Thursday, January 19, 2012
Letter to Students about SOPA/ PIPA
Some of you know that I am the President of UR Laws Student Intellectual Property Society. Yesterday, I sent this letter out to the students encouraging them to inform themselves on SOPA/ PIPA. I urge you to read it as well, and to look into this proposed bill. While I myself vehemently oppose this legislation, the email below offers both sides of the debate.
Good morning friends,
If you have tried to access Wikipedia or Google this morning, I am sure you have been made well aware of the blackout in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). As IP students, I urge you to educate yourselves on this proposed bill. The full text can be found here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3261: The Wiki page outlining the proposed bills can be read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/PROTECT_IP_Act. A fairly objective article weighing the pros- and cons of SOPA and PIPA can be found here: http:// indiancountrytodaymedianetwork .com/2012/01/18/pro-and-con- speaking-up-in-support-and- protest-of-sopa-and-internet- blackouts-72991 or here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/technology-16612628.
Pro SOPA/ PIPALetter from law firm Cahill, Gordon, and Reindel LLP http://www.mpaa.org/Resources/1227ef12-e209-4edf- b8b8-bb4af768430c.pdfLetter to Politico from Rep. Lamar Smith: http://www.politico. com/news/stories/1211/70948. html#ixzz1jl5OEGZk
Anti SOPA/ PIPAAn interesting full analysis (anti-SOPA) by Mashable can be read here: http://mashable.com/2012/01/17/sopa-dangerous-opinion/
Response from the White House regarding SOPA/ PIPA https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/response/ combating-online-piracy-while- protecting-open-and- innovative-internetIf you would like to sign the petition opposing SOPA/ PIPA, please visit https://www.google.com/ landing/takeaction/ (it takes maybe 10 seconds).
And for a lighthearted (yet educational) view of SOPA/ PIPA, please view http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/17/the-day-the- lolcats-died/
No matter which side you chose, this is a serious IP issue that will effect each of us in our IP careers. Please take the time to inform yourself.
What are your thoughts on SOPA/ PIPA?
You Know You're a 2L When...
- You no longer fear the Bluebook. In fact, you get sort of a sick pleasure out of figuring out legal citations.
- The word "internship" either makes you shudder in fear and anxiety OR makes you feel like a big-money boss.
- A professor (adjunct) tells you, "Great answer!" and you just stare at them, scared.
- You've run into at least one professor at a bar.
- You've had a full on serious and/or legal conversation with a professor while drunk.
- You've "adopted" a 1L as your own... kind of like a pet.
- You realize that if you come out of an exam feeling good, there is NO WAY you're getting an A.
- You [think you] are on first-name terms with professors.... when actually you just call them by their last name.
- Stalking LinkedIn is a full-time hobby.
- You realize that you MUST do something outside of law school.
- Your friends from college have stopped calling during the week and the months of Nov.--Dec and April--May.
- Art? Who needs art on the walls? You've decorated your room with flowcharts of Agency Relationships and the Rules of Evidence.\
- You get a pitter-patter in your heart over a good suit.
- This applies to you:
Have any more?? Leave them in the comments section and I'll add the best!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Depo From Hell: With Chaos, Blood and Violence
When Law School sucks, at least you don't have to deal with this (yet...)