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Functionality and Expression in Computer Programs: What the Federal Court got wrong in Oracle v. Google

Functionality and Expression in Computer Programs: What the Federal Court got wrong in Oracle v. Google

with Pam Samuelson

Thursday, September 24, 2015, at 3:00 pm
Harvard Law School Campus
Hauser Hall, Room 104
 

The Federal Circuit’s May 2014 decision holding Java application programming interfaces are copyrightable has potentially far-reaching implications with respect to interoperability and computer-to-computer communications via APIs.  More broadly, the decision raises questions about the scope of copyright protection for functional elements of computer code. Renowned copyright scholar and expert Pam Samuelson of University of California at Berkeley will share her views on Oracle v. Google in a talk that addresses the court’s approach to the case and the consequences of its decision.  Refreshments will be served.  

This talk is presented by the Berkman Center for Internet & SocietyHarvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic, and Harvard Journal of Law & Technology.

About Pam

Pamela Samuelson is recognized as a pioneer in digital copyright law, intellectual property, cyberlaw and information policy. She has written and spoken extensively about the challenges that new information technologies are posing for public policy and traditional legal regimes. Since 1996, she has held a joint appointment with the Berkeley Law School and the School of Information. She is the director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, serves on the board of directors of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and on advisory boards for the Public Knowledge, and the Berkeley Center for New Media. She is also an advisor for the Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic. Since 2002, she has also been an honorary professor at the University of Amsterdam.

Past Event
Sep 24, 2015
Time
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM