal holdings in Oracle America, Inc. v. Google Inc., 750 F.3d 1339
(a famous case that dealt with a claim that the Android operating system infringed the copyright on the Java language) and Lotus Development Corporation v. Borland International, 49 F.3d 807
(an older case about whether a user interface was copyrightable).
Copies of both opinions can be loaded from the example_data
folder. (But you can also use AuthoritySpoke to retrieve opinions from the Caselaw Access Project API.)
from authorityspoke.io.loaders import load_and_read_decision
oracle = load_and_read_decision("oracle_h.json")
lotus = load_and_read_decision("lotus_h.json")
The example_data
folder also contains legislation in XML files that can be organized by linking them to a Regime
object.
from authorityspoke import Regime
from authorityspoke.io.loaders import load_and_read_code
usa = Regime()
usa.set_code(load_and_read_code("constitution.xml"))
usa.set_code(load_and_read_code("usc17.xml"))
usa.set_code(load_and_read_code("cfr37.xml"))
Structured annotations about the holdings in Oracle and Lotus can also be loaded from the example_data
folder, and can be linked to the Decision
objects.
from authorityspoke.io.loaders import load_and_read_holdings
oracle.posit(load_and_read_holdings("holding_oracle.json", regime=usa))
lotus.posit(load_and_read_holdings("holding_lotus.json", regime=usa))
Now, each Decision
has a .contradicts
method that can return a boolean indicating whether its holdings conflict with the holdings of another Decision
.
print(lotus.contradicts(oracle))
True
That's good to know, but we don't want to take it on faith that a contradiction exists. Let's use the explain_contradiction
method to find the contradictory Holdings posited by the Oracle and Lotus cases, and to generate a rudimentary explanation of why they contradict.
explanation = lotus.explain_contradiction(oracle)
print(explanation)
an Explanation of why there is a CONTRADICTION between
the Holding to ACCEPT
the Rule that the court MUST ALWAYS impose the
RESULT:
the Fact it is false that <the Lotus menu command hierarchy> was
copyrightable
GIVEN:
the Fact that <the Lotus menu command hierarchy> was a method of
operation
DESPITE:
the Fact that a text described <the Lotus menu command hierarchy>
the Fact that <the Lotus menu command hierarchy> was an original work
GIVEN the ENACTMENTS:
"In no case does copyright protection for an original work of
authorship extend to any" (Title 17, /us/usc/t17/s102/b)
"method of operation" (Title 17, /us/usc/t17/s102/b)
and
the Holding to ACCEPT
the Rule that the court MUST SOMETIMES impose the
RESULT:
the Fact that <the Java API> was copyrightable
GIVEN:
the Fact that <the Java language> was a computer program
the Fact that <the Java API> was a set of application programming
interface declarations
the Fact that <the Java API> was an original work
the Fact that <the Java API> was a non-literal element of <the Java
language>
the Fact that <the Java API> was the expression of an idea
the Fact it is false that <the Java API> was essentially the only way
to express the idea that it embodied
the Fact that <the Java API> was creative
the Fact that it was possible to use <the Java language> without
copying <the Java API>
DESPITE:
the Fact that <the Java API> was a method of operation
the Fact that <the Java API> contained short phrases
the Fact that <the Java API> became so popular that it was the
industry standard
the Fact that there was a preexisting community of programmers
accustomed to using <the Java API>
GIVEN the ENACTMENT:
"Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title, in
original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of
expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be
perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or
with the aid of a machine or device." (Title 17, /us/usc/t17/s102/a)
DESPITE the ENACTMENTS:
"In no case does copyright protection for an original work of
authorship extend to any" (Title 17, /us/usc/t17/s102/b)
"method of operation" (Title 17, /us/usc/t17/s102/b)
"The following are examples of works not subject to copyright and
applications for registration of such works cannot be entertained: (a)
Words and short phrases such as names, titles, and slogans;" (Code of
Federal Regulations Title 37, /us/cfr/t37/s202.1)
is that <the Lotus menu command hierarchy> is like <the Java API>
Learning about AuthoritySpoke
You can find the example above and much more information about using AuthoritySpoke in the Introduction to AuthoritySpoke Jupyter notebook.
Use the button below to interact with the notebook online through Binder. If you use Binder, you'll be shown the directory structure of this repo. Navigate to the notebooks
folder to find the tutorials.
You can also find static versions of the tutorial notebooks, the API documentation, and more in the project documentation.
Contributing to AuthoritySpoke
All participants are expected to follow the code of conduct. AuthoritySpoke uses the Contributor Covenant, version 1.4.
Submitting a pull request or other code contribution to AuthoritySpoke requires acceptance of a contributor license agreement. The agreement's provisions are based on the Apache Software Foundation Individual Contributor License Agreement V2.0.
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