Presentation at the Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest
American University Washington College of Law, August 26, 2011
| Professor Pamela Samuelson |
Professor Pam Samuelson discusses how “technologies of freedom” have affected the evolution of copyright and strengthened limitations and exceptions. As new technologies from photocopiers to MP3 players have been introduced, industries have warned that innovation would suffer without strict intellectual property protection, but this has not been the case. The growth of the software industry has shown that flexible IP protection can advance innovation and access to new products simultaneously. New technologies have also had a democratizing effect by allowing everyday people to create new content from old and distribute it online; and by allowing universities and libraries to make large amounts of knowledge available online. Professor Samuelson recommends that IP reform strategies should include advocacy for greater transparency in international policymaking; further advocacy of the WIPO development agenda; the sharing of positive developments at the national level among advocates worldwide; and alliances between advocates and technology firms.
