Publications

By: Laura Schumacher Abstract: Fashion is art. Fashion is a medium for designers to create new forms of expression and innovate ways to reflect on culture and society. Fashion is a reflection of culture, and like culture, it changes with time. It serves a utilitarian function and is part of our daily lives. Fashion is on the catwalk during a fashion show by one of the world’s leading designers. Fashion is one’s creative outlet to mix and match signature pieces to create a new way of personal expression. This paper will explore the nature of the fashion industry and whether we, as a society, should grant design protection under copyright law. Congress is currently considering the Design Piracy Protection Act, which would extend a form of copyright protection to fashion designs. The industry is divided on whether the legislation will impede creativity and prevent the industry from changing and evolving over time. This decision really comes down to one question; will the benefit of extending protection outweigh the negative effects? This paper will attempt to answer this question through public policy, legislative history, and industry opinion.

By Allison Landwehr Abstract: This article will scrutinize the growth and pervasiveness of the Internet with regards to the disabled community and the need for Congressman Edward Markey’s (D-MA) Twenty-First Century Communication and Video Accessibility Act to be passed. Broken into seven parts, this exposé will examine the following: I. The Internet Invasion; II. Current Status of Internet Access by Persons with Disabilities; III. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Internet; IV. Overview of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (TCCVA); V. Statutory Requirements and Regulations of the TCCVA; VI. Positive and Negative Aspects of the TCCVA; and VII. Concluding Remarks.

By: Fei Hu and Aaron Mallin

Abstract: The authors of this paper discuss the patentability of medical methods and address the potential defects of the “physicians’ immunity statute”. In order to preserve the merits and limit the drawbacks of the statute, this paper proposes replacing the statute by establishing a new “Medical Method Patents” regime. Possible new terms for this patent have been discussed and changes in patent examination procedure have also been introduced.

By Ju-Hyun Yoo Abstract: In the United States, DNA forensics, or the science of identifying people by their DNA, has become an indispensable criminal justice tool as it helps to identify criminals, victims' remains, and vindicate those who were wrongly convicted, including some awaiting execution. However, despite the positive contributions of DNA technology, it has also raised significant questions involving ethical, social, and legal issues that mostly concern civil liberties. This note will evaluate the development of DNA databases, and examine the advantages and problems of expanding DNA databases for criminal cases in general.

By Stephen Hoffman Abstract: Imagine it is the year 2030. As you walk down your street to visit your favorite coffee shop, a camera mounted at the nearest intersection tracks your movements. Through undetectable, infrared beam of light, the camera photographs the vasculature structure of your eyes and runs it against a database of known criminals, immigrants, and even people dissenting from popular opinion. If your retinal pattern matches that of a person listed in the database, the computer transmits this information to the proper authorities. All of this happens before you even step through the door of the coffee shop. Now, imagine if private companies, instead of the government, are the ones running those cameras. Retinal vascular patterns have been shown to anticipate future illnesses as well as conclusively identify hereditary or genetic conditions from which the individual suffers. What if a health insurance company installs these cameras outside its offices to identify individuals and detect disorders and illnesses before they walk through the door? This note discusses biometric analysis and raises concerns that such an intrusive procedure may have on the privacy rights of those being examined.

By Emily Prudente Abstract: With the Internet's growing ubiquity and prevalence, the use of open source software has increased and evolved rapidly. The unique licensing schemes covering open source software make it particularly intriguing from a legal perspective, and for uninformed legal professionals. Without an acute understanding of the details of these licenses, the world of open source code quickly becomes treacherous and ripe with potential pitfalls. For attorneys practicing corporate law, intellectual property law, or those who serve as general counsel to technology companies, awareness of the increasingly complex world of open source licensing is of paramount importance. Companies stand to lose a great deal, in some cases, everything, if open source code is not properly managed. This note will focus on what legal professionals need to know about open source software before dealing in corporate transactions.

By Gabriel Hallevy Abstract: Can society impose criminal liability upon robots? The technological world has changed rapidly. Simple human activities are being replaced by robots. As long as humanity used robots as mere tools, there was no real difference between robots and screwdrivers, cars or telephones. When robots became sophisticated, we used to say that robots think for us. The problem began when robots evolved from thinking machines into thinking machines or Artificial Intelligence Robots. Could they become dangerous? Unfortunately, they already are. People's fear of AI robots, in most cases, is based on the fact that AI robots are not considered to be subject to the law, specifically to criminal law. This note explores which kind of laws or ethics are appropriate to govern the behavior of AI Robots and who has the authority to decide a robot's faith.