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The development of the Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice (IIPSJ) is consistent with the tradition of the Howard University School of Law to produce lawyers as social engineers. It is also in line with the goal of Howard University to nurture leaders for America and the global community.
Early in the 20th century graduates of Howard demonstrated to the world the power of creative ideas and the need to protect those ideas. Professor Alaine Locke edited a book entitled, The New Negro in which he chronicled the outpouring of artistic achievements of African Americans in literature, music and theater. Other historians wrote of African American achievements in scientific invention and business application. Those ideas were having a transformative impact on American life and culture. A sad aspect of all that intellectual activity was that in far too many cases, the ideas were not properly protected. The concept creators did not become the primary beneficiary of their creations.
Important lessons were learned from those 20th Century experiences. The faculty and the social engineers being trained at the Howard University School of Law recognize the need to develop expertise in the ever evolving field of intellectual property rights. Because of the IIPSJ, those who generate marketable ideas and those who seek copyrights, patents, franchises and licenses will have well trained advisors, advocates and defenders. These are the social engineers of the 21st Century.
May 2005