Kelley Drye Helps DOJ and Court TV Launch Intellectual Property Education Initiative

Washington, DC – Kelley Drye participated in the launch of a unique national education program aimed at encouraging teens to respect the intellectual property rights of artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and inventors. More than 120 students with an interest in music, web design, and law came from four Washington, D.C. area high schools for the forum, which featured remarks by Attorney General John Ashcroft.

The forum launches a key youth educational initiative recommended by the Department’s Task Force on Intellectual Property in its report on October 12. The student forum was a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Justice, Court TV, and non-profit organizations I-Safe America and Street Law, Inc.

Street Law is a pro bono client of Kelley Drye and conducts educational programs on practical law, including human rights and democracy, throughout the United States and in countries in Africa, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. Street Law played a major role in the development, organization, and execution of the event.

Entitled Activate Your Mind: Protect Your Ideas, the half-day forum centered on copyright protection, and the impact of infringement – in particular infringing downloading on the Internet has on musicians, filmmakers, writers, and other artists. Featured speakers represented a cross-section of government, industry and entertainment views. One of the more popular topics was a presentation on alternatives to illegal downloading. Students also had an opportunity to share views and ask questions of the Attorney General and Task Force members.

“Today’s students are the artists and inventors of tomorrow.” ​“We want them to understand the important bargain struck by intellectual property law. Protecting intellectual property in your own creations means respecting the intellectual property rights of others.”

The event was taped by Court TV for future airing.

About Kelley Drye

Kelley Drye’s Washington, D.C. office solves competitive problems for Fortune 500 companies, privately held corporations, government entities, and trade associations in the US and abroad. The firm has over 100 attorneys and professionals practicing in the following areas: Advertising and Marketing, Antitrust and Competition, Technology, Environmental, Government Relations and Public Policy, Intellectual Property, International Trade, Litigation, and Trade Associations.