GU Free Culture

During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Barack Obama’s technology policy white paper stated that “Intellectual property is to the digital age what physical goods were to the industrial age. Barack Obama believes we need to update and reform our copyright and patent systems to promote civic discourse, innovation and investment while ensuring that intellectual property owners are fairly treated.”

Now, as President-Elect, Barack Obama can make concrete decisions to ensure American intellectual property policy encourages innovation. The first major decision that the Obama team will make in the area of patent and copyright policy will be the selection of the “Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator,” popularly known as IP Czar. This position could be used to fight piracy and apply outdated copyright rules to the digital economy. Or, this position has the potential to update American IP policy and spur innovation, expand consumer choice and lead to the development of new services and jobs.

Georgetown University Students for Free Culture is encouraging President-Elect Obama to pursue the latter policy. You can join this effort by joining the Facebook Cause here to let the Obama team know that the public wants an IP czar who will support innovation and consumer choice.”

Join here: http://tinyurl.com/9ujgqs

If you’d like to hear more or get involved, please contact me at kdonovan11 (at) gmail (dot) com

As a student at Swarthmore, Nelson Pavlosky sued Diebold (the voting machine manufacturer) for abusing copyright. His case set an important precedent for free speech in the digital age. He would go on to form the international Students for Free Culture organization, of which Georgetown’s chapter is the newest.

On Wednesday, April 16th at 7:15 in Healy 103 Nelson will be speaking at Georgetown University. His talk will cover free speech, the DMCA, open source, fair use and the Free Culture movement. See more about him here. Join the Facebook event here.

Again, all are invited and should contact me at georgetownfreeculture (at) gmail.com with any questions.

I am currently a freshman at Georgetown University in Washington, DC and have started the campus chapter of Students for Free Culture. This Wednesday, April 9th, we are showing the documentary film “Freedom of Expression” in Healy Hall 103 on campus. The film will start at 7:30pm.

Description

In 1998, university professor Kembrew McLeod (Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Iowa) trademarked the phrase “freedom of expression” — a startling comment on the way that intellectual property law restricts creativity and the expression of ideas. This provocative and amusing documentary explores the battles being waged in courts, classrooms, museums, film studios, and the Internet over control of our cultural commons. Based on McLeod’s award-winning book of the same title, Freedom of Expression® charts the many successful attempts to push back the assault on free expression by overzealous copyright holders. Freedom of Expression® is an essential tool for educators, activists, filmmakers, students, artists, librarians, and more.

All are welcome, so any DC-area readers who would like to come are more than welcome. The embedded map should help you find the room, but if you have any questions, email me at kevin (at) copyrightings.com

Students for Free Culture is an international movement working to increase cultural participation through creativity and innovation without artificial limits. The Georgetown chapter is just starting and looking for interested students and faculty.

If you would like to stay up-to-date on happenings, check back often or subscribe to this blog. If you would like to become involved, please email me: georgetownfreeculture (at) gmail.com.

Stay tuned!