Tech Transfer: BYU Law Students Help People Being Sued

Tech Transfer: BYU Law Students Help People Being Sued

Top of Mind with Julie Rose

Security Clearances, VentureGirls, Light of China Award

Episode: Security Clearances, VentureGirls, Light of China Award

  • Mar 6, 2018
  • 20:25 mins

Guest: Kimball Parker, JD, Attorney, Parsons Behle & Latimer; Dave Brown, JD, MBA, Associate Director, BYU Tech Transfer Office Over the last decade, landlords, payday lenders and credit card companies have increasingly turned to the courts to collect consumer debts. The people who owe those debts rarely have an attorney to help them navigate the lawsuit, which means they often miss key deadlines and end up automatically losing their cases.  A class of BYU law students last semester set out to even the playing field a bit in these debt-collection lawsuits. The result is a free website called “SoloSuit” which walks people through the first important steps when they’ve been sued over a debt.

Other Segments

How Copying Fuels Innovation

20m

Guest: Kal Raustiala, PhD, JD, Professor of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, Director, International Relations, UCLA, Author, “The Knockoff Economy: How Imitation Sparks Innovation” The Oscars were a very sparkly affair last night – from the Swarovski-crystal-bedecked stage to the glittery, sequined dresses custom-made for Hollywood’s hottest stars by designers including Dior, Versace and Louis Vuitton. Those websites that sell Oscar-dress knock-offs will have their hands full copying all that sparkle. But they won’t need to worry about hiring extra lawyers because, believe it or not, it’s perfectly legal to rip off another designer’s dress. Unlike books or music, fashion is one of the few creative industries without copyright protection. UCLA law professor Kal Raustiala says that’s actually good for fashion.

Guest: Kal Raustiala, PhD, JD, Professor of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, Director, International Relations, UCLA, Author, “The Knockoff Economy: How Imitation Sparks Innovation” The Oscars were a very sparkly affair last night – from the Swarovski-crystal-bedecked stage to the glittery, sequined dresses custom-made for Hollywood’s hottest stars by designers including Dior, Versace and Louis Vuitton. Those websites that sell Oscar-dress knock-offs will have their hands full copying all that sparkle. But they won’t need to worry about hiring extra lawyers because, believe it or not, it’s perfectly legal to rip off another designer’s dress. Unlike books or music, fashion is one of the few creative industries without copyright protection. UCLA law professor Kal Raustiala says that’s actually good for fashion.