# Pamela Samuelson

> American lawyer and professor

**Wikidata**: [Q7129255](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7129255)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Samuelson)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pamela-samuelson

## Summary
Pamela Samuelson is an American lawyer, professor, and computer scientist renowned for her expertise in intellectual property law and information management. She is a leading scholar in digital copyright, open access, and technology policy, with influential contributions to legal frameworks governing software, databases, and online content.

## Biography
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**:
  - Yale Law School
  - University of Hawaiʻi System
- **Known for**: Pioneering work in intellectual property law, digital copyright, and technology policy
- **Employer(s)**:
  - University of California, Berkeley School of Law (current)
  - Harvard University, Cornell University, Columbia University, University of Pittsburgh, Emory University, University of Amsterdam, Carnegie Mellon University (past affiliations)
- **Field(s)**: Intellectual property law, information management, computer science

## Contributions
Pamela Samuelson has significantly shaped the legal landscape of digital technology and intellectual property. Her scholarly work includes foundational papers on software copyright, database protection, and fair use in the digital age. In 1997, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship ("Genius Grant") for her interdisciplinary research bridging law and technology. She co-founded the Authors Alliance, advocating for balanced copyright laws that benefit creators and the public. Her 1990 paper *"Digital Media and the Changing Face of Intellectual Property Law"* remains a seminal text in the field. Samuelson has also advised governments and organizations, including the U.S. Copyright Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization, on policy matters.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Pamela Samuelson best known for?
A: She is best known for her expertise in intellectual property law, particularly digital copyright, software protection, and open access, as well as her influential role in shaping technology policy.

### Q: Where does Pamela Samuelson currently work?
A: She is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where she teaches and researches intellectual property and technology law.

### Q: Has Pamela Samuelson received any major awards?
A: Yes, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 1997, the Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Award in 2005, and was named an ACM Fellow in 1999.

### Q: What organizations is Pamela Samuelson affiliated with?
A: She is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and a board member of the Authors Alliance.

### Q: What are Pamela Samuelson’s key research areas?
A: Her research focuses on intellectual property law, digital copyright, information management, and the intersection of law and technology.

## Why They Matter
Pamela Samuelson’s work has fundamentally influenced how intellectual property laws adapt to digital innovation. Her research and advocacy have helped balance the rights of creators with public access to knowledge, particularly in the realms of software, databases, and online content. Without her contributions, legal frameworks governing digital media might lack the nuance needed to foster innovation while protecting creative works. She has mentored generations of legal scholars and technologists, leaving a lasting impact on both academia and policy.

## Notable For
- **MacArthur Fellowship (1997)**: Recognized for her interdisciplinary contributions to law and technology.
- **ACM Fellow (1999)**: Honored for her work in computer science and intellectual property.
- **Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Award (2005)**: Awarded for her impact on technology and society.
- **Co-founder of Authors Alliance**: Advocates for copyright laws that serve authors and the public.
- **Prolific scholar**: Authored influential papers and books on digital copyright and technology policy.

## Body
### **Academic and Professional Background**
- **Education**: Earned her law degree from Yale Law School and studied at the University of Hawaiʻi System.
- **Affiliations**: Held positions at prestigious institutions, including Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, and the University of Amsterdam.
- **Current Role**: Professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, where she directs the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology.

### **Key Publications and Research**
- *"Digital Media and the Changing Face of Intellectual Property Law"* (1990): A foundational text on digital copyright.
- Research on software copyright, database protection, and fair use in the digital age.
- Advisory roles for the U.S. Copyright Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

### **Awards and Recognition**
- **MacArthur Fellowship (1997)**: For her interdisciplinary work in law and technology.
- **ACM Fellow (1999)**: Recognized for contributions to computer science and intellectual property.
- **Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Award (2005)**: For her impact on technology and society.

### **Advocacy and Leadership**
- Co-founder of the **Authors Alliance**, promoting balanced copyright laws.
- Board member of organizations advancing open access and digital rights.
- Influential voice in policy debates on intellectual property and technology.

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## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20190219121509/https://www.authorsalliance.org/about/)
3. [Source](https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pam-Samuelson-Session-07-Closing-Remarks.pdf#page=4)
4. [Source](https://law.berkeley.edu/our-faculty/faculty-profiles/pamela-samuelson)
5. [Source](https://www.macfound.org/fellows/562/)
6. [Source](https://anitab.org/profiles/abie-award-winners/social-impact/pamela-samuelson/)
7. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients)
8. [Source](http://www.isni.org/0000000083236537)
9. [Source](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88609618)
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. CiNii Research
12. [Album Academicum](http://albumacademicum.uva.nl/id/id002867)