15.618  Law and Cutting-Edge Technologies

Hi folks --  As previously requested, please bring your laptop to class tomorrow (Monday 5/11).  Thanks.  Best, John

Hi folks -

I have posted some additional (optional) readings and sources for those of you who are interested in software.

For class 8 (Bill Strong on "soft" copyright), I have posted a excerpt from Bill's recent (2014) "The Copyright Book" (published by MIT Press) on how the DMCA and internet developments more generally have impacted the law on infringement.

For class 9 (Karen Copenhaver on copyright and software), I have posted the Oracle v. Google opinion which she recommended as setting out an excellent summary of how the law on copyright applies to software.  That part of the decision is on pages 8-17.  By the way, this case was appealed to the Federal Circuit (you don't have that opinion) and we may have a USSC opinion as well.  Also, I have posted the URL for the Open Source Initiative website, which has a wealth of good background material on open source.

Hope this is helpful.

Best, John

Hope you did not find the 2^nd exercise too burdensome

Here is the plan for the last two classes: 

Class 10 (M 5/4). We will cover two topics: (i) some special issues relating to life sciences, and (ii) competition policy. Please read the Microsoft case – it is one of the most interesting competition policy cases in recent years, and a very good introduction to the way competition policy shapes business models in this increasingly networked world. We will also discuss standard setting and the interface between competition policy and IP rights. For those really interested in competition policy, I have also posted a Peanut as optional reading.

Class 11 (M 5/11): We will focus on the legal framework of social media and the internet, which is an interesting example of the law playing catch-up with fast-moving technologies. We will also add a special twist: we will have with us Lou Rodriques, until recently a partner at Bingham McCutchen where he headed up the employment law practice.  So we will take a close look at how digital communication is having an impact on the workplace , and you will also have a chance to talk with a real expert about some of the employment-related issues we have dealt with during the course. There are no readings assigned for the last class, but we will be covering a lot of interesting material.

Hi folks -- I said in my email yesterday that the second exercise will cover material through class 8.  That is correct.  But then I went on to say that Class 8 was Jim Lampert's class on patents.  That is an error.  As the Stellar site shows, Class 8 was Bill Strong's class on copyright.  My apologies for any confusion.

Best ,John