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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Patrick Ross
July 1, 2005
(202) 289-8928
   
MGM v. Grokster: What's Next?
Sherman, Deutsch, Sohn Join DeLong on PFF Panel

WASHINGTON D.C. - The 9-0 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in MGM v. Grokster Monday wasn't the end of that case, or of the vexing policy issues surrounding the conflict over unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing. The Progress & Freedom Foundation has assembled an expert panel to discuss the implications of the decision at a Congressional Seminar July 8 titled "MGM v. Grokster: What's Next?" PFF Senior Fellow Jim DeLong, director of PFF's Center for the Study of Digital Property (IPcentral.info) will moderate. The event runs from noon to 2 p.m. in Room 1537 of the Longworth House Office Building.

Panelists will represent the content industry, Internet service providers and public interest groups. Addressing the seminar will be Recording Industry Association of America President Cary Sherman, Verizon Communications Vice President and Associate General Counsel Sarah Deutsch, and Public Knowledge President Gig Sohn.

On June 27th the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 9-0 decision in the much-anticipated case. In remanding the case back to a lower court, the High Court assured the case would continue in the legal system for some time. But the Court also addressed some of the policy issues surrounding peer-to-peer file-sharing services and the issue of secondary liability for copyright infringement. Based on this decision, the question is what lies ahead for copyright policy on Capitol Hill?

Cary Sherman joined the RIAA in 1997, and previously worked with the trade group as outside counsel while with Arnold and Porter, where he was the head of the firm's Intellectual Property and Technology Practice Group. Sherman was named president and general counsel of RIAA in 2002, and is an accomplished musician and songwriter.

Sarah Deutsch covers all global Internet policy issues for Verizon. She served as Private Sector Advisor to the U.S. Delegation to the World Intellectual Property Organization 1996 Conference on the WIPO Copyright Treaties. Deutsch was formerly Vice President & Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) managing a large intellectual property practice.

Gigi Sohn is the co-founder of Public Knowledge, a nonprofit organization that addresses the convergence of communications policy and intellectual property law. She previously served as a Project Specialist in the Ford Foundation's Media, Arts and Culture unit. Prior to joining the Ford Foundation, Sohn was Executive Director of the Media Access Project (MAP).

Those interested in attending the PFF Congressional Seminar "MGM v. Grokster: What's Next?" should register online. Lunch will be served. Media questions should be directed to Patrick Ross at 202-289-8928 or pross@pff.org. Other questions should be directed to Andrea Knutsen at 202-289-8928 or aknutsen@pff.org.

The Progress & Freedom Foundation is a market-oriented think tank that studies the digital revolution and its implications for public policy. It is a 501(c)(3) research & educational organization.

 

 

The Progress & Freedom Foundation