Constitutional Boundaries of Intellectual Property Law

Harris School of Public Policy Studies
1155 E. 60th St
Room 224

Presented by David Beeman, lawyer at Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson LLP

"Intellectual property law" is an umbrella term for disparate — and occasionally conflicting — doctrines that demarcate and grant rights in intangible objects. This discussion will use copyright, trademark, and right of publicity cases to explore the contours of IP law, debate the effect these doctrines have on artistic expression and artists' rights, and highlight points where IP law runs up against constitutional limitations. During the conversation, we will delve into the nature of real versus intangible property, the policies underlying the Constitution's IP clause(s), and cross-border comparisons with the UK and Europe.

David Beeman is a lawyer at Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson LLP, where he counsels clients on intellectual property matters, including trademark and copyright selection, prosecution, and enforcement, Internet law, the rights of publicity and privacy, the First Amendment, and promotion and marketing law. David received a Master of Public Policy from the Harris School in 2004 and J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 2007, where he was an associate editor for the Northwestern University Law Review. David is admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.