DePaul Law News

Professor Livingston's recent scholarship focuses on IP, commercial law

Professor Margit Livingston wrapped up the fall 2012 semester with a number of scholarly activities, including online publication of five essays for Lexis on emerging issues under UCC Article 9. Livingston also updated and revised two lengthy chapters for Lexis for forthcoming publication in its Commercial Damages treatise. 

She presented and distributed a paper on the regulation of horse racing under state law and trade association regulations to attendees at the DePaul Animal Law Symposium. The DePaul Business & Commercial Law Journal also published her transcript of a presentation on recent developments under UCC Article 9. 

Professor Livingston was also involved in the final editing of a law review article entitled “Copyright Infringement of Music: Determining Whether What Sounds Alike Is Alike,” which will be published in January in Volume 15 of the Vanderbilt Entertainment and Technology Law Journal.

Professor Livingston is a faculty member affiliated with the Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (CIPLIT), co-director of the LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law, and director of the Center for Animl Law. She teaches and writes in the areas of intellectual property, commercial law and animal law. Her courses include Secured Transactions, Intellectual Property Survey, Copyright, Theater Law, Remedies and Consumer Law among others.

 

 

DePaul’s Center for Animal Law examines legal protection of animals used in entertainment at October symposium

Animals are used for entertainment every day in American society. They are the main attractions at places such as zoos and circuses, and are regularly seen on television and in films. While animals entertain, what rights and protections govern their use? The Center for Animal Law at DePaul University will take an unbiased glimpse at the laws and protections governing use of animals in entertainment at a day long symposium Oct. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 8005.

“Our aim is to facilitate a balanced dialogue about the use of animals in entertainment activities such as racing, TV and film, zoos and circuses,” said Margit Livingston, director of the Center for Animal Law. “Specifically, this symposium will look at the law’s role in protecting animals used in these activities, while at the same time, recognizing that many view these activities as beneficial to society.”

Gary Francione, distinguished professor of law and Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Scholar of Law & Philosophy at Rutgers-Newark School of Law, will give the keynote address. Francione, who is at the forefront of the modern animal rights movement, will present some of the legal challenges in animal law when animals are viewed as property. “If we really believe animals have moral value; if we really believe that animals are not just things, we must fundamentally change our behavior and seriously look at the matter of animal use and not just the matter of animal treatment,” said Francione.

DePaul's Environmental Law Society pitches in for Adopt-a-Beach event

 

From left: Sarah Wilson (2L), Sarah Hunter (2L), Melissa Reeks (2L), Monica Racia (1L), Brandon Clark (2L), Stephanie Mulcahy (3L), Dan Pauley (1L), Chrissie White (2L), Chase Pugh (2L), Mollie Peskind (2L), Phil Mendoza (2L), Sam Gieryn (3L) and dog, Lurie.

On Saturday, September 15, the Alliance for the Great Lakes organized its annual Adopt-a-Beach event during which groups from all over the Great Lakes region met at local beaches to remove garbage and collect data. Across the Great Lakes region, more than 150 beach clean-ups involving nearly 4,000 volunteers collected well over 5 tons of garbage.

The DePaul Environmental Law Society and the DePaul Law Student Animal Legal Defense Fund participated in the clean-up efforts at Montrose Beach. Between the two organizations, 12 DePaul students (and one canine helper) logged approximately 24 cumulative service hours and collected 56 pounds of garbage. 

Both groups plan to make this cosponsored event an annual part of their fall activities.

Center for Animal Law to discuss impact of U.S. v. Stevens

The Center for Animal Law will convene a group of experts to evaluate the constitutional issues raised in U.S. v. Stevens at its symposium on September 30. In Stevens, the Supreme Court held that federal statute 18 U.S.C. § 48, which criminalized the commercial distribution of depictions of animal cruelty, was unconstitutional because it constituted an overly broad restriction on otherwise protected speech. Speakers will consider the impact of this ruling on the future of animal welfare.

Participants include the co-counsel for Robert Stevens, Bob Corn-Revere; noted veterinarian and author Dr. Michael W. Fox; Illinois state Sen. Don Harmon; and representatives from the legal education field, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). 

Keynote speakers Jeff Jenkins and Sean Moore will discuss the HSUS End Dogfighting program, which aims to divert youth from street dog fighting through community initiatives. The program has garnered local and national attention and was recently featured in a one-hour Animal Planet special investigating gang dogs.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, please visit the law school's events calendar.

Photo: HSUS Pit Bull Training Team's lead trainer Jeff Jenkins and his dog Lola.