Movies – A Global Passion

This year, the World IP Day theme is: Movies – A Global Passion.

As WIPO Director General, Francis Gurry stated at the U.S. Copyright Office's “early” celebration of World IP Day on April 23, 2014, “movies really are collections of intellectual property.” Gurry also said, “intellectual property ensures we have a global production of movies that rewards all of those who are involved in the production of movies.”

IP is of course essential to the film business, from the inception of a film throughout the process, including the film hitting the screen. For more information, see 

What Role for You on World IP Day?

Organizations around the world are seizing the opportunity to educate others about IP and the people and process involved in creating IP.  You too could join in and host a film festival, organize a concert, or exhibit inventions of local inventors. WIPO makes several of activities you can do.�� These activities include:

• Mounting a public exhibition displaying how consumers benefit from IP
• Organizing a workshop to educate specific users such as artists, musicians and inventors about how IP rights benefit them
• Promoting IP through social media
• Running a photo contest to manifest creativity and the working of copyright in practice
• Creating and distributing World IP Day publicity materials such as posters, brochures, etc., for specific audiences

WIPO can help if you are planning a public outreach campaign. Its site suggests that you establish your campaign with specific objectives, you identify the target audience, research the best way of getting the word out to your audience and develop a plan to get that word out. For more information, see .

Spreading the IP Word

A celebration of World IP Day could be as simple as discussing downloading music with your children around the dinner table. Or sharing with a colleague a URL to an article about legally using trade-marks. Or posting a message on your Facebook page about others obtaining permission to use your photos. Whether we create or use IP, it is easy to see how IP is an integral part of our daily lives. And it seems that IP has grown so quickly to encompass even more of our activities.

One of my favourite quotes about understanding copyright law and “spreading the copyright message” comes from U.S. Register for Copyright, Maria Pallante, where she states that copyright is a life skill:

It’s one of those life skills now, right? When you graduate from high school or college, you should know how to read a map, you should know how to use GPS, you should know a little bit about copyright. If you are somebody who is going to be in a field where you will encounter copyrighted materials all the time, you should know more. If you’re going to be an artist or musician and you’re getting a red-hot degree in the performing arts, you should know a lot. And I don’t think that’s quite the case - I don’t think it’s been built into the curricula.

Do you know a little bit about IP or more? And what can you do today to help your friends, families and colleagues understand how IP affects us all?

Lesley is a lawyer, author, educator, and Osgoode  (’85). Her book, , was recently published by Wiley. You can read more of Lesley’s posts at .��

The post World Intellectual Property Day 2014 appeared first on IPOsgoode.

Lesley Ellen Harris is an Osgoode Hall Law School Alumnus ('85) who is a copyright lawyer/consultant and works on legal, business, and strategic issues in the publishing, content, entertainment, Internet, and information industries. She is the editor of the Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter and the author of several books.�� Her newest book is Licensing Digital Content: A Practical Guide for Librarians.��

We asked Lesley a few questions about her career experience and thoughts on IP.

1. Why did you choose a career in IP?

For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in writing and publishing. I wasn't sure whether I'd end up working in law or perhaps a career related to writing and publishing. So I took as many courses as I could related to writing and publishing - contracts, copyright law and entertainment law.

2. What is a "must read" IP article/book?

Read everything -- I especially like to be aware of writings for non-lawyers. Since much of copyright compliance is voluntary, education of the public is extremely important. Creating a "copyright culture" in Canada is an essential on-going project.

3. Why should a prospective law student consider a career in IP?

It's interesting and dynamic -- since technology and media is always changing, I think we have some interesting applications of law ahead of us and what fun to be a part of that! I was lucky to begin my career in copyright in the summer of 1984 while still at Osgoode. I was a summer student for the lobbying group, Canadian Copyright Institute. Back then, the issues were mostly related to print and analog technology. I feel like I had great experience in the old media before applying the same principles to the newer media. It's a bit different now since most starting out in IP would be dealing with newer media and technology. However, there are more and more jobs in IP both in Canada and internationally. I think an IP career is interesting and also creative -- plus you get to work with great people which IP seems to attract.

4. Any message that you would like to give to IP Osgoode readers?

Be open minded about copyright. Don't always side with creators and owners, or users and consumers, of copyright-protected materials. We are all creators, owners and consumers at some time in our lives. Think through each issue without having a preconceived idea. And be careful about being extreme, for example all content should be free -- always think about the other side when you feel that you are siding with one side of the balance.

5. What are the most significant changes at Osgoode Hall Law School since you were a student?

IP Osgoode! I see many law schools in the U.S. now have IP centres and I am delighted to see Osgoode taking a similar role.

The post Q&A with Osgoode Alumnus: Lesley Ellen Harris appeared first on IPOsgoode.