Database owners are increasingly seeking ways to make their data available so that others can contribute to and build on their work. This “open data” movement emphasizes the importance of sharing data for both scientific development and humanitarian response. The willingness of database owners to make their data available for re-use depends on their ability to impose conditions on that release, which requires consideration of the varying levels of copyright protection afforded to databases across jurisdictions. The International Intellectual Property Society (“IIPS”) and New York Law School ("NYLS") are pleased to present a panel discussion on the current state of open database licensing on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at New York Law School, 185 West Broadway, New York, New York, Room W201.   Refreshments will be served.

The panel will include:

Molly Beutz Land is an Associate Professor of Law at NYLS where she focuses on access to knowledge and the intersection of intellectual property, information law, and human rights.

 

Janelle C. Bonanno holds a JD from NYLS and is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.  She has been involved in efforts to shape social networking and new media platforms to be effective in grassroots issue outreach.

 

Christopher Cotter is a third year law student at NYLS where he has focused his studies on intellectual property law, with an emphasis on copyright law and licensing.

 

Rachel DeLetto graduated from NYLS in May 2009 where she was Managing Editor of the Media Law & Policy Journal and worked with the Program in Law & Journalism.

 

Cynthia Grady is a second year law student at NYLS where she has been working on the Public Index, http://thepublicindex.org, a site to study and discuss the proposed Google Book Search settlement.

 

Chris Holmes began his work in open source geospatial software when he joined The Open Planning Project (TOPP) as the lead developer of GeoServer in 2002. He pursued a Fulbright Scholarship in Zambia to examine the potential for Open Source Geospatial software to implement Spatial Data Infrastructures in developing countries. Chris now leads OpenGeo, the geospatial division of TOPP, which builds a suite of open source tools to help governments open their data.

 

James Vasile currently works with the Software Freedom Law Center and Open Source Matters, non-profit organizations that protect software freedom and liberty in the digital world. He holds a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and a bachelor’s degree in corsu honorum from Fordham University. He spent several years in the litigation department of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and is admitted to practice in New York.

The fee for non-members is $20.  Admission for all law school students and New York Law School people is free.  A nominal $60 annual membership dues fee may be enclosed with a membership application.  Membership entitles you to attend other regular meetings during the September 2009 - September 2010 year at no charge.  If you would like to reserve your space and/or pay at the door, or if you have any questions about this program, please contact Frederick J. Dorchak at fdorchak@collardroe.com.

As with IIPS programs in general, NY CLE credit will be offered.  This seminar will provide 2 transitional /non-transitional (Skills) CLE Credits.  Mail the Membership Form with annual dues, or meeting payment by Thursday, April 15, 2010, to Harris Wolin at Myers Wolin, LLC, 100 Headquarters Plaza, Morristown, NJ 07960.  

We look forward to seeing you in April and at other upcoming events and, as in the past, invite comments and suggestions for programs that might be of interest to you.

Sincerely,

Frederick J. Dorchak

IIPS President