Jessica Silbey

Jessica Silbey, professor of law, delivers her talk titled “Against Progress: Intellectual Property and Fundamental Values in the Internet Age” during the 56th Annual Robert D. Klein Lecture. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Intellectual property in the 21st century will be shaped by values of justice and equality

If a monkey takes a selfie in a jungle, using equipment that doesn’t belong to him, does he own the rights to the photo? Jessica Silbey, a professor of law at Northeastern and the director of the law school’s Center for Law, Innovation and Creativity, addressed this debate and more as she delivered the 56th Annual Robert D. Klein Lecture.

by Khalida Sarwari October 14, 2020

A platform for violent hate speech has been implicated in three mass shootings. Should regulators step in?

Three Northeastern professors argue that while the federal government shouldn’t take legal action to shut down 8chan, other online intermediaries such as online service, domain, and search engine providers can minimize the spread of violent hate speech as seen on 8chan and other internet message boards.

by Irvin Zhang August 12, 2019

Left: Jessica Silbey, professor of law. <i>Photo by Mark Ostow</i>; Right: Theo Davis, professor of English. <i>Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University</i>

Two Northeastern professors receive prestigious Guggenheim Fellowships

Professors Jessica Silbey and Theo Davis are among a diverse group of 173 scholars, artists, and scientists to be named 2018 fellows by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, an honor recognizing prior achievement and exceptional promise.

by Greg St. Martin April 12, 2018

Constitutional law professors Jessica Silbey and Michael Meltsner consider the constitutionality of President Trump's immigration executive order. Photo via iStock.

Law professors examine the constitutionality of Trump's travel, refugee ban

Law professors Jessica Silbey and Michael Meltsner, both constitutional law experts, examined President Trump’s sweeping executive order banning travelers from certain majority-Muslim countries. Silbey called the order unconstitutional. Meltsner said that “incompetence is not the same as unconstitutionality,” but there is reason to think “the courts may strike (the order) down.”

by Molly Callahan January 31, 2017

3Qs: What can a crime drama teach us about justice?

Law professor Jessica Silbey will discuss the history of law in American film on Wednesday at a Law Library of Congress event. Here, she looks at the pitfalls of crime shows, names her favorite legal drama, and explains how the depiction of law in film has changed over the past 125 years.

by Jason Kornwitz July 20, 2016

The Internet, newsworthiness, and invasion of privacy

How will the outcome of the ongoing Hulk Hogan-Gawker trial impact future litigation and the freedom of the online press? We asked law professor Jessica Silbey and communication studies professor Dale Herbeck.

by Jason Kornwitz March 9, 2016

3Qs: Snapchat’s new privacy policy: What you should know

The messaging app recently updated its privacy policy, causing an outcry among users. Here, law professor Jessica Silbey, an expert in intellectual property, explains what the new policy does—or doesn’t—change, and offers advice for social media users.

by Joe O'Connell November 10, 2015