AWARD NAMED IN HONOR OF UGA COPYRIGHT LAW PROFESSOR

Abstract

Monday, July 29, 2002

WRITER/CONTACT: Heidi Murphy, 706/542-5172, hmurphy@uga.edu

AWARD NAMED IN HONOR OF UGA COPYRIGHT LAW PROFESSOR

ATHENS, Ga. - The American Library Association has established an award in honor of University of Georgia School of Law copyright guru, Pope Brock Professor L. Ray Patterson.

The creation of the L. Ray Patterson Award: In Support of Users’ Rights was formally announced and presented to Patterson at the association’s annual conference in Atlanta last month. ALA Copyright Specialist Carrie Russell said the prestigious L. Ray Patterson Award will not be an annual award presented by the association. “It will only be presented when someone who works in the public policy aspect of copyright is deserving of such recognition.” The award was presented by Professor Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School.

Patterson is a widely recognized expert on the history of copyright law. He is the author of Copyright in Historical Perspective, the seminal treatment of copyright history and generally recognized as a classic treatise. Patterson is also widely known for his book The Nature of Copyright: A Law of Users' Rights (with the late Stanley Lindberg).

In 1995, Patterson was appointed special assistant attorney general of Georgia for copyright matters and wrote the attorney general's opinion on fair use of copyrighted materials for teaching and research. He was also instrumental in preparing the Regents’ Guide to Understanding Copyright and Educational Fair Use now in effect for the University System of Georgia.

He is frequently called upon to provide expert testimony on matters of copyright infringement and legal ethics, and has advised state and national policy makers on the subjects. In addition, his scholarship is frequently cited in court opinions, including those of the United States Supreme Court.

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