Conference: Blurred v. Bright: The Changing Analysis of Copyright Infringement in Music

Tags: Content/IP / Technology Policy

The Blurred Lines case, in which Marvin Gaye’s estate secured a multi-million dollar judgment against songwriters and recording artists Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke for copyright infringement stemming from similar sounding songs, has dominated the recent industry headlines. For some commentators, this result is a win for artists whose work is routinely “borrowed” from without compensation or attribution. In an era in which new music often evokes earlier works, the holding is alternately viewed as a potential threat to artistic creation, to the ultimate detriment of the public. Whatever the take, this seminal verdict marks a significant development in the application of copyright’s substantial similarity doctrine to music.

This conference, Silicon Flatirons’ third annual to focus on content, centers on the Blurred Lines case. We welcome Richard Busch, attorney for the Gaye children, for a fireside chat. A pair of panel discussions considering the potential impact of the verdict from both an artistic and a policy perspective will follow.

This conference will bring together some of the nation’s brightest artists, lawyers, policymakers, and academics to discuss the rapidly changing analysis of copyright infringement in music.


Sessions

03/23/17 1:00pm - 1:10pm
Opening Remarks
  • Phil Weiser
    Hatfield Professor of Law, University of Colorado Law School; Executive Director and Founder, Silicon Flatirons
03/23/17 1:10pm - 2:00pm
Fireside Chat
03/23/17 2:00pm - 2:15pm
Break

03/23/17 2:15pm - 3:30pm
Artistic Impact
03/23/17 3:30pm - 3:45pm
Break

03/23/17 3:45pm - 5:00pm
Legal and Policy Impact
  • F. Jay Dougherty — Moderator
    Professor of Law, Director of Entertainment & Media Law Institute and Concentration Program, Loyola Law School
  • Olufunmilayo B. Arewa — Presenter
    Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine School of Law
  • Robert Brauneis — Presenter
    Professor of Law, Co-director of the Intellectual Property Law Program, George Washington University Law School
  • Charles Cronin — Presenter
    Lecturer in Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
  • Peter Menell — Presenter
    Koret Professor of Law, Co-director of Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, University of California Berkeley, School of Law
  • Jay Rosenthal — Commenter
    Partner, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp
03/23/17 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Reception

Please note: Per university alcohol policy, only registered guests will be admitted to the reception.

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