Posted on behalf of the ARLIS/NA Public Policy Committee.

Roger Lawson, co-chair

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"Can the Google Book Settlement Be Fixed?: A Roundtable Discussion Among Experts"

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The George Washington University Law School
2000 H Street NW, Washington, DC
Faculty Conference Center, Burns 505
9:30 am-3 pm

Event Registration 

In March 2011, United States District Judge Denny Chin rejected the proposed settlement in the lawsuit alleging that Google's digitalization of books violated copyright laws. The judge recognized that the settlement would have produced significant benefits for many authors, publishers, and members of the reading public, but he concluded that objections from a variety of individuals and entities, including the federal government, required him to disapprove the deal. However, he left the door open to approving a modified settlement.

This conference will explore what options are available to the parties that would retain the principal benefits of the rejected deal, but might satisfy the judge and some of the objectors. After an initial presentation of options, a moderator will pose questions to the discussants, who are experts in the three main areas where the judge identified problems: copyright, class actions, and antitrust.

Confirmed Participants:
Jonathan Band (Jonathan Band, PLLC)
William Cavanaugh (Patterson Belknap, formerly with the U.S. Department of Justice)
Michael Guzman (Kellogg, Huber)
Samuel Issacharoff (New York University Law School)
Hadrian Katz (Arnold & Porter)
Daphne Keller (Google)
Marybeth Peters (formerly Register of Copyrights)
Randal Picker (University of Chicago Law School)
Richard Pierce (The George Washington University Law School)
Jule Sigall (Microsoft)
Charles S. Sims (Proskauer)
Roger Trangsrud (The George Washington University Law School)
Brian Wolfman (Georgetown University Law Center) Event

Agenda

9-9:30 am
Registration and light refreshments

9:30-9:40 am
Opening remarks, Interim Dean Gregory Maggs, The George Washington University Law School

9:40-10 am
Presentation of Possible Paths Forward, Associate Dean Alan Morrison, The George Washington University Law School

10:05-Noon
Roundtable discussion lead by Professor Robert Brauneis, The George Washington University Law School

Noon-12:45 pm
Lunch

12:45-3 pm
Resume roundtable discussion

Reservations are required, and can be made by registering online, or by contacting Brianna Carbonneau at 202.994.4692 or [log in to unmask].

Materials

Chin Opinion Rejecting Settlement