Food for Thought Dinner Registration Open

Participants are encouraged to attend Food for Thought Dinners - informal discussions surrounding cyberlaw-related topics over dinner in an area restaurant - on Friday, May 14th. More information and registration are now available.

Instruction DVDs Released

Very recently, the first ever Internet Law Program DVD was released to paid registrants (those who register from this point will receive theirs a few days after payment).  These attractively packaged items include:

New Study on Internet Filtering Released

In response to recent studies of Internet filtering and censorship in Iran, the US International Broadcasting Bureau has developed software it calls the "Anonymizer," which allows individuals inside Iran to bypass the country's net filters.  However, a new study from the Open Net Initiative -- a joint collaboration by researchers at the Berkman Center, the University of Toronto, and the University of Cambridge -- has found a number of inconsistencies in the Anonymizer system, which provides neither the anonymity nor the security that it purports to offer.  As the report notes, "It is curious to find the United States government promoting a tool to circumvent Iranian limits on freedom while imposing crude and, even by its own standards, widely overdrawn limits of its own."  Read Declan McCullagh's story in CNet about the inconsistencies and problems with the Anonymizer.

Profile: Professor Yochai Benkler

Yochai Benkler currently teaches at Yale Law School and formerly served as the Director of the Engelberg Center for Innovation Law and Policy at NYU School of Law. He was a visiting professor at Harvard Law School during the 2002-2003 academic year, and we're excited that he'll be coming back to Cambridge for this year's ILaw program. Professor Benkler studies the effects of laws that regulate information production and exchange on the distribution of control over information flows, knowledge, and cultural production in the digital environment. He particularly enjoys the interplay of information among the broad spectrum of people who participate in iLaw each year: "iLaw has always offered a fantastic platform for cross-pollination among a remarkably diverse set of participants, from many walks of life and many nations. From practicing lawyers and entrepreneurs, through legal academics and computer engineers, to business people and public interest advocates, we have all learned a great deal from each other." Click here to see Professor Benkler's offerings at iLaw 2004.

The Debates Continue

In the first few days of iLaw, participants have learned about P2P copying and alternatives to intellectual property, and are moving on to privacy considerations.

We've enjoyed some spirited and enlightening discussions in the fora. Among other topics, participants delved into piracy , particularly in developing countries, the extent and effects of unlawful copying, the challenges of obtaining a DMCA exception, and the value of private information.

Let A Thousand Discussions Bloom

With the kickoff of iLaw 2004 and the release of the initial module on peer-to-peer copying, participants have begun to grapple with the tensions and issues raised by Napster and its successor cases in the discussion forum.

Profile: Professor Jonathan Zittrain

Jonathan Zittrain is currently Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman Assistant Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. Previously, he served as the first ever executive director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, which he also co-founded. His current research projects include an ongoing study of internet filtering around the world, the Chilling Effects project, and the development of a new online idea exchange system called H2O. Professor Zittrain is known as a compelling and dynamic instructor, and he sees the iLaw program as an opportunity to explore the most fascinating questions in the field of internet law: "ILaw is a tour of the Internet past, present, and future(s) -- with focus on the battles being waged for control of its architecture and users." Professor Zittrain’s lovely dog, Mrs. Beasley, has also been known to make guest appearances at iLaw. Let’s hope she’s part of the festivities again this year.

Canada Affirms Legality of Filesharing

One day after the IFPI took legal actions against file-sharers in Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Canada (see the breaking news report by Berkman Fellow Urs Gasser), a Canadian federal judge denied a motion brought by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) seeking the identities of 29 customers from five Canadian Internet Service Providers for alleged infringement of copyright laws in online music trading.

The court ruled that the plaintiffs failed to present a prima facie case of infringement.  Further, the ruling indicates that downloading is lawful in Canada and that "the mere fact of placing a copy on a shared directory in a computer where that copy can be accessed via a P2P service does not amount to distribution."  Read the complete decision.  The CRIA is expected to appeal the case.

The Internet Law Program Returns to Harvard Law School

This year, the Internet Law Program is returning to Harvard Law School, where it all began. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard Law School was founded in 1817 and is the oldest existing law school in the U.S. In order to accommodate its 1800+ student population, the campus has expanded quite a bit since the school opened. Some of the more striking buildings on campus include Austin Hall, Hauser Hall, and Langdell Hall, which houses the school's library. The Berkman Center for Internet and Society can be found in Baker House, a lovely Victorian located right on Massachusetts Avenue. Harvard Law boasts many renowned alumni, including four current Supreme Court Justices: Stephen Breyer, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, and David Souter. HLS also holds a prominent place in popular culture as the setting for many works of fiction, including critically acclaimed books and several popular films.

Profile: Professor Lawrence Lessig

Before Professor Lawrence Lessig headed west to found Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society, he was the first ever Berkman Professor of Law right here at Harvard, and we are thrilled that he will be returning to Cambridge for iLaw this summer. Professor Lessig is an expert in the field of intellectual property law, and he brings a wide range of experiences from his dynamic career into the classroom. In addition to publishing several popular books, he also represented Eric Eldred in the historic Eldred v. Ashcroft Supreme Court battle against the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act. Professor Lessig consistently reiterates and demonstrates his commitment to open information, especially with the publication of his most recent book, Free Culture, which is available in bookstores as well as in ebook form. Click here to view descriptions of Professor Lessig's scheduled lectures for iLaw 2004.

Online Instruction Begins Soon

The online component of the Internet Law Program will launch on April 14th. Ten modules on a variety of cyberlaw-related topics will launch periodically, and online discussion of those topics will continue until May 5th, just a week before the on-site portion of the program begins. Participation is limited to registered Internet Law Program attendees, so register today to take part in an exciting series of discussions. The moderator will be Derek Bambauer, Fellow at the Berkman Center.

The Internet Law Program in a Nutshell

The Berkman Center initiated the Internet Law Program in 2000 to offer the public a way to learn about legal, economic, and public interest debates surrounding the Internet. The program focuses particularly on national and international regulatory frameworks governing Internet usage. Instruction takes two forms: online, including readings and discussions, and onsite, an intensive few days of lectures by the premier experts in cyberlaw and group discussion. A wide range of attendees convene: leaders in business, technology, law, education, government, media and the non-profit community. The upcoming offering, May 13-15, 2004 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is now open for registration.