<h3>Seattle University Law Student for Free Culture
Officially Recognized by Student Bar Association </h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">The SU Law Student for Free Culture (SFFC) chapter has been
actively pursuing official status for almost a year. We started recruiting last
spring at the incoming 1L student organization fair and continued the process
throughout this fall. We currently have 15 members and 4 active board members.
This last week we received official status as a student organization. <br>
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This official status is important for three reasons:<br>
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First it demonstrates the schools involvement on social justice issues that are
unique to the Information Age.<br>
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Second the official status allows us a greater opportunity to voice our
concerns on issues of relevance to legal scholarship and open access.<br>
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Third the official status will allow us to use the law school to host forums or
educational events around issues like fair use, privacy and ethics, maybe even
a Continuing Legal Education Seminar.<br>
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I would like to give strong thanks to the other founding board members who spent serious
time and effort drafting our charter, our mission statement, and navigating the
politics of the Student Bar <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Association</span> (SBA).<br>
Anne Marie Marra 2L<br><a href="http://www.jessicacreagerphotography.com/">Jessica Creager</a> 2L<br><a href="http://therangelife.blogspot.com/">Shane Robinson</a> 3L<br>
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Our Official Mission Statement:<br>
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Seattle University Law Students for Free Culture aim to place the tools of
creation, distribution, communication and collaboration, teaching and learning
into the hands of everyone through the democratizing power of digital
technology and the Internet.<br>
<br>
In promoting a culture of participation, accompanied with such technology, a
new paradigm of creation is possible, where anyone can succeed on their merit.<br>
<br>
Our goals are to:</p>
<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">seek a balance of
intellectual property rights, where other rights of the individual and
social policy are not encroached by trends to over-expand intellectual
property rights.</li></ul>
<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">bring attention to how the
digital industry ironically clings to obsolete modes of distribution
through bad legislation, and call out repressive legislation that stifles
innovation.</li></ul>
<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">oppose monitoring technology
that prevents users from exercising dominion and control over their
privately owned hardware, and their own intellectual property.</li></ul>
<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">seize opportunities presented
by the Internet and digital technology before such opportunities become
irretrievable.</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal">The future is in our hands; we choose to promote a
technological and cultural movement to defend the digital commons.</p>
<br>-- <br>Brian Rowe<br><a href="mailto:Brian@freedomforip.org">Brian@freedomforip.org</a><br>(206) 335-8577 (Cell)<br><br>Access To Justice Technology Principles<br><a href="http://www.ATJWeb.org">www.ATJWeb.org</a><br>
<br>Freedom for IP <br><a href="http://www.FreedomforIP.org">www.FreedomforIP.org</a>