Media

OTTAWA, August 4, 2010  —  The University of Ottawa is proud to announce that Michael Geist, professor in the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section, and Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, has been recognized by two major international organizations for his work in the field of intellectual property.

Managing Intellectual Property magazine recently named Michael Geist as one of the 50 most influential people in intellectual property.

Professor Geist’s close watch of and writings about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations have played a key role in bringing some transparency to an otherwise secret negotiation process. As noted within the magazine, his work on copyright reform is no less critical: “[Michael Geist’s] contributions to the copyright debate are erudite and well informed and consumers and copyright activists have few better advocates.”

Others named in the list include United States Vice-President Joe Biden, Canadian Minister of Industry Tony Clement, United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, and European Patent Office President Benoît Battistelli.

Michael Geist is also receiving the IP3 Award from Public Knowledge, a public interest group based in Washington, D.C. that works to defend citizens’ rights in the emerging digital culture.

The awards are given to individuals who have set themselves apart over the past year or over the course of their careers in the service of public interest in intellectual property, information policy and internet protocol. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on October 13.