Laura Bergus

While it is definitely the cool thing for law students (like most students) to hate on their professors, I’m actually pretty psyched for next semester.  It’s true that the driving force behind this post is avoiding studying for this semester’s finals, but today was the last day of classes, so cut me some slack.

First, there will be Law in the Muslim World (*love* the website design).  I don’t think I’m interested in international/comparative law, which is precisely why I’m looking forward to this class.  I’ve found I learn more in classes I know less about, so this should be fun.  The professor, Adrien Wing, once wrote a paper called “Brief Reflections towards a Multiplicative Theory and Praxis of Being.”  I expect to be challenged.

On the flip side is Law of Electronic Media, taught by former FCC commissioner and public access (television, that is) super-advocate, Nick Johnson (again with the awesome website!).  Due to my background in local access TV and telecommunications generally, I will walk into this class thinking I know something.  Chances are, Professor Johnson will prove me utterly wrong.  Having read and referenced  several of Johnson’s writings over the years, I’m looking forward to being in this small class.

Then comes the one-two IP punch of Copyrights and Antitrust.  [Wait, are those both IP?  I thought IP meant "internet protocol"??]  These classes are back in the I-know-nothing-except-what-minimal-exposure-to-popular-culture-and-NPR-has-taught-me category.  I was excited to read the abstract to Professor Christina Bohannan’s recent paper and realize she’s interested in looking at how intellectual property law limits freedom of expression.  My perception is that a fair number of my classmates are more interested in learning how to protect (read: lock down, profit from, or stifle competition in the name of) IP of their future clients.  I’m interested to see if they or I end up disappointed.

Antitrust is taught by giant of the field (and Bohannan’s husband) Herbert Hovenkamp.  He was my Torts instructor last fall and was awfully nice to students.  Bohannan and Hovenkamp are also working on a book about how complex IP laws actually discourage innovation.

While I’m a bit sad to be leaving the pack of fellow students in Section 7 (they’re mostly taking Con Law II and Evidence), I’ll have the chance to make new friends.  Or, to sit in the front row and not meet anyone, like I usually do… But I honestly am looking forward to it.