Professor Lawrence Lessig to keynote NetHui

Professor Lawrence Lessig to keynote NetHui

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is pleased to announce that one of North America’s leading academics will visit New Zealand to deliver a keynote speech at the inaugural NetHui 2011 event.

Harvard University Professor of Law Lawrence Lessig is widely known in the global Internet community as a vocal proponent of reduced legal restrictions on digital copyright, and a champion of notions of ‘fair use’ and ‘free culture’.

Among his appointments, he is a founding board member of the alternative copyright licensing body – Creative Commons – and is a board member of the Software Freedom Law Center.

NetHui is being held at Auckland’s SkyCity Convention Centre, from 29 June to 1 July. Professor Lessig will deliver his keynote address on the final day – Friday 1 July.

NetHui will bring together all those involved with Internet issues in New Zealand in a streamed event format covering Access & Diversity, Digital Citizenship, Governance & Legal, Government & Openness, Innovation & Emerging Issues, and Education.

Lessig describes the issues under discussion at NetHui as “critical,” as they set the stage for New Zealand's contribution to the future of networked action. “I am delighted and honoured to join NetHui 2011,” he says.

NetHui 2011 Advisory Board member Judge David Harvey says Lessig is one of the most influential contemporary commentators on law and the Internet, and is a dynamic and inspiring speaker.

“Lessig’s seminal work ‘Code is Law’ has influenced theories and served as a foundation for considerations of Internet governance issues since its publication. Lessig has also been influential in the field of digital copyright and the concept of the commons in an intellectual world,” says Harvey.

NetHui Organiser Richard Wood says securing an academic of Lessig’s stature is a real coup for NetHui. “Lessig’s focus sits right at the intersect of law and technology. This is an area that strikes at the heart of many of the important issues facing the Internet today, and we are delighted to have him on board.”

NetHui registrations are now open. To find out more about the event and to register, visit www.nethui.org.nz .

ends

© Scoop Media