WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A dispute involving the pirate Blackbeard's ship is on deck for the Supreme Court's next term.

  • The justices said Monday they will hear a copyright dispute involving video and photograph of the Queen Anne's Revenge
  • The ship was discovered off North Carolina in 1996
  • Nautilus Productions sued the state over copyrighted photos and videos that were used by the state on a state Youtube channel and newsletter

The justices said Monday they will hear a copyright dispute involving video and photograph of the Queen Anne's Revenge. The ship was discovered off North Carolina in 1996.

The case the justices agreed to hear pits the state of North Carolina against a company that has documented the ship's salvage. North Carolina-based Nautilus Productions has for two decades documented the ship's recovery. The company sued the state over copyrighted photos and videos that were used by the state on a state Youtube channel and newsletter.

The trial court allowed the case to go forward but an appeals court dismissed it. The Supreme Court will decide whether the lawsuit can go forward.

*Spectrum News contributed to this web story