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With Internet downloading re-writing legal history, copyright law is becoming one of the most pertinent issues facing today’s world. Leaders in the field of international property rights converged on campus on Feb. 18 as part of an extended panel discussion titled “Protecting International Property Rights in a Global Environment.” Sponsored by Crowell & Moring LLP and TDK USA corporations, the panel was the brainchild of C&F professor Dr. Peggy Chaudhry and Frank Sweeney ’73, COO of TDK USA.

“I think the breadth of how intellectual property crosses everyday life, everyday business and everyday consumers influences everyone…we all have intellectual property we need to protect,” Sweeney said.

The forum was divided into four sections, beginning with an introduction by Chaudhry and a keynote address by Eric Smith, president and co-founder of International Intellectual Property Alliance. Following the introduction, the first panel focused on managerial reflections of anti-counterfeiting tactics. Panel Two addressed legal tactics governing intellectual property rights and speakers in the third panel discussed the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Smith’s keynote speech addressed the history of trade law and presented statistics on the problem of piracy in today’s society. Smith linked piracy to organized crime, stating that $22 billion is lost annually to pirates. “This can only be fought through modern, continually updated laws,” he said. “Piracy rates will not stay low unless we are as nimble as the pirates.”

Speaking on behalf of TDK during the managerial section of the forum, Sweeney emphasized the importance of holding a discussion of protecting property rights in a University setting. “I think the great thing is that it covers so many areas,” he said. “Practicing attorneys get continuing legal education credit and the ability to talk to specialists and for the students, I think it gives a great idea of what you face in the day to day world.”

Several of the speakers, including Sweeney, gave examples of specific cases involving intellectual property law in order to clearly exemplify their main discussion points.

Sweeney became interested in setting up a panel on intellectual property law at the University when he received a survey from Chaudhry’s office last fall. “She was doing primary marketing for a study and was seeking out people practicing in trade law,” Sweeney said. “I was in the middle of a very negative transaction that had been continuing for a long time…and in the middle of this, I got this contact from Villanova and thought I’d take the 20 minutes [to fill out the survey] for love of Villanova.”

The desire to accomplish something positive while in the midst of his negative transaction prompted Sweeney to contact Chaudhry. “I e-mailed her and said I’m a ’73 grad, I love the University and if there’s anything I can do to give back or if TDK can be of help in arranging a panel of some kind, let me know.”

In addition to Sweeney and Smith, speakers included Bruce Moats, corporate vice president for worldwide government affairs and public policy for Levi Strauss & Co; Henry White, president of the Institude of International Container Lessors; international partners with Crowell and Moring; and Villanova Law and Criminal Justice professors.