---
title: Copyright issue
date: "2002-07-01T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 1298
description: I examine the copyright controversy surrounding John Cage’s 4'33", a work consisting of 273 seconds of absolute silence meant as a tribute to absolute zero. I'm looking into whether silence itself can be legally protected.
keywords: [john cage, 4'33", copyright law, silence, intellectual property, absolute zero]
---

The 4'33" is a work by John Cage, comprising of 4 minutes and 33 seconds of absolute silence. (A tribute to absolute zero: 273 seconds of silence). Is there a [copyright issue](http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=307449) here?