Torino 2026 Syllabus

I graduated from the Università di Torino / World Intellectual Property Organization LLM program based in Turin, Italy in 2014.  The program teaches students from all over the world the principles of international intellectual property law and policy.  I loved my time there and have always sought to give something back to this wonderful program.

Since graduating, I have returned annually to teach a course to the students on Freedom of Expression and International Intellectual Property Law,

This is my 2026 syllabus.

1. Introduction
   • My classes are highly interactive.  I do expect you to do the reading, because you will be asked to participate in Socratic style.  If you do not do the reading, you won’t get much out of it.
   • The reading materials are all links.
   • A few of them are case summaries on my website
   • Read the summary and any particular documents I specify.
   • The specific documents are also linked on those pages.
   • Do not be intimidated by all the reading.  A lot of this is short news articles.  Where the links are to lengthy documents, they are double spaced court documents, and not terribly dense reading.  
2. General Principles of Free Speech
   • The Great Dissent video  This is a 7 minute video.  No excuses for not “reading” here!
   • Walter Sobchak on Prior Restraint.  A 1.5 minute video, same.
   • Marek v. PTK opposition to injunction. (only read pages 1-14)
3. Copyright/ Free Speech/ Fair Use
   • Excerpts from Freedom of Expression and Morality Based Impediments to the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights

     :  Read pages 126-138.  Pay attention to the discussion of the Mitchell Brothers’ case and the Taiwanese pornography cases

   • Read case summary of MCM Group 22 LLC v. Lyndon Perry and
   • Decision and Order on Motion to Dismiss in MCM v. Perry
   • The next three are optional, and you might want to review to understand the order more.    
   • Motion to Dismiss
   • Opposition to Motion to Dismiss
   • Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss
4. Copyright/ Free Speech/ Fair Use and 512(f)
   • Rapid Relief Team v. Bawtinheimer Case Summary
   • Complaint (You do not need to read this carefully nor with great intention)
   • Motion for Preliminary Injunction (This is the primary reading for this section)
   • Watch Video on the Case  
   • Counterclaim (just skim counterclaim, you don’t need to absorb it, but pay attention to the repercussions of misuse of the DMCA.  You can definitely stop reading at page 23)
   • Optional – Lenz v. Universal: A Call to Reform Section 512(f) of the DMCA and to Strengthen Fair Use
   • Optional – Skim the press coverage of Bawtinheimer case on the case summary page. 

      You do not need to know any of this material, it is more to show the unintended consequences of DMCA abuse.  

5. Commercial Speech and Free Speech
   • Flying Dog Brewery v. North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control – Order on Summary Judgment
     (Only need to read pages 1-12:  The document linked has the full case file in it, you only need to read the first one.
     But, you might have fun reading the rest of it.)
   • Flying Dog Brewery Wins Against North Carolina On ‘Vulgar’ Beer Label Art
6. Trademarks and Free Speech
   • • First Amendment Lawyers Association Brief In Matal v. Tam.
     • Matal v. Tam – Read the summary.  It links to the full decision,
       which would be nice if you read it, but the summary will do.
     • Optional:  Freedom of Expression and Morality Based Impediments to the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
     • Optional:  Morality and trademarks: the South American approach
7. Copyright Principles / Outer Frontiers of Copyright Law
   • The Fight Over Copyrighting Klingon Heats Up, And Gets More Ridiculous
   • Why a lawyer wrote a legal brief partially in Klingon
   • Klingon (Paramount et al v. Axanar, et al.) Amicus Brief 
8. Conclusion/Goals: By the end of our session, I hope that you will have a general understanding of:
   • The First Amendment to the United States Constitution and how it might differ from your country’s protections for freedom of expression.
   • How the U.S. Copyright Act (and other copyright acts) interact with freedom of expression
   • How Trademarks interact with freedom of expression globally
   • What challenges you may have in trying to enforce IPRs
   • and you will have some fun in the process.
     
     Presentation Slides