At noon on November 10th, in room 102, Ray Beckerman (maintainer of the blog The RIAA v. The People) will speak about the Record Industry Association of America’s efforts to curb online file-sharing by suing individual infringers.  Mr. Beckerman will address the substantive copyright law, the procedural issues raised by these suits, and the reaction of judges and law enforcement to the RIAA’s campaign.

The reading group’s uptown again this week.  Sadly, we’ll all have to wait awhile before making that subway trip downtown… unless you do it on your own time.

Anyway Halloween’ pretty soon so the topic will be zombies.

6:30 p.m., JG 701 is the current room, this is tentative.  I’ll post if it’s changed

This week’s readings, in priority order:

Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody (excerpt):
http://emoglen.law.columbia.edu/twiki/bin/view/CompPrivConst/HereComesEverybody

Naomi Klein, China’s All-Seeing Eye:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/20797485/chinas_allseeing_eye

And this week, a video clue:

Wired Science, World War 2.0 (Estonia segment, 2:45-12:30)
http://www.hulu.com/watch/23324/wired-science-technology-world-war-20

Food will be there.  Drinking group likely to follow.

This event sponsored in part by the Student Senate with funds from the
Student Activity Fee.

On behalf of the board, I want to welcome our two newest members, our 1L Representatives Elizabeth Broomfield and Susan Kremer.  We want to congratulate these two, but for those of you not selected, we still want you to be involved.  This was a difficult decision, as there were only two spots, and each applicant has something to offer SLST.  We look forward to working with all of you in the coming year.

The Society for Law, Science, and Technology (SLST) is now accepting applications for 1L Representative positions. All interested students are invited to submit a statement not longer than 300 words expressing interest in the organization and reasons for seeking board membership. These statements may include event suggestions for the club. All applications should be submitted to slst-eboard@columbia.edu by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 3rd.

SLST brings students together to discuss current legal issues involving science, technology and relevant job opportunities. The group isn’t just for former science majors: it’s for anyone interested.  We host panels and events focusing on how technology and science affect the legal framework in which we live and vice-versa (e.g. Internet privacy issues). This semester, we are hoping to have events on the following topics: biotechnology patents and healthcare access; civil liberties online; an introduction to the Free Culture movement; and careers in intellectual property and technology law. We also regularly co-host an Information Law reading group with NYU Law students.

1L Representatives are responsible for attending SLST’s Board meetings and helping Board members organize events.

Please note that you do not need to be a board member to participate in any of SLST’s meetings or events. We are always looking for more event ideas and are happy to work with anyone who wants to see an idea through. To become a general member of the club (and join the club’s mailing list), please email kate.vershov@gmail.com.

Our first reading group meeting will be on Wednesday, October 1st at NYU at 6:30pm.  One of my previous posts goes more into detail on that.

Our friends downtown at NYU Law will be restarting the transcendent Infolaw Reading (and Drinking) Group this coming Wednesday, 10/1, at 6:30p.  A few of us went down to this regularly last year and enjoyed
it tremendously–we’ll also be trying to host some up here this year.  It’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy chatting about these sorts of things (instead of, say, Civil Procedure), RGs might be some of the
most interesting law-school-related events you’ll ever go to.

As this one is at NYU, we’ll be taking the subway down.  There are plans to leave from the Downtown 1 platform at 116 St at 5:45.  Email us if you want in.

The Center on Law and Information Policy is excited to present a panel
discussion on reputation in the internet age. The panel will explore
the development and fragility of personal reputation in the online
context including the impact of online reputations in the offline
world. Panelists will consider issues raised by Web sites like
JuicyCampus and AutoAdmit and explore the boundaries between the
protection of reputation and the rights of free speech on the
internet. Panelists will also address the role that the law should
play in this area and how individuals can protect themselves online.

Date: 09.25.08 Thur
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Room 430 B&C

(I’m not sure where precisely that is, but I’m sure if you show up at
Fordham a little early someone will be able to direct you there.)

Moderator:

Joel R. Reidenberg, Associate Chief Academic Officer and Associate
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Fordham University
Professor of Law and Director of the Center on Law and Information
Policy, Fordham Law School

Panelists:

David Lat, Editor in Chief, AboveTheLaw.com

David Szuchman, Director of Consumer Affairs, Office of the NJ Attorney General

Diane Zimmerman, Professor of Law, New York University School of Law

This event is free and open to the public. Reception to follow.

Contact: Jamela Debelak
Email: debelak@law.fordham.edu

To all those who RSVPed for the Night at the Museum event on September 26,

We’re sorry to say that the museum has canceled its September event.  This means that the
Night at the Museum event as planned can no longer occur.  We are, however, still trying to come up with a replacement event involving the museum.  We’re sorry we don’t have a replacement yet, but felt it would be best to let everyone know as soon as possible.  We will let everyone know if we are able to put together another museum event.  Please continue checking this website for updates as well.  Again, we apologize for this, but the museum hasn’t given us much choice in the matter.

Sincerely,
The SLST Executive Board

The Software Freedom Law Center cordially invites you to the 2008 NYC
Software Freedom Day Reception!  Industry leaders, lawyers, advocates
and hackers alike will be gathering to commemorate and celebrate the
state of the movement; from the inception of the GNU Project 25 years
ago to the present day, the lives of millions of people all around the
world have been forever changed by software freedom.

More information about Software Freedom Day can be found at
<http://softwarefreedomday.org/about>

When: Saturday, Sept. 20th from 6pm to 9pm.

Where: Limewire is hosting us in their rooftop garden at 377 Broadway,
between White St. and Franklin St.  It’s just a few blocks south of
Canal.  <http://maps.google.com/maps?q=377+broadway+10013>

Activities will include guest speakers from around the movement, as
well as music and a raffle, with a focus on mixing, meeting, and
greeting. The reception is a rooftop affair, providing ample time and
space to celebrate, meet new people and reconnect with old friends.

RSVP required to: rsvp@softwarefreedom.org
We look forward to seeing you there!

Our information law friends at NYU are continuing their reading group this semester.  I speak for no less than 3/4 of the current active membership of SLST when I say that we really enjoy the discussions and hospitality whenever we make it downtown.  Next Wednesday, 1/23, at 6:30 p.m. in Golding West, the group will meet as a non-reading group to talk about summer jobs.  If you’re interested, subscribe to the NYU infolaw list; if you want to go to a meeting with other CLS folk, ask around on slst-soni.

The campus is hosting two upcoming events that should be interesting for anyone interested in science and technology.

On Wed., Feb. 6th, from 12:00 to 2:00, Fish and Richardson will be having a discussion on “Opportunities in IP, Litigation, and Corporate Law” at the Columbia Faculty House at 400 W. 117th St. Lunch will be served. RSVP by Feb. 1st to Brynne Lehner at lehner@fr.com.

On Fri., Feb. 8th, from 9 to 5:45, the Kernochan Center will be hosting a symposium on “Fair Use: ‘Incredibly Shrinking’ or Extraordinarily Expanding?” in JGH. Lunch will be served. More details, including a full schedule, speaker list, and registration details (must register by 1/31) are available at the Kernochan Center’s website.

SLST hopes to see many of you at both events; as usual, you can keep an eye on our upcoming events at our calendar - the full schedule for the semester should be appearing there soon!