On the contrary, race is extremely useful information in certain medical contexts. Black Americans have different risk profiles for certain cardio-vascular conditions than white Americans. And European Jews suffer a higher incidence of certain recessive genetic diseases (so much so that genetic screening is basically routine for couples where both parents have Ashkenazi ancestry).
> Each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics.
Then, further down:
> a group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc.; an ethnic group
ETH'NICAL, adjective [Latin ethnicus; Gr. from nation from the root of G. heide, heath, woods, whence heathen. See Heathen.]
Heathen; pagan; pertaining to the gentiles or nations not converted to christianity; opposed to Jewish and Christian.
ETH'NIC, noun A heathen; a pagan.
RACE, noun [Latin radix and radius having the same original. This word coincides in origin with rod, ray, radiate, etc.]
1. The lineage of a family, or continued series of descendants from a parent who is called the stock. A race is the series of descendants indefinitely. Thus all mankind are called the race of Adam; the Israelites are of the race of Abraham and Jacob. Thus we speak of a race of kings, the race of Clovis or Charlemagne; a race of nobles, etc.
To quote the TV Show American Dad's theme song "Shining a salute to the American race." ... a line I thought would be very controversial but just isn't.
AMER'ICAN, noun A native of America; originally applied to the aboriginals, or copper-colored races, found here by the Europeans; but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America.
1. It's a definition for the word 'American', not the phrase 'American race'.
2. It's from 1828. I don't think usage from 190 years ago is very relevant. Language changes pretty quickly.
3. That does not match what OP was talking about. They were talking about a further distinction within white Americans. Unless I'm mistaken.
I don't think this is entirely correct. It's only protected by US law in the US - in all other countries, it's protected by their local laws. That's the reason for international agreements to harmonize copyright between countries, such as the Berne convention.
Only within the US jurisdiction. US law does not superpose or replace the laws of other jurisdictions.
Copyright would probably not be an issue. This looks like a simple contract dispute, a debate re whether one party is abiding a term in a licensing agreement.
That said, the US is one of the few places where courts remain willing to determine race and/or religious identity. It isn't common but it does come up (wills, immigration/asylum, some issues involving native american tribes, and cases where people have lied on various forms). If this case can find a way into a US court the opera would not win.