The University of Iowa Libraries will join libraries across the country for a “Wireside Chat with Lawrence Lessig” on Thursday, February 25 at 5 p.m. in the Main Library Second Floor Conference Room.

The lecture by Lawrence Lessig will last 45 minutes, and will be followed by a 30 minute interactive Q & A session. The event will be moderated by Elizabeth Stark of the Open Video Alliance. Questions can be submitted using the hashtag #wireside.

Lessig has been described as the “foundational voice of the free culture movement.” He will be speaking via online video from Harvard Law School.

This is a talk about copyright in a digital age, and the role (and importance) of a doctrine like “fair use.” Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, and is essential for commentary, criticism, news reporting, remix, research, teaching and scholarship with video.

As a medium, online video will be most powerful when it is fluid, like a conversation. Like the rest of the internet, online video must be designed to encourage participation, not just passive consumption.

The Wireside Chat is made possible with the support of iCommons and the Ford Foundation.