Wednesday, April 15, 1998
Senator gives lecture in law school series
LAW SCHOOL: Orrin Hatch speaks at tribute to Professor Nimmer
who is known as ‘king of copyright’
By Emi Kojima
Daily Bruin Contributor
Students frequently use copy machines, tape recorders and the
Internet. These tools actually give them incredible power – the
power to break copyright laws.
Though copyright law may sound far- removed from students, Sen.
Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told law students how better technology has
made copyright law relate directly to individuals.
"Many students hope to be authors, publishers, journalists,
musicians and songwriters," Hatch said. "In almost all of these
areas, copyright plays a very important role."
Hatch spoke at the 12th-annual Melville Nimmer lecture at the
UCLA School of Law. The lecture series has served as a tribute to
Nimmer, a UCLA law professor who specialized in copyright law.
"Nimmer’s students were aware that he had been named the king of
copyright by the National Law Journal," said Dean Susan Prager.
Hatch was chosen because of his role in writing legislation to
protect copyrights.
"Sen. Orrin Hatch is clearly an elected official who cares
greatly about the role of actually developing legislation," Prager
said.
Copyright law recently has been a hot issue because of new
technology, such as the Internet.
Steven Lieberman, a copyright attorney, said that the issues of
copyrights are not new and that existing copyright law is
sufficient.
"The Internet has not created any new copyright law. Any issue
is couched in terms of the old copyright laws," he said.
The Internet, however, has made enforcing copyright laws
difficult. That is where Hatch and the legislature step in,
drafting laws that include enforcing existing copyright laws by
clarifying agreements with other countries.
Hatch also works on drafting anti-trust legislation. He
currently is investigating whether Microsoft has a monopoly in the
computer industry.
He said that he would like a "free market in the electronic
media."
Hatch, now in his fourth term, has served as a U.S. Senator
since 1976. He serves as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee
that plays a role in electing federal judges. He is the first
legislator to deliver a speech for the lecture series.
Previous lecturers have hailed from academia, including many
UCLA law professors.
The focus of the lecture series also has changed throughout the
years. Many lecturers have focused on aspects of Nimmer’s work
other than copyright, such as his work with the First
Amendment.
Nimmer was well known as the lawyer who argued in front of the
U.S. Supreme Court in the defense of Paul Cohen, a young man who
wore a jacket that read "Fuck the draft. Stop the War."
The Court found that the First Amendment protected Cohen’s right
to wear the jacket.
PATRICK LAM
Senator Orrin Hatch speaks at UCLA.