Emerging technologies are transforming the role communications networks and content play in our lives, and information has become globally accessible. Attorneys must be prepared to navigate an expanding array of rapidly evolving legal regimes. Clients need lawyers who are well prepared to help them thrive in this dynamic environment.
The Vanderbilt Intellectual Property Program prepares Vanderbilt law graduates to meet this challenge. Students learn IP law basics and explore advanced topics with world-class scholars and practitioners, including international intellectual property expert Daniel Gervais, the author of the leading guide to the TRIPS Agreement, which governs international intellectual property rights; copyright expert Joseph Fishman, an innovative scholar whose work has examined the relationship of intellectual property to creativity and the creative process; and Michael Bressman, who teaches the Intellectual Property and the Arts clinic. The program's adjunct faculty includes Judge Kent A. Jordan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Suzanne Kessler, an entertainment and IP attorney whose clients include record labels, recording artists, music publishers, film and production companies, and digital music and media start-ups; and R. Gregory Parker, an IP litigator who represents technology companies in patent, trademark, trade secrets and copyright disputes.
Vanderbilt's hometown of Nashville,Tennessee, is also home to numerous record labels, television networks, instrument manufacturers, and three leading performance rights licensing organizations: BMI, ASCAP and SESAC. Students interested in fellowships and externships have opportunities to work with noted practitioners of intellectual property, entertainment, technology and innovation law.
JETL is a student-edited, scholarly publication focusing on contemporary legal issues facing the entertainment industry. JETL publishes articles and notes on film/television, music, sports and the Internet, and sponsors biannual academic symposia. The 2021 conference focused on "The Law of Global Emergencies." Previous conferences have addressed "The Effect of Emerging Digital Technology on Entertainment Content Development," "Fair Use Doctrine in Copyright Law” and “The Economics of Baseball."
VIPA provides a forum for students interested in learning about or working in the dynamic field of intellectual property law. The field includes but is not limited to patent, copyright, and trademark. The organization seeks to create educational events for students, foster debate on current issues, develop employment networks with alumni and local practitioners, and take advantage of practical opportunities available right here in Nashville.
ESLS frequently invites outside speakers to discuss issues related to intellectual property and/or entertainment law. Their mission is to educate Vanderbilt law students about the current events and problems facing the sports and entertainment industries today and to facilitate lasting connections between Vanderbilt law students and professionals in those fields.
The programs at Owen School of Graduate Management have consistently been ranked in the top 10 percent of accredited business schools by Bloomberg, Businessweek, U.S. News & World Report, Financial Times, The Economist and Forbes. Owen is home to eLab, the nation's first academic research center dedicated to the study of the Internet. The New York Times calls eLab “one of the premiere research centers in the world for the study of electronic commerce,” and the Wall Street Journal recognizes the effort as the “electronic commerce pioneer among business schools.”
The Curb Center is dedicated to exploring how the unintended consequences of decisions by business enterprises and governmental actors affect cultural policy.
