Lawyering Up: Week 2, Wed, Period 2 (1/16)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Nathan was there, dressed in a suit and tie as usual. He passed out a packet of handouts. "Today we're going to be discussing Copyright Law. At its core, Copyright Law makes sure people get credit and/or payment for their own work. Sounds good so far, right?

"However," Nathan continued, "changing technology means that law as we knew it doesn't necessarily apply to law as we need it. A novelist who rips entire passages from previously written books and poems - as silly as that idea may seem - has plenty of established law to try to navigate.

"But these days there are all new kinds of problems." Nathan looked around the room. "For example, file sharing. Which I'm sure everyone here has only ever done in a perfectly legal fashion. In your handouts you'll see a summary of MGM vs Grokster. This case provides an example of the can of worms that's been opened on copyrights. How do we protect people's right to be credited and paid while at the same time responding to the consumer's demand to use new technology? Is it possible to prevent theft without preventing legal innovations? What constitutes theft in the first place?

"I don't expect you to answer all of these questions today," Nathan said. "But I want you to gain an appreciation of the issues. Last week we discussed the use of precedent. This week I want you to see what happens when society takes a huge leap and precedent has yet to catch up.

"So what I want you to do is take a look at the handouts, including the last one if you're really into the reading. Then come up with your own ideas of how file sharing should be handled. Any aspect of it. Should we continue to try to adapt precedent? Should we give up on that for a new system? How could file sharing be set up to honor copyright as we know it without allowing illegal activities? Assume anything is possible, for the purpose of the exercise.

"Be prepared to defend your position though," Nathan said. "Because once you tell us what you think your classmates get to question you. Don't worry, you'll get to question them in turn. I might join in myself from time to time. I want to see you using what we've done so far, and getting practice at arguing your case.

"Oh, and - " Nathan checked his paperwork. "Some administrative notes. Sam Winchester is the class TA. My office hours are Thursday mornings. So far Annette is the only one to have provided me with a lawyer joke so she's currently winning that race. And if Ms. Wexler is here, I'd like to chat with you after class." Nathan smiled. "Don't worry. You're not in trouble. We can schedule for another day if today's not good for you.

"That's it. Get started on trying to find solutions to the copyright problem, and feel free to ask questions if you need to."

[ooc: OCD coming up! Going to bed, will pick up pings tomorrow.]

Comments

Sign In (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Name, in a collapsy fashion.

Re: Sign In (1/16/08)

[multiplez]

Z Delgado

During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Listen, talk amongst yourselves, the usual.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle's eyes practically bulged out of her head near the end of lecture when her name was mentioned, but, up until that point, she was taking very detailed and very attentative notes. The reassurance that it wasn't anything bad had her relaxing instantly, though, and realizing that, clearly, it was just something to do with how awesome she was. Or perhaps a special order for the store or something. Which would be even better.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[neurotic-witch.livejournal.com]

Chris, of course, was taking very good notes.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[wanna-be-lucas.livejournal.com]

Lucas had a notebook and a mechanical pencil that he was clicking to raise the lead and then clicking and pushing the lead back down to nothing. And then he'd repeat the process.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[imcalledandros.livejournal.com]

Andros took notes.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel was paying careful attention and taking lots of notes. For no reason whatsoever. She'd never download Mr. What episodes. That'd be just wrong.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[smartestone]

While this didn't seem much in the way of helping people, per se, which was the reason Hermione'd taken this class, it was turning out that she was really sort of fascinated by this sort of thing. Plus there were handouts and reading, and she had her priorities.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[absolutesnark]

Summer was actually paying attention and taking notes.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[stupid-toasters.livejournal.com]

Lee didn't much find this aspect of law interesting so his notes were minimal.

Re: During the Lecture (1/16/08)

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean may have looked like he was taking lots of notes, but in reality he was doodling and idly writing out Led Zepplin lyrics. It was better than sitting there and letting his eyes glaze over, he figured.

Of all the things he could see himself possibly having to deal with the law over, making mix tapes didn't even make the list.

Classwork (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Come up with your own ideas about filesharing and copyright law. Debate the ideas of others. There's no limit on who you can debate with, so go as nuts as you like. Nathan may join in if he feels so inclined.

Re: Classwork (1/16/08)

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure there is a way that copyright can be honored while preventing any illegal activities," Lana said slowly. "I mean, sure there are probably lots of ways to see that the copyright is on various pieces of work, but people always seem able to find ways around whatever strictures others set up. I think individuals and the technology are moving faster than the law can keep up."

Re: Classwork (1/16/08)

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Tapping a pencil thoughtfully against her chin, Turtle was carefully reviewing all the materials and making several notes in her notebook regarding her own argument, while making occasional glances around to see if anyone wanted to debate them. She had a lot of ideas, but she didn't feel she had a very well formed case at the moment, so she was holding off on just outright declaring a position.

Talk to Nathan (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

If you have any questions or comments for Nathan during the class, here's where they go. Ditto any lawyer jokes you'd like to share.

Re: Talk to Nathan (1/16/08)

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"I have two for you," Lana said with a smile. "First, 'what are the three questions most commonly asked by lawyers? 1. How much money do you have? 2. Where can you get more? 3. Do you have anything you can sell?' And second, 'Q: How many lawyer jokes are there? A: Only three. The balance are documented case histories.' "

Talk to the TA (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

If you have any questions or comments for Sam during the class, here's where they go once he pings in.

Re: Talk to the TA (1/16/08)

[likethegun]

Sam was there, happily organizing his handouts.

After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Nathan's taking his time packing up, in case anyone wants to talk privately.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[multiplez]

After class, Z approached Nathan and said politely, "Mr. Petrelli?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

After getting her things together after class, Turtle tried in desperation to contain her bouncy excitement as she went to speak with the teacher, as per request. "You wanted to speak with me, Mister Petrelli?" She was beaming; a little bit of the bouncing was leaking out. Just a little.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel waited till everyone else had left then approached. "Mr. Petrelli?" Which just sounded weird considering she'd slept in his house. "May I speak with you for a minute?"

OOC (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

You know what's a fun thing? Getting the date right.

Re: OOC (1/16/08)

[neurotic-witch.livejournal.com]

*snerks*

Was this your planned topic or were you wankspired? :)