Speaker: Tarleton Gillespie, Department of Communication, Cornell University

Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 4:30-6:00p

Location: Hollister 110

Sponsored by the Undergrad. Society for Intellectual Property and the Department of Information Science

Abstract -

Been sued yet? We're in the midst of a contentious legal and cultural battle about copyright law and its role in a digital age. Decisions being made now will not only influence the music and movie industries, consumers and fans, artists and filmmakers; they will also help define what kind of communication medium the Net will be for decades to come. You're in the midst of this battle -- as consumers of music and movies, as users of peer-to-peer file-trading networks, even as the potential objects of RIAA lawsuits. But that's not all. You're also in it because you're the future designers of the technologies involved, technologies that will soon do the enforcing in place of the law in a digital copyright regime. As designers, engineers, and computer scientists, you are the new lawmakers; it is crucial that you know how the law works and what it was for. Come find out more about copyright law, how the Net is changing the game, what's happening because of it, and how technology is becoming the new field of battle.

Bio -

Tarleton Gillespie is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Department here at Cornell, and is affiliated with Information Science and Science & Technology Studies. His book, Technology Rules: Copyright and the Re-alignment of Digital Culturewill be published by MIT Press in 2006.

About the Undergraduate Society for Intellectual Property
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The Undergraduate Society for Intellectual Property aims to inform Cornell's undergraduate students about the impact of intellectual property issues on science, innovation, and their future careers. The organization hopes to fill the gaps left by many curriculums in keeping students up-to-date with the issues they will face in industry. We plan to hold speaker events and panel discussions to increase awareness and promote intellectual discourse. We are a brand new organization and are seeking support from both students and faculty. Students are encouraged to attend our event to learn about executive board opportunities and other means of getting involved. For more information, please email is56@cornell.edu or visit our website.