EASL’s Black Lives Matter Black Media Matters

We want to be clear. Black lives matter. And Black media matters. Racism is rampant in the industries that EASL covers – entertainment, art, and sports. Hollywood, from its inception, has failed in amplifying Black voices, telling Black stories, showcasing Black actors, hiring Black content creators, and working with Black crewmembers. One way that we, as a community and as individuals, can tell these entertainment industries that we want Black voices to be heard, that we want Black stories to be told, that we want Black cast and crew members to be included and respected, is to play the game that Hollywood and other media industries live by – the numbers game. Simply put, the more viewers, the more successful media is, the more likely similar media gets made.

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2019 Intellectual Property Alumni-Student Reception

This year’s event, held on April 16th, was a great success—bringing alumni and students together for productive and meaningful conversations on Intellectual Property. Both the Intellectual Property Law Society and the IP Law Center would like to thank Robert Gunther for hosting the event at WilmerHale in an absolutely beautiful venue. We look forward to conducting this event for many years to come and to its becoming an annual fixture where students in Intellectual Property can gain meaningful insights and connections with distinguished alumni in the field.

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Michelle Johnson ’05 director of production legal at the television, global-based format, and digital production company Embassy Row.

Michelle Johnson ’05 director of production legal at the television, global-based format, and digital production company Embassy Row.

Johnson’s career in entertainment has taken her from MTV to ABC, where she provided counsel on Good Morning America, The Chew, and The View, to her current role handling a range of business and legal affairs for industry-acclaimed shows, including Watch What Happens Live, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. “My work at Embassy Row is fast-paced and mentally stimulating, which are two essentials for me to be fulfilled in my professional life,” says Johnson. “On any given day, I might handle First Amendment matters, close the terms of a construction contract, negotiate an on-camera appearance, and draft a music licensing agreement.” The idea for the alumni group, she explains, grew out of a desire to connect with other St. John’s Law graduates who share her enthusiasm for this special line of work.

“I started with contact information for about seven alumni in the industry,” Johnson says. “With help from fellow alumni like Christina Kim Constantine ’13, director of legal affairs at Bustle, and Joseph Delerme ’10, a business and legal affairs attorney at Monami Entertainment, in less than a year, the group has grown to over 45 participants. I believe that, as word spreads, many more alumni will join us.”

2019 St. John's Intellectual Property Colloquium

The St. John’s Intellectual Property Colloquium is a visiting speaker series in that provides students with an opportunity to hone their critical and analytical skills through deep engagement with cutting-edge legal scholarship, presented by the authors themselves. This year’s lineup of visiting speakers will cover topics including the use of indigenous traditional knowledge in patent applications, the patentability of improvements to healthcare technologies, the origins of European copyright in the medieval Catholic Church, trademark norms in the craft beer industry, the scope of design patent rights, and the rollout of the new Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act.

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