Recording Academy Announces Winners of the 4th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Legal Writing Competition

Business Wire, Feb 6, 2002

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2002

President and CEO of the MPAA Jack Valenti to Participate in Interactive Session with Attendees; More than $10,000 in Scholarships

& Prizes Awarded to Aspiring Entertainment Law Students

Law student Tieffa Harper from Rutgers School of Law, Camden, is the winner of the Recording Academy's(R) 4th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative (ELI) Essay Competition, it was announced today by Michael Greene, President/CEO of the Academy.

The competition -- co-sponsored by the American Bar Association (ABA) -- began last October and culminates with the ELI Luncheon and Scholarship Presentation on Tuesday, February 26. The luncheon will be held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel and features a keynote address by Jack Valenti, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Motion Picture Association of America.

"The Entertainment Law Initiative has become an important and very successful component of GRAMMY Week activities," said Greene. "With such a strong group of students presenting their compositions this year, and Jack Valenti presenting our keynote address, this year's event promises to be the best ever."

In addition to presenting the luncheon's keynote address, Valenti also will answer questions posed by the gathering of more than 400 entertainment attorneys, law students and key music industry professionals who will gather to address the changing dynamics in the entertainment industry.

As the author of the winning composition, titled "Much Ado About The First Amendment: Does the Digital Millenium Copyright Act Impede The Right to Scientific Expression?: Felten v. Recording Industry Association of America," Harper will receive a cash scholarship of $5,000 and will travel to Los Angeles to present her paper at the luncheon.

The four runners up include Connie Chang, USC Law School ("Can't Record Labels And Recording Artists All Just Get Along?: The Debate Over California Labor Code Section 2855 And Its Impact On The Music Industry"); Merritt Gardiner, University of Miami School of Law ("The Music Online Competition Act of 2001"); Alissa Roberts, George Mason University School of Law ("Congress' Latest Attempt To Abrogate States' Sovereign Immunity Defense Against Copyright Infringement Actions: Will IPPRA Help The Music Industry Combat Online Piracy On College Campuses?"); and Richard Siegmeister, Fordham University School of Law ("Will MOCA Leave a Bitter Taste?").

Composed of two main components, a writing competition and a luncheon, ELI invites law students to write a 3,000-word essay on a legal topic facing the music industry today. A cash scholarship of $5,000 is awarded to the author of the winning paper, and $1,500 is awarded to each of four runners up. Additionally, each winner will receive airfare, hotel accommodations, and a ticket to the GRAMMY(R) Awards telecast on February 27, as well as invitations to other GRAMMY week activities.

ELI endeavors to promote future careers in entertainment law by seeking out the nation's top law students and giving them invaluable networking and educational opportunities. Established in 1998 by the Recording Academy, ELI is designed to forge a connection between the creative, technical and legal communities of the music industry. For more information about ELI and the Recording Academy, please go to www.grammy.com.