News & Events

A Hemisphere in Crisis? The Dire Human Rights Situation in Venezuela & Nicaragua

*EVENT WILL BE HOSTED IN SPANISH. Q&A SESSION in ENGLISH & SPANISH* 

Opening Remarks: Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón & Claudia Martin, Co-Directors, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law

Panelists:
Paulo Abrão, Executive Secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Katya Salazar, Executive Director, Due Process of Law Foundation
Francisco Quintana, Program Director, Andean, North America & Caribbean Region, CEJIL
Andrés González Díaz, Visiting Scholar, AUWCL; Research Professor, Universidad Externado de Colombia; former Permanent Representative of Colombia to the OAS

Moderator:
Claudio Grossman, Dean Emeritus & Raymond Geraldson Scholar for International and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law

Federal Trade Commission Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century - Day 3

The Federal Trade Commission is holding its sixth session of its Hearings initiative, with two and a half days of sessions on November 6–8, 2018 at American University Washington College of Law. Watch live webcast now in progress.

The hearings at American University will examine the role that data plays in competition and innovation, and also will consider the antitrust analysis of mergers and firm conduct where data is a key asset or product.

The Commission invites public comment on these issues, including the questions listed below. Comments can be submitted online. Comments are due January 7, 2019. If any entity has provided funding for research, analysis, or commentary that is included in a submitted public comment, such funding and its source should be identified on the first page of any submitted comment.

1. What is “big data”? Is there an important technical or policy distinction to be drawn between data and big data?
    
2. How have developments involving data – including data resources, analytic tools, technology, and business models – changed the understanding and use of personal or commercial information or sensitive data?
    
3. Does the importance of data – or large, complex data sets comprising personal or commercial information – in a firm’s ordinary course operations change how the FTC should analyze mergers or firm conduct? If so, how? Does data differ in importance from other assets in assessing firm or industry conduct?
    
4. What structural, behavioral, or conduct remedies should the FTC consider when remedying antitrust harm in a market or industry where data or personal or commercial information are a significant product or a key competitive input?
    
5. Are there policy recommendations that would facilitate competition in markets involving data or personal or commercial information that the FTC should consider?
    
6. Does the presence of personal information or privacy concerns inform or change competition analysis?
    
7. Do state, federal, and international privacy laws and regulations affect competition, innovation, and product offerings in the United States and abroad? If so, how?

The FTC Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century will accommodate as many attendees as possible; however, admittance will be limited to seating availability. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Request for accommodations should be submitted to Elizabeth Kraszewski via email at ekraszewski@ftc.gov or by phone at (202) 326-3087. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed. Please allow at least five days advance notice for accommodation requests; last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to accommodate.

Semester Exchange and International Dual Degree Information Session

Are you interested in studying abroad during law school? WCL offers six international dual degree programs in Australia, Canada, France, Italy, and Spain and 32 semester abroad programs across the globe.

At this info session, WCL Abroad will provide more information about these programs including a discussion of the application process. This session is intended for first and second year students interested in dual degree programs or studying abroad for a semester in their second or third year of law school.

Students who attend or watch a video recording of this session (through MyWCL) are eligible to sign up for an individual counseling meeting to create a individual study abroad plan with a WCL Abroad.

RSVP to wclabroad@wcl.american.edu. 

How to Meet Your Next Boss!

On Thursday, November 8th, the Bar Association of Montgomery County is hosting a program on networking skills and techniques. The Bar Association will be sending a team of attorneys to WCL to share their networking tips and stories with students. The program will also include a few interactive activities and will be a great opportunity for students to practice their networking skills in a low-pressure environment. 

7th Annual Peter A. Jaszi Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property

Professor Margaret Chon will deliver the 7th Annual Peter A. Jaszi Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property in the Public Interest, hosted by the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property at American University Washington College of Law.  A celebratory reception will follow.  Registration is free but required.

Professor Chon will deliver a lecture entitled IP Romances.

Abstract: Each person’s experience with IP is based on certain assumptions, biases, and perhaps even outright fantasies about what IP is or should be all about. These various romances continue to captivate IP policy-makers and scholars even as they arguably deflect attention away from other more dynamic ways of framing, knowing, and shaping the ordering of knowledge systems. What does the durability of these romances tell us about ourselves and our intellectual investments as the storytellers of IP?

Margaret Chon is the Donald & Lynda Horowitz Professor for the Pursuit of Justice, and formerly Associate Dean for Research at Seattle University School of Law. Professor Chon’s current work includes a recently published edited volume, THE CAMBRIDGE HANDBOOK ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GOVERNANCE, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (September 2018). An alumna of the University of Michigan (M.H.S.A. and J.D.) and Cornell University (A.B.), she clerked for both the Honorable A. Leon Higginbotham and the Honorable Dolores J. Sloviter of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

PIJIP’s Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property Law is named in recognition of the continuing contributions of Professor Peter A. Jaszi to the study of intellectual property at WCL and in the world at large, and in particular for his lasting contributions to the elevation of the public interest in intellectual property discourse.

The Peter A. Jaszi Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property is supported by tax-deductible contributions to the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property.

Registration is free but Requires

If you would like Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credit there is a cost.
1.0 CLE credits will be applied for - cost is $55.00

Getting to WCL Logistics and Directions

Join the Livestream https://youtu.be/OVEwMuALNNE