About Us

The Institute for Information Law & Policy

The Institute for Information Law and Policy is New York Law School’s home for the study of intellectual property and technology law. Our doctrinal fields of study include patent, copyright, trademark, internet law, and cognate fields, and we focus on legal and policy issues in information technology, fashion, media, entertainment, publishing and associated industries. We also have a strong group examining digital open government issues.

The mission of the IILP is to provide opportunities for New York Law School students and faculty to study the fields of intellectual property and technology law, to advance student knowledge in these fields, to provide ways to connect students and faculty to industry and practice groups, and to engage in the development of the law in our areas of expertise. It provides the focus for student-initiated work, creates connections between faculty and students, and provides guidance over student work and research in this area. It also supports faculty by providing networks and resources to advance their scholarly interests.

Students affiliated with the Institute (Harlan Scholars, Institute Student Fellows, and Associates) pursue a specialized and rigorous course of study, which thoroughly grounds them in intellectual property, information and technology law. Working closely with Institute faculty, Harlan Scholars and Associates also pursue advanced research and design projects aimed at bringing about real-world change through legal scholarship and/or media and software innovation.

Harlan/Associates Program

The Harlan program is New York Law School’s honors program and it has been a notable success of the school. The IILP recently became the most popular center for Harlans, accepting 46 students in the 2010–2011 academic year. In order to expand the opportunities to other students, we have created an “Associates Program.” Both Harlans and Associates will have the opportunity of working with our faculty, graduate fellows and student research fellows on IILP projects. The Harlans and Associates will  have the opportunity to meet every month to discuss recent developments in intellectual property, and blog about these events. Additionally, they have access to our wide program of elective courses, as well as the opportunity to contribute to IILP Public Statements. Public Statements are intended to provide a forum for discussion and argument for positions strongly held by the students on issues within topics of interest to the IILP.

Jobtrack Program

The Jobtrack Program is a two year program aimed at giving students a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in IP-related industries and in the firms that service them. In the 2009–2010 academic year we successfully trialed three different tracks in advertising law, fashion law, and music law. The program has now been expanded to include media and entertainment law, publishing law, videogame law, patent law, and sports law; and we have increased enrolment to fifty students spread across second and third year students.

Student blogs and journals

In the 2009–2010 academic year, the Institute for Information Law and Policy experimented with a new type of industry-focused student-publication, a “social law journal” that combines a blog, along with legal resources, essays, and social media tools. The purpose of these blogs has been to provide students with an opportunity to learn about and publicly display their knowledge on current intellectual property issues. To date, five such blogs have been established: CaseClothesed, a site aimed at fashion law and business; ForTheRechord, which focuses on the music industry and the law; All Your Law Are Belong To Us (AYLABTU), which focuses on videogame law; Ad Nauseam, which focuses on the advertising industry and the law; and The Official Review, which focuses on sports law.

Techlaw Labs

Project-based learning has been a central feature of the IILP for years, and this year is no different. Techlaw Labs allow students to work with faculty members on real-world topics and with real-world clients. Previous Techlaw Labs have included the Clickable Statute (a law teaching tool), the Vermont Virtual Corporation, and the Peer To Patent project. More recent topics include producing documentaries about legal issues, building social media and mobile applications for legal practice, and an empirical study on the effect of intellectual property on the freedom of speech.
 

Affiliations

Center for Patent Innovations

The Center for Patent Innovations is associated with both the Institute for Information Law & Policy and the Do Tank.  The Center designs and develops projects harnessing Web-based collaborative tools for the sole purpose of improving patent systems, both in the United States and around the world.