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

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)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Nathan, whose player was going to bed in just a sec, really looked up at her. "What can I do for you - Z, was it?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[multiplez]

"Yes, sir. I missed class last week, and I wanted to apologize. And find out if there's any work I need to make up, if you'll let me?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Nathan reached into his briefcase to find some of the handouts from the previous week. "I'm sure we can arrange something. Why were you out?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[multiplez]

Z rubbed at the back of her neck self-consciously. "I had sort of an episode? And ran away. To Canada."

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Nathan quirked his eyebrows up. "Everything okay?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[multiplez]

"No, but it's better than it was," she said with complete honesty.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"I assume you've already spoken with Principal Washburn?" Nathan asked.

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)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"Turtle, right?" Nathan asked. He listened to radio, he could eventually pick up a clue.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Yes, sir," Turtle said with a nod and, since, well, there something slightly unappealing and unprofessional about having her lawyer teacher call her by what pretty much was a childhood baby name, she added, "but Ms. Wexler is fine, too. What did you want to speak with me about?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"It's up to you," Nathan said, "but if you're interested I'd be happy to do what I can to help your aspirations for a law career. The TA job is already taken, but we could figure out extra credit, or see about a summer internship. If you're interested."

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle's eyes were wide like saucers, glittering with eagerness. "Of course I'm interested," she gushed, barely containing a bounce. "I mean, even if I wasn't, it would be pretty foolish of me to say no, wouldn't it? But I am, so that doesn't matter. Extra credit, summer internship, both of those sound wonderful, excellent opportunities! Thank you, Mister Petrelli, that would be great!"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"Happy to help someone who shows such promise," Nathan said. "Now you were primarily interested in business law?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle nodded firmly. "Mostly, yes. I mean, my courtroom experience has been a murder trial, I know, but my real-life experience has definitely been in getting my toes a little wet in the world of business, financing, and stocks."

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"So you're thinking General Counsel for a company?" Nathan asked. "Or hoping to know enough about business law to help manage your money?"

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?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"Is this as a teacher or not?" Nathan asked.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"More as a lawyer actually," she admitted.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"You in trouble?" Nathan asked, not without concern.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Me? No. Not at all." Unless you count that file the FBI might still have and that the military definitely has. "But my brother...radio said Michael stopped by your office last week?"

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"Michael's your brother?" Nathan asked. He motioned for Isabel to take a seat. The idea of siblings with different last names wasn't new to him. He just hadn't expected Isabel to be the family Michael had talked about.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"He is, yes," she nodded as she took the offered chair. "Social services messed up. Max and I were adopted together. Michael wasn't." It was close enough to the truth for the purpose of this discussion.

If Isabel thought hard about it, she realize the reason wasn't willing to tell Nathan the whole story was because deep down, she knew if it came down to protecting Peter, Nathan would call the FBI without a qualm.

Re: After Class (1/16/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"Sticky situation," Nathan said.